GHTH 100 – PERSONAL WELLNESS
Fall 2011 Section 008 MW 4:15-5:30
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Dr. Debra L. Sutton
HHS Building Room 3112
568-3392 (Best time to call is during office hours).
[email protected]
MW 1:00-3:00 TTH 10:00 – 12:00 Fri (by arranged appointment only)
Note: Please keep the length of your e-mails to a couple of sentences – any lengthy e-mail will receive a request to meet in
person. I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences (see attendance policy). Please DO NOT e-mail me to
tell me that you will be missing class UNLESS it relates to an exam or assignment. To guarantee an office appointment, use the
sign-up sheet located on my office door. You will need to sign up the day before your appointment. If your schedule conflicts
with my office hours, let me know and we will work out a suitable plan. I’m sorry but I cannot arrange office hour
appointments in class.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce students to the lifestyle behaviors that contribute to health
promotion and disease prevention. Factors affecting health status will be identified and suggestions will be made as to how healthrelated behaviors, self-care, and individual decisions contribute to health and wellness.
COURSE GOALS: At the completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate through testing, discussion, and personal
experience, the following:

Understand the dimensions of wellness, the various factors affecting each dimension, and how dimensions are interrelated

Understand the relationship between personal behaviors and lifelong health and wellness

Assess their own levels of health and wellness and understand how these levels impact their quality of life

Identify and implement strategies to improve their wellness
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate through testing, discussion, and
personal experience, the following:

Identify the dimensions of wellness, as well as the impact of heredity, lifestyle, and environment on well-being

Gain knowledge about health and its utilization in making meaningful decisions throughout life

Examine personal behaviors related to health and wellness

Assess and interpret one’s state of overall wellness, as well as the development and implementation of a personal wellness
plan

Develop the ability to use reputable resources to learn about and evaluate current societal trends in health and social behavior

Recognize solutions for common health problems
REQUIRED TEXT:

Donatelle, R.J. (2013). Access to Health. (12th ed.). Benjamin Cummings.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Examinations:
There will be four exams given over the course of the semester, specific dates of which are provided on the tentative course
outline. Exam questions will cover text and lecture material. Each exam will consist of 100 questions, mostly multiple choice
some true-false items, and possibly matching. The final exam will not be comprehensive!!!!
Students must be present for all exams unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. You must
contact the instructor and provide a phone number where you can be reached. Without prior notification and
approval, no make-up exams will be given. Exam grades are generally posted on Blackboard by the following class
period. Assignment grades will take longer - generally two class periods after the due date. All students may review
assignments and exams for one week (Monday-Friday) beginning on the day grades have been posted on Blackboard.
I will NOT discuss any grades through e-mail.

Assess Yourself/Behavior Change Contract (Pre and Post)
This assignment will be completed at the beginning and end of the semester. You will find complete instructions on
Blackboard under the “Assignment” link where you will also submit your completed work. (see due dates below on the
course schedule)
Wellness Passport Assignment
This assignment provides all GHTH 100 students with the opportunity to experience health enhancing activities, programs,
and services outside of the classroom. The assignment is a combination of three responsibilities:
1) Attendance at five different Wellness Passport events
2) Having Wellness Passport verification forms stamped at each event attended
3) Completing the Passport assignment forms to submit to your instructor
A list of pre-selected and approved events will be posted on the GHTH 100 website and updated regularly throughout the
semester. This calendar can be found at (http://wellness.healthsci.jmu.edu). In order to receive full credit, each student must
attend five Passport events, each of which must be from a DIFFERENT dimension of wellness. Only the official, stamped
verification pages will be accepted for credit. These verification pages must be printed on white cardstock paper. They are
available for purchase (.15 each) in the HHS Building Copy Center – room 1002.

