Northcentral University

COURSE NUMBER & TITLE: NS1006 - Health and Nutrition

FACULTY MENTOR: (name)

Please contact through the NCU Messaging System.

Please complete the pre-course questionnaire at the Learners website in the Course Review area before beginning your course work. Thank you!

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS/COURSE GRADE:
The grade for this course will be based upon demonstration of achievement of course learning goals. This will be done by responding to the Review Questions below. Each section will carry equal weight to calculate the course grade. The Review Questions should be answered fully, and the answers should show how the course work is relevant to you. The length of each response will vary, depending on what the question requires to sufficiently answer it.
Assignments will be evaluated using the following guidelines:

	Outstanding	Acceptable	Needs Improvement	Needs Improvement
Critical thinking	Identifies salient information, accurately interprets evidence. Explains assumptions.	Identifies majority of salient information, accurately interprets evidence. Draws appropriate conclusions.	Misinterprets evidence, draws inappropriate conclusions. Does not explain reasons for conclusions.	Demonstrates no integration of ideas. Offers no solutions or applications.
Ability to provide evidence of subject knowledge	Answers demonstrate clear, specific understanding, synthesis and application of course concepts. Supports critical thinking with facts. Integrates information from various sources - text, quality internet sources, personal experience.	Answers demonstrate clear and specific understanding of course concepts. Supports critical thinking with facts from material taught.	Demonstrates partial or vague understanding of course concepts. Provides some evidence of subject knowledge.	Use of the topic is not shown. No evidence of material comprehension.
Originality / Plagiarism	Answers are developed using own phrasing of concepts.	Answers are paraphrased from other sources.	Answers are copied from the text or other sources with citation.	Answers are copied from the text or other sources without citation.
Organization / Conventions	Writing is well organized, has a compelling opening, strong informative body and satisfying conclusion. Has appropriate paragraph format. Correct sentence structure, grammar, punctuation and spelling.	Writing has a clear beginning, middle and end. Generally uses appropriate paragraph format. Spelling is correct on common words. Some errors in grammar and punctuation.	Writing is usually organized but sometimes gets off topic. Has several errors in paragraph format. Frequent errors are distracting to the reader but do not interfere with the meaning of paper.	Writing is aimless and disorganized. Many errors in grammar, capitalization, spelling and punctuation make paper hard to read.

Course Participation:

Learners are expected to be involved in a minimum of one scheduled instructional activity per week. To meet this expectation, learners must make contact with their faculty mentor on a weekly basis through one of the following methods:

Learners must use the NCU messaging system on the course web site to contact faculty mentors. Learners who fail to make contact within the time period of one month may be withdrawn from the course by NCU.

Coursework Submission:
Coursework should be submitted through the Learner site http://learners.ncu.edu Click on the course code NS1006, when you enter the site. This link takes you to the Course Forum page. At the top of the page you will find the Coursework area. The Help file (?) will explain the process. The + sign allows you to upload Coursework (.rtf format). The pencil icon allows you to edit a particular assignment. The edit button overwrites the previous assignment, so do not use it to send new Coursework unless you mean to replace the original. Coursework will be graded and posted in this area also.

Please submit the second assignment only after you receive evaluation of the first, etc., so that feedback can be incorporated into subsequent assignments.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
Some of the websites referred to below require you to register before using the tools. You may use an alias if you wish but do provide truthful information regarding your height, weight, age, etc. in order to obtain the most accurate results.

Section I

Complete a personal health risk assessment: http://www.youfirst.com/
Consider the results as you answer the questions below.
Read Chapters 1-4 from the text.

COURSE SUBMISSION SCHEDULE:

Weeks 1-3        Review Questions Section I
Weeks 4-6        Review Questions Section II
Weeks 7-9        Review Questions Section III
Weeks 10-12     Review Questions Section IV
Weeks 13-14     Review Questions Section V
Weeks 15-16     Review Questions Section VI

The course must be completed by the end of the semester as stated in the Course Registration Information Form.

Please submit your post-course Questionnaire for NS1006 on the learner website in the Course Review area when you have completed the course. Thank you!

