Health Psychology and Culture

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students completing this course will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, empirical findings, and historical trends in the science of health psychology and will be able to:

• Describe and provide illustrative examples of the role of health psychology in promoting healthy behavior through research, policymaking, education, and intervention.

• Identify and explain the role of key biological, psychological, and social/ environmental factors related to health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors, and healthy and unhealthy outcomes.

• Identify and evaluate factors associated with users and providers of health services.

• Assess current major health problems in terms of the biopsychosocial model of health.

• Contrast and compare health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors and analyze them in terms of key theories of health-behavior change.

• Identify similarities and differences in the perception of health and healthy behaviors in multicultural populations and specific non-Western countries.

• Identify cultural similarities and differences in health-related constructs such as stress, coping mechanisms, resilience, and social support.

This course fulfills general education markers GSB, GL, CIC:

• GSB SLO-1: Based on empirical information, describe or explain individual behavior or social conditions, contexts, or institutions. (LG4)

• GSB SLO-2: Using the theories of the social and behavioral sciences, analyze individual behavior or social conditions, contexts, or institutions. (LG1, LG4)

• GL/CIC SLO-1: Find, interpret, and evaluate information on diverse cultures (LG1)

• GL SLO-2: Describe interconnections among regions of the world. (Must include substantial focus on at least one culture, nation, or sub-nationality beyond Great Britain and North America. (LG3)

• GL/CIC SLO-3: Use diverse cultural frames of reference and alternative perspectives to analyze issues. (LG5)

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Orientation quizzes (Course instructions, Lockdown Browser)	2% / 15 points
Chapter quizzes (16) - 15 points each; drop one low score	33% / 225 points
Chapter Journals (16) - 2 points each	5% / 32 points
Exams (4) -100 points each; drop one low score	45% / 300 points
Cumulative final exam (1) -100 points	15% / 100 points

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
100% to 91.5%	A
< 91.5% to 89.5%	A-
< 89.5% to 87.5%	B+
< 87.5% to 81.5%	B
< 81.5% to 79.5%	B-
< 79.5% to 77.5%	C+
< 77.5% to 71.5%	C
< 71.5% to 69.5%	C-
< 69.5% to 67.5%	D+
< 67.5% to 61.5%	D
< 61.5% to 59.5%	D-
< 59.5% to 0%	F

Attendance/Participation:

This is an asynchronous online course with weekly deadlines for assignment completion.

REQUIRED Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

MindTap with e-text for Brannon, L., Updegraff, J. A., & Feist, J., Health Psychology: An Introduction to Behavior and Health, 10th Edition; 2022 Cengage Learning. Required by 8/21/2026.

• Through the First Day option, you automatically gain access to the e-book and the MindTap materials through Canvas. UNCG Cashiers Office will bill you as a course charge for this course.

• Since the materials are required for this course, it is not recommended that you opt out of First Day.

• If you choose to OPT Out, you can do so on the first day of class, however, access to your materials may be suspended AND you will be responsible for purchasing your course materials at the full retail price by 8/21/2026.  

• Course Key:  MTPP76JGM6RM

• For more information and FAQs go to customercare.bncollege.com.

Lockdown Browser with Respondus Monitor (with webcam for video monitoring) is required for quizzes and exams.

• Video records of your quizzes/exams will be reviewed for academic integrity purposes.

• Tablets and phones are not permitted.