This collection was curated by an ASCCC OERI discipline lead. A comprehensive list of current discipline leads is available.
Health 101
- Principles of Epidemiology (Hector Giovanni Antunez, 2022) (CC BY-NC-SA)
A seven chapter textbook especially designed for undergraduates, who are taking an introductory course in epidemiology.
Comment: License renewed in 2022 and changed to CC BY-NC-SA
Personal Health and Wellness
- Health Education (Rienk and Lundin, 2021) (CC BY-SA)
Readers will learn about the nature of health, health education, health promotion and related concepts and its social, psychological and physical components. Contains 14 chapters on such topics as psychological health, stress management, relationships, sexual health, and physical fitness.
Comment: An appropriate text for courses in personal health and wellness. Individual chapters could be useful in stress management and fitness courses that may be located in the Kinesiology discipline. - Contemporary Health Issues (Lumen, 2020) (CC BY-SA)
For personal health courses that cover the typical topics of relationships, nutrition, diseases and disorders, emotional health, etc. Includes links for students to complete online learning activities.
Comment: Very lacking in visual images. Not appropriate for public health courses. - Personal and Community Health (Baldwin, 2021) (CC BY-SA)
14-chapter personal health textbook with typical chapters about physical and psychological health, relationships, substance abuse, nutrition, etc.
Comment: Very similar to Kelly Falcone’s text Introduction to Health. She is given credit throughout the book for the use of that text. The Community Health title is misleading since this book is about personal health rather than public health. - HE 250: Personal Health, Portland Community College (Hofer, 2016) (CC BY)
Includes 17 topic modules that cover a broad range of personal and public health topics. Each topic has a Google Slides Presentation, Instructor Resources, Student Resources, Topic Study Guides, an In-Class Activity, Discussion Questions.
Comment: You must request access through Google Drive. - Women’s Health (Markell, 2021) (CC BY)
A 10-chapter text covering female anatomy, nutrition and fitness, pregnancy, breast health and female cancers and more.
Comment: It is lacking in visual images which would make it more engaging.
Fitness
- Introduction to Health (Falcone, 2021) (CC BY-SA)
A 15-chapter textbook covering weight management, violence, substance abuse, aging, drugs and addiction, sexuality and more.
Comment: Certain chapters could be applicable to courses in the Kinesology discipline, like Chapter 2 Exercise and Physical Activity, Chapter 4 Weight Management and Chapter 5 Stress Management. - Concepts of Fitness and Wellness (Flynn et al., 2021) (CC BY-NC-SA)
A 13-chapter textbook with chapters on cardiovascular disease, cancer, stress, substance abuse and more.
Comment: Certain chapters could be applicable to courses in the Kinesology discipline, like chapters on the fitness principles and each of the five components of fitness. - Lifetime Fitness and Wellness (Lumen, 2020) (CC BY-NC-SA)
Book has 10 chapters divided up into 4 units. Chapters cover cardiorespiratory endurance, nutrition, muscular strength and endurance and physical activity.
Comment: Material is more geared toward fitness than towards health. Applicable to kinesiology courses, also.
Public Health
- Public Health Ethics – Cases Spanning the Globe (Barrett, Dawson, Ortmann, 2020) (CC BY-NC)
Sets forth an ethics framework for analyzing public health cases; examines the role of facts and values in public health; reviews seminal cases that shaped public health research and practice.
Comment: A valuable resource for a public health instructor for presenting studies that show the history of public health. Using the entire textbook would be best in a 200 or 300 level course. - Public Health in Pharmacy Practice: A Casebook – 2nd Edition (Covvey, Arya, and Mager, 2021) (CC BY)
A total of 54 chapters covering a broad array of topics relevant to pharmacy applications of public health. The book is designed to allow educators/students to choose chapters of interest as they feel suited, as each chapter is independent from the others.
Lifespan Development
- Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being (Lang, Cone 2022) (CC BY-SA)
This book provides an overview of lifespan developmental tasks (physical, cognitive, language, social, emotional) examined from individual and family theoretical perspectives. It covers topics related to families, diversity, individual and family health and well-being, and reciprocal relationships as affected by external factors.
Medical Terminology
- Medical Terminology for Healthcare Profession (Nelson & Greene, 2021) (CC BY)
OER textbook focuses on breaking down, pronouncing, and learning the meaning of medical terms within the context of anatomy and physiology. This resource is targeted for Healthcare Administration, Health Sciences, and Pre-Professional students.
Women’s Health
- Global Women’s Issues: Women in the World Today (Bureau of International Information Programs, United States Department of State, 2012)
(Public Domin) A 12-chapter book with chapters on women and health, women and poverty, rights of the girl child, violence against women, etc. Each chapter has multiple choice questions, discussion questions, essay questions, and a list of resources. The book is 13 years old so the statistics in the text are outdated. But, the issues remain the same. The profiles of women and organizations could be assigned as reading which would lead to excellent discussions about women’s health issues around the world.
- Office on Women’s Health (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
(Public Domin) An extensive website with up-to-date content, on A to Z topics fact sheets, e-publications and other printable and shareable content. This is public information and is not copyrighted and may be reproduced without permission, though citation of womenshealth.gov is appreciated. Photographs cannot be reused.
- girlshealth.gov (Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
(Public Domin) Girlshealth.gov gives girls reliable, useful information on the health issues they will face as they become young women. Covers hundreds of topics, from getting your period to stopping bullies, and from getting fit to preventing sexually transmitted infections. Lots of free printable and interactive tools for girls’ health and well-being. Colorful pages, youthful appearance.
Using an OER resource that is missing from the list above? If so, please let us know.
This page was last updated on May 9, 2023.