Individual Physical Wellness Assignment
This assignment will allow you to construct and implement your own physical wellness plan. Specific instructions for this
will be discussed in class and can be found at http://wellness.healthsci.jmu.edu The last day that you can obtain a UREC
hour is Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011.
Course Requirements
Assess Yourself/Behavior Change (pre and post assessments) Pre=15pts Post=15pts
Examinations (4 exams consisting of MC, T/F, and matching) 100 points each
Physical Wellness Assignment (mid-term report worth 5 of the 20 total points)
Wellness Passport Assignment (complete 5 different dimensions @ 10 points each)
Total
A = 500 - 450
B = 449 - 400
C = 359 - 315
D = 314 - 270
Point Distribution
30 points
400 points
20 points
50 points
500 points
F = below 269 points
The +/- system may be used at the discretion of the instructor. You must earn .5 or better for rounding to the next
percent to occur. Please do not request any bonus or extra credit!!
CLASS POLICIES

Attendance
Attendance is required and will be taken sometime during each class period. Please be on time!! Once you arrive for class,
you are expected to remain until the class is over, unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Arriving to
class late or leaving prior to dismissal is not acceptable. Should you attempt to leave during class, your instructor may
verbally ask you for your name and request that you remove your signature from the attendance sheet. Any student missing
five or more classes will not receive better than a “C” in the course, even if they have earned enough points for an A
or B. Please do not e-mail the instructor to explain that you will be absent. This is only necessary if your absence falls
on an exam day or an assignment due date.

Late Assignments and Missed Exams
An assignment is considered late if it is not submitted in class the day it is due. Assignments that are late may be accepted in
rare instances with a penalty, but only with prior notification and approval from your instructor. Without prior notification
and approval, no late assignments will be accepted. Exams are to be taken the day they are scheduled. In rare instances, and
subject to the instructor’s approval, a make-up exam may be arranged. However, you must contact your instructor prior to
class, specify what section you are in, and leave a telephone number where you can be reached the same day. Without
prior notification and approval, no make-up exam will be given.

Class Conduct
This is a very large learning environment. In order for all students to benefit, everyone must behave in a mature, professional
manner. If students have personal problems or conflicts, please let the instructor know as soon as possible. Most things can
be worked out ahead of time. Do not assume that things can be corrected after the fact.
1)
All cell phone ringers must be turned off during class time. Cell phones may not be placed on desktop anytime during
class.
2) Laptops are not permitted in this class unless student has an accommodation from the JMU Office of Disabilities
Services (see policy below) or you are willing to sit in a row at the front of the classroom.
3) All pre-class activities must cease (reading the Breeze, etc.) once class begins. Any disruptive behavior will lead to
official reprimand, and/or deletion from the class roster.
4) Unnecessary talking and not paying attention during class (sleeping, etc.) is not considered mature, respectful, and
professional student behavior.
5) Please take care of any personal needs prior to class. Do not leave the classroom while class is in session unless it is an
absolute emergency.
6) If you are feeling ill or have other business, consider missing class. There is no differentiation between excused and
unexcused absences. As long as you do not accumulate 5 or more absences, there is no penalty.
7) Rules and regulations associated with student conduct are detailed in the Student Handbook. Failure to abide by these
rules and regulations may lead to a variety of disciplinary actions including but not limited to: a failing grade, removal
from this class, a summons to appear before the Judiciary Council, being placed on probation, and/or expulsion from the
university. http://www.jmu.edu/judicial/handbook/

