HSCI 490

HSCI 490: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement in Health I

Credit Hours: 3 credits

Prerequisites: HSCI 300 and HSCI 395

Instructional Method: Fieldwork

Note(s): Applied Learning designated course. This course is the first of a two part series in service learning for Health Science majors.

Catalog Description

HSCI 490 involves students in activities that address community-identified health needs while developing academic and critical thinking skills and commitment to community service. A community partnership is established that focuses on improving the health of citizens. Health science concepts and applications are integrated through systematic examination of an identified need within the community health organization. Students complete a comprehensive body of work that may include a needs assessment, situational analysis, and/or development of an action plan to address the community health problem. The course is the first of a two-part series. A minimum of 40 hours of service at a community-based health organization is required.

Content

The course serves as a summative experience to engage students in civic activity that addresses community-identified health needs while developing academic and critical thinking skills and commitment to community service. The course is the first of a two- part series. A minimum of 40 hours of service at a community-based health organization is required.

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Students are required to engage in a minimum of 40-hours of civic activity that addresses community-identified health needs while developing academic and critical thinking skills, and commitment to community service.

Identify what service learning and civic engagment engagement are.
Building and maintaining community partnerships.
Becoming community.
Teamwork and groups.
Creating cultural connections.
Reflections.
Mentoring.
Leadership and service-learning.
What to do when things go wrong.
Benefits and challenges of service-learning.
Becoming an agent of change.
Concepts to know before leaving a service-learning agency.

Student Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to:

Synthesize knowledge and skills learned in core and specialization courses to identify methods to improve a community health problem.
Assess a specific community health problem and recommend a plan of action to address the problem.
Design and carry out procedures to address the community health problem.
Evaluate outcomes and make recommendations for improving the community's health.

Assessment Measures

Assessment measures may include a range of strategies such as attendance and required hour attainment, hour logs, weekly assignments, journal entries, independent and group project reports, presentations, self and mentor evaluations, discussion boards, quizzes, exams, papers, virtual trainings training, case-studies, and online survey tools.

Other Course Information

The instructor of record will update the course as new materials become available.

Review and Approval

March 01, 2021

Revised June, 2023