1.	Apply and write one personal health promotion goal for each of the six health components identified by the author. Utilize the following system in writing goals. Step 1: What is the desired behavior or goal? Step 2: Is the goal immediately obtainable? Step 3: What are the obstacles that keep you from obtaining this goal? Step 4: Consider the desired goal. Make a list of specific rewards or characteristics that make that goal desirable to you. Step 5: List specific steps to achieve the goal. Step 6: How will you measure your performance?
2.	Compile a list of five health promoting behaviors that you currently practice and five non-health promoting behaviors that you engage in which take away from wellness. Select one behavior from the second list and establish a specific plan for one week to try and eliminate it.
3.	Identify three stressful situations in your life and three examples of stress. Outline and design a personal stress management program for one week to include time management strategies and relaxation techniques.
4.	Discuss healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms, and explain ways to create more positive and effective coping mechanisms in your own life.
5.	How can you tell if you need professional help in overcoming a psychological problem? Who can help? Discuss types of therapy that might help.

6.	Define physical fitness. Discuss the three basic components of physical fitness, and how each contributes to good health.
7.	What are the elements to consider in designing an exercise program? Design an exercise program for yourself. What are your goals, and how will you stick to them?
8.	List at least six guidelines for a healthy diet. Why are these important?
9.	Discuss factors to consider when evaluating weight-loss programs and evaluate a local weight-loss program in your area. Are their claims valid and reasonable?

10.	What are your personal criteria for a successful relationship? Develop a brief list of factors you consider important, and support your choices with examples or experiences from your own life.
11.	What are some issues that might surface in a long-term relationship over time? Explain how these issues might affect the relationship and some methods for successful coping.
12.	Among the array of contraception technologies select and discuss two common effective temporary contraceptives, two less effective methods, and two permanent methods of contraception.
13.	Where does the United States (or your country for students living outside the U.S.) stand compared to other countries, in terms of infant mortality rates? Which country has the lowest infant mortality rate? What are some of the most frequent complications of pregnancy? How can the risk of complications be minimized or avoided?

14.	What is an infectious disease? Name some of the common ones and effective methods of prevention. What are the conveniences, advantages, and disadvantages of each method of prevention?
15.	What are some preventive behaviors that can reduce an individual's chances of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease?
16.	Explain HIV infection and AIDS. How is HIV transmitted? Who is most at risk for contracting HIV? What areas of the world have especially high rates of HIV infection? What factors contribute to this high rate of infection?
17.	Discuss the uncontrollable and the controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. What preventive steps can you take to minimize these risks?
18.	What is cancer? Discuss the seven warning signs a person should look for. What can be done to reduce the risk of developing some of the common types of cancer? List some state and local cancer resources (clinics, hotlines, books, etc.)
19.	Explain diabetes mellitus. Describe the early symptoms of the disease and methods of treatment.

20.	How does a person become an addict? Describe the process of addiction. What can a person do to avoid addiction?
21.	Describe the common forms and effects of amphetamines, depressants, cannabis products, psychedelics and hallucinogens, and narcotic drugs.
22.	How does alcohol affect the body's various systems? What conclusions have you come to about the role alcohol should play in your life?
23.	What are some possible adverse effects of drinking during pregnancy? Describe a child born to a mother who has continued to drink throughout her pregnancy.
24.	What health problems can be prevented by quitting smoking? Describe some methods use by smokers to quit smoking. Which are the most effective?
25.	Discuss the factors that increase the likelihood of unintentional injury. What can you do to increase safety on the road, at home, outdoors, and at work?
26.	Describe the typical pattern of abuse. How does it apply to partners and to children?

27.	Discuss some of the health problems faced by the elderly. How can these problems be alleviated or prevented?
28.	Discuss the five stages of a person's emotional reaction to a terminal illness, as described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
29.	Explain the difference between a living will and a holographic will. What might a living will contain?
30.	What does self-care mean? What actions are involved in self-care?
31.	Name some different types of health-care professionals and their responsibilities. What criteria should you use in selecting a health-care professional?
32.	What are some major hazards to the survival of our planet? Why are they considered hazards? What are their potential effects?