Other Information
Honor Council
Please consult the James Madison University Student Handbook for information related to the JMU Honor Code. Any
student who is found guilty of an honor violation will receive a grade of “F” in the course in which the violation occurred,
and will not be permitted to re-take that course on a repeat/forgiveness basis. Any questions concerning academic dishonesty
should be directed to the professor. http://www.jmu.edu/honor/
Office of Disability Services
JMU abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which mandate
reasonable accommodations be provided for students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability and may require
some type of instructional and/or examination accommodations, please contact me early in the semester so that I can provide or
facilitate provision of accommodations you may need. If you have not already done so, you will need to register with the Office
of Disability Services, the designated office on campus to provide services for students with disabilities. The office is located in
Wilson Hall, Room 107 and you may call 540-568-6705 for more information. http://www.jmu.edu/ods/
Learning Centers
JMU offers a variety of resources intended to assist you in your pursuit of academic success. http://www.jmu.edu/learning/
Counseling and Student Development Center
The new experiences and greater independence that normally come as students move from high school to university life, while
exciting, are also sometimes quite challenging and stressful. You make more decisions for yourself, often decisions that will I
influence your life in significant ways, and there is the added task of adapting to the social and academic pressures that are so
much a part of university life. Sometimes, the pressures are such that students feel like they can't handle them on their own, and
talking with friends or relatives either seems impossible or doesn't help. This is an especially good time to consider the possible
benefits of counseling. http://www.jmu.edu/counselingctr/
Important Dates from the JMU Registrar
Please review this link for information on Add/Drop Period, Course Withdrawal Policies, etc.
http://www.jmu.edu/registrar/
Tentative Course Outline*
Date
Course Daily Topic
Chapter
Readings
Assignment and Examination Due
Dates
M - August 29
Introduction to GHTH 100: Personal Wellness
Syllabus
Review course syllabus
W - August 31
Assessing Your Health
Chapter 1
Read chapter prior to class
M - September 5
Promoting and Preserving Your Psychological
Health
Chapter 2
Read chapter prior to class
W - September 7
GHTH 100/UREC Partnership for Health
M - September 12
Drinking Alcohol Responsibly
Chapter 11
Pre “Assess Yourself” Due (Online)
W - September 14
Drinking Alcohol Responsibly
Chapter 11
Read chapter prior to class
M - September 19
Ending Tobacco Use
Chapter 12
Read chapter prior to class
W - September 21
Avoiding Drug Misuse and Abuse
Chapter 13
Read chapter prior to class
M - September 26
Examination One – 100 questions
W - September 28
Eating for a Healthier You
Chapter 7
Read chapter prior to class
M - October 3
Eating for a Healthier You
Chapter 7
Read chapter prior to class
W - October 5
Reaching and Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Chapter 8
3 Wellness Passport Events Due (Class)
M - October 10
Focusing on Enhancing Your Body Image
Chapter 8a
Read chapter prior to class
W - October 12
Improving Your Physical Fitness
Chapter 9
M - October 17
Improving Your Physical Fitness
Chapter 9
Read chapter prior to class
Physical Wellness Mid-term report due
(Online)
Read chapter prior to class
W - October 19
Examination Two – 100 questions
M - October 24
Understanding Your Sexuality
Chapter 5
Read chapter prior to class
W - October 26
Understanding Your Sexuality
Chapter 5
Read chapter prior to class
M - October 31
Considering Your Reproductive Choices
Chapter 6
Read chapter prior to class
W - November 2
Considering Your Reproductive Choices
Chapter 6
Post “Assess Yourself” Due (Online)
M - November 7
Protecting Against Infectious Diseases
Chapter 14
Read chapter prior to class
W - November 9
Protecting Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Chapter 14
Read chapter prior to class
M - November 14
Examination Three – 100 questions
W - November 16
Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
M - November 21
W - November 23
Thanksgiving Break – No Class!!!!
M - November 28
Focusing on Minimizing Your Risk for Diabetes
Chapter 15a
Physical Wellness Due (Online)
W – November 30
Reducing Your Cancer Risk
Chapter 16
Read chapter prior to class
M - December 5
Reducing Your Cancer Risk
Chapter 16
Read chapter prior to class
W - December 7
Reducing Risks and Coping with Chronic Conditions
Chapter 17
Read chapter prior to class
M - December 12
Final Examination – 100 questions
NOT COMPREHENSIVE
http://www.jmu.edu/registrar/wm_library/1118_e
xam_schedule.pdf
*
In-Class Discussion
Examination 1 Chapters 1,2,11,12,13
Examination 2 Chapters 7, 8, 8a, and 9
Examination 3 Chapters 5, 6, and 14
Chapter 15
2 Wellness Passports Due (Class)
Happy Holiday - work on completing
your Physical Wellness Assignment
Examination 4 Chapters 15,15a,16,17
The exam will take place in ISAT/CS
159 at 3:30 – 4:45
While the contents of this course syllabus and schedule are as accurate and complete as possible, circumstances may arise
that will necessitate modifications (ex. weather). Should an unforeseen circumstance occur, any changes will be announced
through an e-mail as well as posted on Blackboard. It is your responsibility to check Blackboard and e-mail for any
announcements.