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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PSYCD011.
Course Title (CB02)
Psychology of Wellness
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This course is an exploration of the research, related concepts, factors, and practices that contribute to overall health and wellness. It emphasizes holism: the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual components of wellness. It is interdisciplinary in nature drawing on source materials from positive, cross-cultural, clinical, and health psychology, holistic health, and neuroscience. The course will entail academic, experiential, and interactive learning. It requires students to actively engage in course material through reading, writing, participating in class and home practices, and applying methods for improving well-being in their daily lives.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Psychology]
Discipline 3
[Health]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - PSYCHOLOGY]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is CSU and UC transferable and meets °®¶ą´«Ă˝'s general education and CSU GE requirements. It belongs on the Liberal Arts (Social and Behavioral Emphasis) AA degree. It emphasizes personal and interpersonal strengths and virtues. It incorporates methods to improve physical and mental wellness. This is in contrast to other courses that emphasize pathologizing human behavior and emotions.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly PSYC 051.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶ą´«Ă˝ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶ą´«Ă˝ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
2GEX°®¶ą´«Ă˝ GE Area E - Personal DevelopmentApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGEXCSU GE Area E - Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (Non-Activity)Approved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

PSYC D001.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Required reading assignments from text and references: references will include articles from the fields of positive, cross-cultural, clinical and health psychology, holistic health and neuroscience
  2. A process journal in which students reflect and write about their experiences with the health and wellness practices with an emphasis on how the practices affect their levels of stress, mood/emotion and energy
    1. Their everyday lives through practicing mindfulness meditation and active mindfulness
    2. Managing stress and emotions through positive coping strategies by practicing acts of kindness, gratitude, self-compassion, imagery with positive affirmations, breathing and grounding exercises  
    3. Balancing academics, work, personal time through time management strategies and ways to combat procrastination
    4. Self-monitoring and reflecting on their sleep, diet and exercise
  3. A written paper that addresses students’ greatest strengths based on a Character Strengths Survey from Positive Psychology
    1. The paper will require students to research their top strengths
    2. Use imagery to imagine they are manifesting one of their life goals by utilizing these specific strengths and then write about it
  4. A written gratitude letter to someone students are grateful for
    1. In this letter they will express specifically what they are grateful for and why
    2. They will then meet with this person face-to-face or by phone and read their letter aloud
    3. Finally, they will write a response paper based on their reactions and experiences with writing this letter, reading it aloud to the person and the results
  5. A Health and Wellness project incorporating the application of scientific research on strategies to help them improve on their topic  .
    1. Students will develop and implement a personal health and wellness project related to a specific area of health they want to improve on
    2. Students will research scholarly articles on their chosen topic and validated solutions for improving their health and wellness
    3. Students will track their progress, discuss with classmates
  6. Group Assignments
    1. Students collaborate with 4-6 other students
    2. Students will research scholarly articles on chosen topics, such as emotional intelligence and create a presentation that is presented to the class
  7. Quizzes or exams
  8. Final paper on the Health and Wellness Project: discussed their topic, research, process, tracking, results, and conclusion

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Mid-term examinations or quizzes using a combination of objective and essay questions to evaluate the student's grasp of the theories, core concepts, from lectures/ discussions, readings, and application of course material
  2. The process journal will be evaluated on whether students addressed each of the wellness practices and discussed their impact on the health and wellness (stress levels, mood, energy)
  3. The greatest strength paper will be evaluated on whether students wrote a paper that included all of the requirements (research, reflection, imagery of goal attainment and application of strengths) 
  4. The gratitude letter will be evaluated on whether students addressed all requirements and completeness, such as typing up the letter and reading the letter to the person addressed and reflecting on the outcome of writing and reading the letter
  5. Group Assignments will be evaluated on whether all requirements were met in their presentation 
  6. A final paper based on their health and wellness promotion project that demonstrates students’ ability to integrate and apply class material and published research in their own lives

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • None

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Burke, AdamLearning Life: The Path to Academic Success and Personal HappinessRainor Media2016/2nd Edition0963396196
Seligman, MartinAuthentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting FulfillmentAtria Publishing Group2004/Revised Edition0743222989
McGonigal, KellyThe Joy of Movement: How exercise helps us find happiness, hope, connection, and courageAvery2021/1st Ed0525534121
Cheavens, JenniferThe Science and Application of Positive PsychologyCambridge University Press2021/1st Ed1108460836
Olivia WilsonThe Healing Power of Nature: A Guide to Holistic Wellness: Discover the Benefits of Connecting with Nature for Improved Physical, Mental, and Emotional HealthOlivia Wilson2023/1st Ed979-8386684648

