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380.721.01
Schools and Health

Location
East Baltimore
Term
2nd Term
Department
Population, Family and Reproductive Health
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2023 - 2024
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
M, W, 10:30 - 11:50am
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
Yes
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite
Description
Schools are a crucial partner for public health to promote the equitable health and development of children and adolescents. Working with schools on health service delivery, health promotion and prevention programs, and research requires public health practitioners and researchers to understand the the policies, programs, and practices of public education in the United States. This course will expose students to school health frameworks and local, state, and national experts in all areas of comprehensive models of school health.
Highlights K-12 schools as public health contexts in 3 ways: as contexts for shaping youth development and behavioral outcomes, for the delivery of health information and services, and for research. Lays a foundation for the connections between health and education by discussing the reciprocal relationship between a young person’s health and their educational outcomes including the role that school health can play in addressing disparities in education and health. Explores school context using the ten-component Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework developed by the CDC and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Explores, using the framework, established standards and practices for schools, opportunities for intervention in schools, and challenges to implementation, evaluation, and research in schools. Dives into the debates around school openings and COVID mitigation measures.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify the relationship between reciprocal relationship between health and education
  2. Analyze the structure and function of school health frameworks (including the Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community framework)
  3. Analyze how each of the WSCC components contributes to the health and academic outcomes of students, schools, families, and/or communities
  4. Critically reflect on the integration of health and education in a local school district
  5. Analyze the current debate over school reopening in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
  6. Identify the methodological challenges to conducting research and program evaluation in the school context
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 22% Participation
  • 34% Reflection
  • 22% Group Presentation
  • 22% Presentation(s)
Enrollment Restriction
Auditors not permitted
Special Comments

This is the onsite section of a course also held virtual/online. You are responsible for the modality in which you register.