Location:

Course Website and Email:

http://www.yorku.ca/sgrace/index.html
Email Address: kine2000@yorku.ca

Instructor:
Sherry L. Grace, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Affiliated Scientist
Bethune 368
sgrace@yorku.ca
416 736-2100 x.22364

Office Hours:

Objectives:

This course provides an in depth examination of the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) from a behavioural, psychosocial, and health services lens. It is designed to provide an analysis of the primary topics in cardiac psychology, and emphasizes both psychological research approaches and application of behavioural medicine.

Format:

Each class we will discuss the weekly readings as outlined below. We will also be working on some "academic skills" to be reviewed during class.

Required Course Texts:

There are PDF files of assigned readings for each class which can be downloaded from the website listed above. There are 2-3 assigned readings per week. Some chapters are excerpted from:
Canadian Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Enhancing the science, refining the art (2nd Ed). Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation. Editors: Jim Stone and Heather Arthur. 2004.

Grades will be determined on the basis of three assignments and class participation.

1. The first assignment involves leading a seminar on one of the weekly topics outlined in the schedule below. Grades will be based on three requirements. First, present a five minute lay summary of the topic area suitable for the media and lay public (see media tips). Second, present an overview of the topic including a review of theoretical developments and recent empirical literature (approximately 20 minutes). Prepare your presentation using MS PowerPoint. Pretend that you are gaining skills for undergraduate teaching in your future career! Finally, lead the class in discussion of the assigned readings. Come prepared with questions for your classmates. Pretend that you are chairing a conference symposium or workshop.

2. The second assignment is to prepare an abstract suitable for submission to a conference. Ideally, the abstract should relate to course material, but if you wish to submit some previous research or your current thesis work, that is also acceptable. In addition, it is preferable if you have results to present, but preliminary hypotheses will also be accepted. As an example, you can follow guidelines for the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, or another professional association of your choice. You will provide a first draft for peer review in class (see guidelines regarding peer review), and then revise and re-submit a second draft for grading.

3. The third assignment is a grant proposal on a topic of your choice related to material covered in the course (or to build on your thesis research). The proposal should be prepared in conformity with CIHR guidelines for operating grants (10 page proposal double-spaced, and your common CV with attachments). See http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/797.html. Use RefWorks for citing the literature. Please make a copy for distribution to the other members of the class. We will hold a mock peer review committee meeting during the last class.

Tentative Course Schedule