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Distinguish between the emerging positive psychology principles and other theoretical principles of psychology
  • Compare and contrast the theoretical views of Health and Wellness
  • Explain the components of the holistic view of wellness
  • Implement and evaluate Holistic techniques and skills to cultivate wellness and to reduce stress
  • Explain the psychobiological factors of stress and its impact on health and wellness
  • Synthesize and evaluate the research on the effects of mind/body practices on one's biology
  • Synthesize and evaluate the research on the effects of mind/body practices on one’s psychology
  • Implement research and applications of holistic wellness strategies and skills in one’s life

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate understanding of holistic approaches to health and wellness.

  • Review and summarize the basis of positive psychology.

  • Implement the models of health promotion to facilitate behavioral change.

Outline

  1. Distinguish between the emerging positive psychology principles and other theoretical principles of psychology
    1. Understanding the field of Positive Psychology
    2. Movement from studying abnormality and dysfunctions to studying strengths and virtues
    3. Seligman’s contributions
    4. Comparisons and distinctions from Humanistic Psychology
    5. Happiness can be cultivated
      1. Consists of 3 dimensions: the Pleasant Life, the Good Life, and the Meaningful Life
    6. Cultivation of strengths, virtues, compassion, well-being, purpose
  2. Compare and contrast the theoretical views of Health and Wellness
    1. Theoretical viewpoints
      1. Clinical Psychology: diagnoses and treatment
      2. Cross-cultural
      3. Health psychology
      4. Holistic health
      5. Neuroscience
      6. Eastern and Western views
  3. Explain the components of the holistic view of wellness 
    1. Mental
    2. Emotional
    3. Spiritual
    4. Social
  4. Implement and evaluate Holistic techniques and skills to cultivate wellness and to reduce stress
    1. Mindfulness Meditation and active mindfulness 
    2. Priming
    3. Imagery
    4. Pennebaker’s writing to heal (journal)
    5. Practicing gratitude
    6. Practicing kindness
    7. Labeling emotions: sensations, thoughts, beliefs, behaviors and cultivating emotional intelligence/literacy 
    8. Logging stressors, time management, sleep, diet and exercise
    9. Celebrating accomplishments of self and others on a regular basis
    10. Nature based practices
  5. Explain the psychobiological factors of stress and its impact on health and wellness
    1. HPA axis (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal glands)
    2. Cortisol regulation and dysregulation
    3. Dysregulated cortisol and its effects on the immune system
    4. Norepinephrine and Cortisol’s role in cardiovascular problems
    5. The role of trauma
    6. Effects of isolation
    7. Effects of discrimination
    8. Effects of dysregulated emotions
    9. Effects of deficits in sleep, exercise and nutrition
    10. Explain the psychobiological effects of mind/body practices on one’s biology
  6. Synthesize and evaluate the research on the effects of mind/body practices on one's biology
    1. Biological changes
      1. Biochemical changes (neurotransmitters and hormones)
      2. Brain changes (structural, functional)
      3. Brain reactivity and neuroplasticity
      4. Stress reactivity (Sympathetic Nervous System Activity)
      5. Parasympathetic Nervous System activity
      6. The role of the vagus nerve
      7. Sensation and perception
  7. Synthesize and evaluate the research on the effects of mind/body practices on one’s psychology
    1. Psychological changes
      1. Emotional intelligence
      2. Recognizing all emotions are part of the human condition
      3. Equanimity of emotions
      4. Labeling ones emotions (how they arise: sensations, thoughts, behaviors)
      5. Recognizing others’ emotions
      6. Regulating one’s emotions in relation to others
      7. Cultivating compassion, kindness and gratitude for others and self
      8. Cognitive schemas
      9. Judgments of self and others
      10. Self-concept
      11. Self-efficacy
      12. Self-confidence
      13. Beliefs about self and others
      14. Behavioral changes
        1. Mindful awareness in our actions and reactions
        2. Demonstrating kindness, empathy, compassion in our actions towards others and self
        3. Self-care
        4. Setting boundaries
      15. Spiritual changes
        1. Life purpose and path
        2. Part of something bigger than oneself
      16. Social changes
        1. Recognizing differences and similarities in relation to others
        2. Inclusivity
        3. Social Connections vs Isolation
  8. Implement research and applications of holistic wellness strategies and skills in one’s life
    1. Personal change in health and wellness
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