Course Title: Understanding the Psychology of Health
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Understanding the Psychology of Health
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
BESC1491 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
155T Vocational Health and Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016 |
BESC1491 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020 |
BESC1491 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
535T Social Care and Health |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2023 |
Course Coordinator: Jade Cusworth
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 8382
Course Coordinator Email: jade.cusworth@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 51.08.02
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
This course introduces you to the psychology of health and wellbeing. We will investigate a range of principles and perspectives that influence and impact on positive health behaviour changes. We will identify the role of psychology in relation to public health programs to bring about changes in beliefs, attitudes and actions that contribute to better choices and outcomes at an individual and population level.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for the Associate Degree in Health Sciences:
1. Access up to date discipline information/knowledge and ensure that decisions and actions are informed by a critical assessment of information.
On completion of this course you should be able to:
1. Describe the major features of psychological processes in health and illness, and society and culture
2. Transfer and apply the theoretical knowledge of how individuals ’think-feel-behave’ into the health & well-being of various communities.
3. Examine and discuss the key principles of past and contemporary health psychology
4. Explore and engage in psychological practices to enhance theoretical knowledge, performance and well-being.
Overview of Learning Activities
Overview of Learning Activities In this course you will learn through the following activities:
• Face to face teaching: to obtain an understanding of basic concepts that are required to undertake further study
• Personal reading (e.g. prescribed sections of textbooks and online materials): to reinforce/strengthen your understanding of the principles and applications of Health Psychology
• Analyse and evaluate relevant case studies
• Develop strategies/plans to address identified client health related goals
Overview of Learning Resources
You will need to access this course online on a regular basis to prepare for lectures and tutorials. You will also need to read recommended sections of text books, library resources and other learning materials.
Your textbook for this course is:
Dorrian, J., Thorsteinsson, E., Di Benedetto, M., Lane-Krebs, K., Day, M., Hutchinson, A., & Sherman, K. (2017). Health Psychology in
Australia. Melbourne. Cambridge University Press.
You may be referred to other resources available in the RMIT Library, such as videos and the subject learning guide at:
http://rmit.libguides.com/sb.php?subject_id=67926
Overview of Assessment
This course has no hurdle requirements.
Assessment tasks
Assessment Task 1: Online test
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1,2, 3
Assessment Task 2: Health Behaviour Essay
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 and 4
Assessment Task 3:Mental Health Case Study
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4
Assessment Task 4: Journal Article- short answer questions
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3 and 4