HLTH499: Health sciences capstone

Fall 2021 - CSU Channel Islands

Welcome to HLTH499! I am very excited to be working with you. This site provides you general information about the course and what to expect during the first week.

Please feel free to just call me “Dr. C.” If you have a preferred name other than your legal name, please update your profile in Canvas so that your classmates and I know to address you as such.

Just so you know I'm a real person, I have also included a welcome video (right below this), some pics of me traveling (one of my greatest passions) and of my dog, Comet.

About this Course...

  • Course dates: August 23 - December 4, 2021 (15 weeks)

  • This is a synchronous course, meaning we meet in-person on campus

    • Tuesdays 9:00 - 11:50 a.m.

      • Due to the nature of this course, there may be times we do not meet; please refer to the syllabus

    • Del Norte 1555

  • Course Outline

    • This course is broken into three major components

      • Reading and discussing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (this book is provided for you)

      • Researching and completing a Literature Review on a health topic of your choice

      • Completing a Health Sciences Professional Portfolio

    • Please note: there are additional, smaller assignments; these listed above are the main components of the course

Our Pact

To be successful in this class, you and I have to work together as partners. As we start this course together, I want our expectations of one another to be clear. Please read through these and be sure to make a commitment to uphold them:


What you can expect from me:

  • I will be actively present in your learning experience.

  • You will receive prompt feedback from me on your assignments, usually within 24 hours of the due date.

  • I will respond to emails and other communication within 24 hours, but usually much sooner.

  • I will make myself available to you during office hours and other times, via appointment, to help you learn!

  • I will strive to create a positive learning environment that is supportive and meets your needs.

  • I recognize that this class and I am not perfect...but I will strive to grow!

  • I will understand that you are balancing many responsibilities and will be flexible, within reason, to help you be successful in this course.

  • In my interactions with you, I will treat you with respect.

What I expect from you:

  • You will attend our in-person sessions and log into Canvas at least once a week to check for announcements

  • Each week you will spend about nine hours of work per week on this class outside of our meeting times (including readings, reviewing content provided in Canvas, attending optional office hours, research, and working on assignments).

  • You will plan on submitting assignments on time. If you are unable to, you will communicate with me before the deadline.

  • You will review all feedback provided on assignments and apply it appropriately.

  • You will attend office hours or make an appointment with me, if you have questions.

  • You will challenge yourself to learn!

  • You will treat each other and me with respect.

My Teaching Philosophy

This class is a community; you are not alone in this journey! To be successful, each member must be regularly present in the course, be willing to learn, and challenge themselves. Each of us is different and brings different strengths from our individual and diverse experiences.

I recognize many of you are balancing work and family responsibilities with your school work. Please remember what your education will mean to you and your families in improving your lives. This journey is not just about completing this course or checking off a specific assignment; it is about understanding the content so that you can become a valuable member of the healthcare field. This and your other classes should be a priority.

As like many of you, I was a first-generation college student: my father mowed lawns for a living and my mother was a homemaker. They did not know how to support me as I started my college journey; there were many challenges and obstacles that I had to navigate without any support. I am here to help you with this class, career decisions, or the college experience in general.


Week 1 Success Kit

To get started on the right foot for this course, please be sure to complete these activities the first week of class:

  • Review the Start Here Module

  • Review the syllabus

  • Complete the syllabus quiz

  • Attend our first in-person meeting on Tuesday, August 24 at 9:00 a.m. in Del Norte 1555

    • I am excited to see you all back on campus!


Communication Options

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns at any points. I am here to help! There are a few different ways to get a hold of me if you have any questions.

  • Virtual Office Hours Monday & Friday 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. via Zoom

  • In-Person Office Hours on Campus Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

    • Solano Hall 1115

      • This office is hard to find, so do not give up! It is down one of the side hallways near the end of the building closest to the street. If you cannot find it, call me: 805-665-3765

  • Make an appointment for a different time using this website if my office hours are not convenient for you

  • Email: thomas.clobes@csuci.edu

  • Phone: 805-665-3765