MCCCD Program Description

Women and Health: Body/Mind/Spirit/Connection

Course: WST286

First Term: 2023 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Economic, sociopolitical, and demographic factors affecting women`s health. Methods for optimizing physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Specific health concerns of women throughout the lifespan. Activism for health promotion.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Analyze health behaviors and develop a plan for optimizing health status. (I) 2. Evaluate methods used for stress reduction. (II) 3. Describe the impact of health care policy on women`s health. (III) 4. Describe contributions of women healers. (IV) 5. Identify strategies for improving nutrition. (V) 6. Develop strategies for maintaining an exercise program. (VI) 7. Describe and critique societal norms for the ideal woman`s body. (VII) 8. Explain strategies for reducing violence towards women. (VIII) 9. Identify and contrast choices in childbirth and childbearing. (IX) 10. Describe options for sexuality and fertility management. (X) 11. Explain preventative health measures to decrease the incidence or severity of women`s health problems. (XI) 12. Identify behaviors that help to maintain health throughout menopause and old age. (XII) 13. Describe societal conditions that impact the mental health of women. (XIII) 14. Implement a personal action plan to improve one`s health. (XIV)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Women`s Bodies: An Owner`s Manual A. Analysis of personal health care behaviors B. Personal goal setting II. Creating Health: Body/Mind/Spirit connection A. Stressors and their effect on the body B. Personal stress index C. Methods of stress reduction (exercise, massage, breathing, mediation, etc.) D. Practice of stress reduction III. Women and the Health Care System A. Political economy of health 1. Race, class, and gender 2. Who gets health care 3. Who pays 4. Who decides B. Women as clients 1. Historical perspectives 2. Women as subjects of medical control IV. Women as Healers A. Historical perspectives of women as healers B. Contributions of various female healers V. Eating for Health A. Healthy eating B. Analysis of personal nutrition C. Goal setting D. Making your world a healthier place VI. Women in Motion A. Benefits of exercise: body/mind/spirit B. Gender issues C. Barriers to exercise D. Making your world a healthier place VII. Body Image A. The impact of media play in prescribing body image B. Plastic surgery: who, what and why C. Effects of eating disorders D. Making your world a healthier place VIII. Women and Violence A. Forms of violence 1. Domestic violence 2. Rape 3. Incest 4. Pornography 5. Harassment B. Cycle of abuse C. Signs and symptoms of abuse D. Making your world a healthier place IX. Childbearing, Childbirth and Infertility A. History of childbirth in American B. Culture and childbirth C. New technologies D. Abortion E. Infertility X. Women and Sexuality A. Gender, sexuality and roles B. Family planning options XI. Women`s Health Problems A. Menstrual disorders B. Sexually transmitted disease and AIDS C. Breast conditions D. Uterine and bladder problems E. Cardiovascular disorders F. Diseases affecting women disproportionate to men XII. Women, Aging and Menopause A. Physical changes 1. Hormonal changes and hormone replacement therapy 2. Osteoporosis 3. Alterations in pelvic support B. Mental changes C. Spiritual changes XIII. Mental Wellness A. Recognizing the problem B. Common problems: Depression, substance abuse, suicide C. Societal factors contributing to mental health or mental illness XIV. Working together for Women`s Health A. The importance of just one person B. Development of an action plan C. Implementation of the action plan D. Evaluation of the action plan

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 3/25/1997

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.