Time Schedule:
John Eric Stewart
BIS 316
Bothell Campus
Examination of a specific topic in order to provide a deeper understanding of a particular aspect of psychology. Topics may include the history of psychology; human memory; dreaming; cognitive psychology.
Class description
SPRING QUARTER 2007 - BIS 316, Topics in Psychology: Prevention and Promotion
Prevention and Promotion: Examines the two fundamental intervention approaches of community psychology (and related fields), the variety of strategies employed for each, and the array of phenomena (or variables) they may address. Prevention primarily aims at the reduction or elimination of risks to optimal mental health and development. Promotion, by contrast, aims to identify and optimize those factors or resources that protect against such risks or enhance resilience. This class will focus mainly on applications at the small group, community and socio-cultural levels of analysis.
Class Description: This course will provide an overview of the cross-disciplinary community intervention models of prevention and promotion. Students will be introduced to the history, methods, theories and strategies that characterize, distinguish and intertwine risk-reduction and strengths-enhancement strategies for individual and community well-being and development. The first half of the class will focus on the basic principles, theoretical models, and research base of prevention and health promotion/community coalition building. In the second half, we will examine applications of these strategies in some detail and in relation to a specific problem. Note that this class will be relatively reading-intensive.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Lecture, class discussion, small group discussion and group research.
Recommended preparation
Community psychology (BIS 343) is very strongly recommended; prior or concurrent enrollment in the Risk and Resilience course is also extremely strongly encouraged. Developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, social change/social theory, or community health would be helpful but not necessary.
Class assignments and grading
Grades will be based on the quality of engagement of short writing assignments, a midterm and a take home final.
