Health Humanities 410

I. Course Title: Health Humanities Capstone Experience

II. Course Number: HHUM 410

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: Senior status or permission of the program coordinator.

V. Course Description: 

In this required capstone course for the Health Humanities minor, students synthesize their knowledge of the health humanities and develop an ePortfolio that demonstrates their learning in ways that are meaningful to a current/potential employer and/or graduate school admissions committee. Included in the ePortfolio is a research project that encompasses the aims and methods of the health humanities; the research project must be completed during the semester in which students enroll in HHUM 410 and can take the form of a traditional essay, recommendation report, creative work, multimedia composition, etc. This course observes a regular meeting schedule throughout the semester. Lecture.

Note(s): Humanistic or Artistic Expression designated course. This course observes a regular meeting schedule throughout the semester.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

As a capstone experience that unifies students’ exploration with the health humanities, this course enables students to (1) reflect on their past learning and knowledge of the health humanities, (2) more deeply pursue the relationship between their academic field of study and the health humanities, and (3) contemplate how their studies in the health humanities intersect with their current/prospective career and/or post-baccalaureate educational plans. Students will realize these goals by developing an ePortfolio of their past work in the minor and possibly, other courses. Included in the ePortfolio will be an original research project on a subject of their choosing that encompasses the aims and methods of the health humanities. The majority of the work on the original research project should be completed during the semester in which students enroll in HHUM 410 and can take the form of a traditional essay, recommendation report, creative work, multimedia composition, etc. Because the ePortfolio also is designed to help students articulate their knowledge/competencies in the health humanities to current/potential employers or graduate school admissions committees, the ePortfolio also will include documents like a resume, biography, personal statement, etc. To better understand how to develop these materials, students will be required to complete activities like visiting Radford’s Center for Career and Talent Development, seeking out information interviews, attending career or graduate school fairs, etc. Additional activities that students may participate in include:

1. Articulating connections among one’s past coursework in the health humanities.
2. Developing a personal definition of the health humanities based on one’s academic work, knowledge of the field, and future goals.
3. Building an ePortfolio of past coursework relevant to the health humanities using Portfolium, WordPress, or Wix, depending on student/instructor preference.
4. Identifying suitable topics for a research project that promotes humanistic inquiry and/or cultural and behavioral analysis. 
5. Choosing a suitable medium for the project, depending on one’s field of study, desired outcome of the project, and future educational/professional goals.
6. Identifying suitable research tools, and using those tools to find objective, relevant sources, including sources that present counter-arguments or credible alternative viewpoints.
7. Composing documents that facilitate the completion of the research project, such as a proposal, an annotated bibliography, and/or progress reports.
8. Providing feedback to peers on their work in progress. 

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

Depending on instructor preference, the course may incorporate the following instructional strategies:

1. Peer-to-peer and peer-to-instructor conferences
2. Self-paced instruction
3. Lecture
4. “Flipped” lectures facilitated by D2L
5. Small- and large-group discussions
6. Experiential learning activities
7. Peer-led learning
8. Guest lectures
9. Field visits
10. Computer-assisted instruction

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

By the end of the course, students will be able to successfully:

1. Identify what they know about the health humanities based on their imminent completion of the Health Humanities minor.
2. Recognize how their understanding of the health humanities has evolved during their academic studies.
3. Articulate the relationship among the health humanities, their major, and their prospective careers.
4. Develop and then complete an original research project focused on humanistic inquiry and/or behavioral/cultural analysis that applies some of the methods of the health humanities.
5. Create an ePortfolio that demonstrates their engagement with the health humanities to an external audience who aligns with their post-baccalaureate goals (e.g., potential employer, potential graduate school admissions committee).

VIII. Assessment Measures:

Students must be primarily evaluated based on their completion of an ePortfolio and research project. Other assessment measures may include:

1. Quizzes and homework
2. Presentations
3. Essays and other writing assignments
4. Informal, in-class writing activities
5. Short, reflection-based writing assignments
6. Other goal-based writing assignments as needed
7. Student presentations
8. ePortfolio defense
9. Oral exam

Review and Approval

August 2020

March 01, 2021