Introduction to Biobehavioral Health

Catalog description

This is an honors course, designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage with the material at a greater depth. BBH 101H is an interdisciplinary study of health that emphasizes: (1) Conceptualization of health as being influenced by a variety of factors including biology, environment, psychology, and social influences; and (2) The concept of health as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and not just the absence of disease. The first section of the course is a study of the foundational principles of health including a basic overview of the nervous, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems as well as basic principles of genetics and psychology. The second section of the course is focused on risk factors and health-related behaviors. The importance of nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, and environmental risk factors are studied. The final component of the course emphasizes population health by addressing relevant health conditions such as diabetes, substance abuse and addiction, cardiovascular disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.