UoPeople Online Syllabus Repository (OSR)

HS 4991 Health Science Capstone

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HS 4991: Health Science Capstone

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Credits: 3
Prerequisites: All the required 4000-level courses must be completed first before taking this course.

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Course Description: 

In the capstone course for Health Sciences, students will put their health science knowledge to practical use by designing a project or program intended to promote health, prevent disease, and reduce health disparities in their community. Successful completion of the capstone project will show evidence of the student's development and growth over the program through application of the biopsychosocial determinants of health to real-world issues. To meet proficiency in the capstone experience, a student must earn at least a C- in the course. If a student fails to meet proficiency in their first attempt, they must meet with the Department Chair to develop a plan for successful completion.

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Required Textbook and Materials: UoPeople courses use open educational resources (OER) and other materials specifically donated to the University with free permissions for educational use. Therefore, students are not required to purchase any textbooks or sign up for any websites that have a cost associated with them. The main required textbooks for this course are listed below, and can be readily accessed using the provided links. There may be additional required/recommended readings, supplemental materials, or other resources and websites necessary for lessons; these will be provided for you in the course's General Information and Forums area, and throughout the term via the weekly course Unit areas and the Learning Guides.

• This course does not contain a main textbook; resources to all required reading will be provided in the course Learning Guide for each week.

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Software Requirements/Installation: No special requirements.

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Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

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Course Schedule and Topics: This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).

Week 1: Unit 1 - Introduction to Capstone Project

Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Choose an appropriate project focus from the list provided. 
2. Identify community needs pertinent to the chosen project focus. 
3. Create a project proposal aligning with the course requirements.

Week 2: Unit 2 - Literature Review and Project Rationale

Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Create a robust literature review, proficiently synthesizing relevant sources to effectively support and substantiate the chosen focus area of the project. 
2. Identify the target population for the project rationale. 

Week 3: Unit 3 - Research/Project Design and Methodology
Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Select appropriate research methods and objectives for the project. 
2. Apply ethical principles to the design and implementation of the project. 

Week 4: Unit 4 - Project Framework
Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Explain the project framework, including how the framework will drive/guide the planning and evaluation of the project.  
   
2. Apply appropriate project framework to effectively structure project plans, identify milestones and project risks, and identify resources needed to ensure a successful outcome. 

Week 5: Unit 5 - Data Collection and Analysis
Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Select appropriate data collection methods for the capstone project.   
2. Analyze the qualitative and quantitative data for the capstone project.  

Week 6: Unit 6 - Finalizing Capstone Project
Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Create the final draft of the capstone project, using the template provided, to include a detailed overview of the research methodology, findings, analysis, and conclusions supported by visual aids. 

Week 7: Unit 7 - Presentation and Evaluation
Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Deliver a professional presentation of their capstone project.

Week 8: Unit 8 - Capstone Project Reflection
Unit Learning Outcomes:

1. Evaluate the various ways the capstone project process benefits you beyond your undergraduate experience. 
2. Assess ways in which the peer review process enhanced your capstone project's academic and professional value. 
3. Propose possible future applications of your capstone project's research findings and/or program. 

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Course Requirements:

Discussion Assignments & Response Posts
Some units in this course require that you complete a Discussion Assignment. You are required to develop and post a substantive response to the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum. A substantive response is one that fully answers the question that has been posted by the instructor. In addition, you must extend the discussion by responding to at least two (2) of your peers’ postings in the Discussion Forum. Your discussion posts will be assessed by your instructor.  Discussion Forums are only active for each current and relevant learning week, so it is not possible to contribute to the forum once the learning week has come to an end. Failure to participate in the Discussion Assignment by posting in the Discussion Forum and responding to peers as required may result in failure of the course.

Assignment Activities
The assignment activities are graded by your instructor. The grading rubric is listed under the assignment instructions. The grading rubric is a document that outlines the criteria that your instructor will use to grade your work.

Course Forum
The Course Forum is the place to raise issues and questions relating to the course. It is regularly monitored by the instructors and is a good place to meet fellow students taking the same course. While it is not required to participate in the Course Forum, it is highly recommended.

Class Introductions
This section is your opportunity to introduce yourself to your classmates and create a vibrant learning community. By sharing your background, interests, and goals, you can create meaningful connections and discover commonalities with your peers.

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Course Policies:

Grading Components and Weights
Each graded component of the course will contribute some percentage to the final grading scale, as indicated here:

Items	Number of assignments	Weight
Discussion Forum	3	15%
Assignment Activities	5	55%
Assignment Activities (Unit 6 & 7)	2	30%

Grading Scale
This course will follow the standard 100-point grading scale defined by the University of the People, as indicated here:

Letter Grade	Grade Scale	Grade Points
A+	98-100	4.00
A	93-97	4.00
A-	90-92	3.67
B+	88-89	3.33
B	83-87	3.00
B-	80-82	2.67
C+	78-79	2.33
C	73-77	2.00
C-	70-72	1.67
D+	68-69	0.00
D	63-67	0.00
D-	60-62	0.00
F	Under 60	0.00

Grade Appeal
If you believe that the final grade you received for a course is erroneous, unjust, or unfair, please contact your course instructor. This must be done within seven days of the posted final grade. For more information on this topic, please review the Grade Appeal Procedure in the University Catalog.

Participation
Non-participation is characterized by lack of any assignment submissions, inadequate contributions to the Discussion Forums, and/or lack of peer feedback to Discussion/Written Assignments. Also, please note the following important points about course participation:

• Assignments must be submitted on or before the specified deadline. A course timeline is provided in the course schedule, and the instructor will specify deadlines for each assignment.
• Any student showing non-participation for two weeks (consecutive or non-consecutive) is likely to automatically fail the course.
• Occasionally there may be a legitimate reason for submitting an assignment late. Most of the time, late assignments will not be accepted and there will be no make-up assignments.
• All students are obligated to inform their instructor in advance of any known absences which may result in their non-participation.

Academic Honesty and Integrity
When you submit any work that requires research and writing, it is essential to cite and reference all source material. Failure to properly acknowledge your sources is known as “plagiarism” – which is effectively passing off an individual’s words or ideas as your own. University of the People adheres to a strict policy of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in sanctions by the University, including dismissal from the University or course failure. For more information on this topic, please review the Academic Integrity Policy in the University Catalog.

Any materials cited in this course should be referenced using the style guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA format is widely used in colleges and universities across the world and is one of several styles and citation formats required for publication in professional and academic journals. Refer to the UoPeople APA Tutorials in the LRC for help with APA citations. For help with using library, kindly refer to UoPeople Library.

Code of Conduct
University of the People expects that students conduct themselves in a respectful, collaborative, and honest manner at all times. Harassment, threatening behavior, or deliberate embarrassment of others will not be permitted. Any conduct that interferes with the quality of the educational experience is not allowed and may result in disciplinary action, such as course failure, probation, suspension, or dismissal. For more information on this topic, please review the Code of Conduct Policy in the University Catalog.