Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Mindfulness and Meditation (Online)

FLHD 3450-30I

Course: FLHD 3450-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: FLHD
CRN: 20278

Course Description

This experiential course is an introduction to mindfulness and meditation. Students will learn the basic principles of mindfulness and meditation and apply these principles in their life. Classes will combine lecture, discussion, and practice. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): FLHD 1500 or PSY 1100 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

Christiansen, S. & Simpson, B. (Preliminary Edition, 2024). Building a Mindful Life: Applying Mindfulness and Meditation Principles to Everyday Life. Cognella Press. 

The textbook is published by Cognella Academic Publishing and titled Building a Mindful Life.

Purchase direct from the publisher here: https://store.cognella.com/84175-1A-002

If you select an ebook for this title, you will have immediate access upon purchase. After creating a Cognella Store account, signing in, and purchasing, go to the section My Digital Materials where you will find a link to your ebook.

These course materials include information that we will reference and use in class regularly, so you should be sure to purchase your own copy of all required materials. Please keep in mind that our institution is strict about copyright law and course materials should never be copied or duplicated in any manner.

Recommended Texts

  • Sockolov, M. (2018). Practicing mindfulness: 75 essential meditations to reduce stress, improve mental health, and find peace in the everyday. Emeryville, California, Althea Press.
  • Watkins, P. (2019). Meditation made simple: Weekly practices for relieving stress, finding balance, and cultivating joy. New York, Crestline.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Identify the historical and philosophical foundations of mindfulness and meditation.
  2. Apply mindfulness and meditation principles to everyday life. 
  3. Develop a personal mindfulness and meditation practice.
  4. Explore mindfulness and meditation’s impact on health and therapeutic outcomes.
  5. Explain the theory, practice, and research on mindfulness and meditation and how this knowledge applies to education, therapy, and individual practice.

Course Requirements

Course Assessment Table

Reflection Papers |  1, 2, 4, 5
Reflection Paper Discussions |  1, 2, 4, 5
Mindfulness in Daily Life |  2, 3, 5
Daily Personal Meditation Practice |  2, 3, 5
Community Meditation Reflection |  2, 5
Mindfulness/Meditation Share, Teach, Reflect |  2, 3, 5
Mindfulness and Meditation Final Reflection |  2, 3, 5

Assignment Outline

All papers are turned in through the Copyleaks software program. Papers must have a green rating and have a rating of 25% or less to be accepted. Papers that are not rated green or have a rating of 25% or more for similarity will not be accepted for points. Please click the syllabus statement link below for information about SUU's Academic Integrity policy if you have questions about plagiarism.

Reflection Papers

Students will complete 10 reflection papers (6 points each) throughout the semester based on the assigned readings and videos. Each paper should be a minimum of 750 words and include: (1) a summary of key ideas from the readings, (2) a summary of key ideas from the videos, (3) personal reactions and insights, and (4) ways the material can be applied to personal or professional life. Reflection papers should be written primarily in the student’s own words, follow the formatting guidelines outlined in the course, and be submitted through Copyleaks with an acceptable similarity score. The purpose of these reflections is to encourage meaningful engagement with the course content rather than simple completion of assignments.
Reflection Paper Example (Your reflection papers do not have to be this long if you don't want them to be, but this is a good example of writing your reflection papers for yourself and not me. Since this was written I separated the discussion of the readings and videos so you reflection organization will be slightly different).

Reflection Paper Discussions

Students will participate in seven class discussions (6 points each) throughout the semester based on the assigned readings and course content. In each discussion, students will reflect on the material, engage with recurring themes and ideas, and share their thoughts with classmates. Discussion formats and requirements may vary by module, so students should carefully review the directions for each discussion activity.

Mindfulness in Daily Life Practice

For this assignment, students will choose one area of their life to intentionally practice mindfulness over a three-week period (5 points per week) using strategies such as meditation, journaling, breathing, movement, or self-compassion. Students will track their mindfulness practice weekly and reflect on their experiences, challenges, benefits, and personal growth in a final reflection paper submitted at the end of the semester.

Daily Personal Meditation Practice

Students will meditate at least five days per week for four weeks (5 points per week) and record their practice on the Weekly Report Forms. The purpose of this assignment is to develop a consistent and intentional meditation practice that supports cultivating mindfulness in daily life.
You are welcome to use an app, guided meditations, or break up the time through the day.

Community Meditation/Mindfulness Reflection

Students will attend a community meditation, mindfulness, yoga, or related wellness event and submit a one-paragraph reflection on their experience. The reflection should include the location and date of the event, a description of the experience, personal observations, and thoughts about what was learned or noticed during the activity. This assignment is worth 5 points. 

Mindfulness/Meditation Share, Teach, Reflect

Students will teach an individual or group about mindfulness or meditation through an experiential activity such as a guided meditation, yoga flow, or other mindfulness practice. Teaching may take place informally or in an educational or professional setting and should include both instruction and active participation. Students will be evaluated on their lesson plan, teaching experience, participant feedback or assessment, and personal reflection on the value of the experience. This assignment is worth 10 points.

Mindfulness and Meditation Final Reflection

Students will write a final reflection letter summarizing their mindfulness and meditation experiences throughout the semester. The paper should discuss the student’s meditation practice, mindfulness in daily life practice, challenges encountered, personal growth, benefits noticed, and plans for continuing these practices in the future. The reflection should be a minimum of two double-spaced pages, follow course formatting guidelines, and incorporate lessons learned from personal experiences, readings, and course materials. This assignment is worth 15 points.
Example Paper Organization Template

Grade Scheme

Reflection Papers |  6 pts each x 10
Reflection Paper Discussions |  6 pts each x 7
Mindfulness in Daily Life |  5 pts each x 3
Daily Personal Meditation Practice |  5 pts each x 4
Community Meditation Reflection |  5 pts
Mindfulness/Meditation Share, Teach, Reflect |  10 pts
Mindfulness and Meditation Final Reflection |  15 pts
Total: 162 pts

Grade Range:
A | 100 % to 94.0%
A- | < 94.0 % to 90.0%
B+ | < 90.0 % to 87.0%
B | < 87.0 % to 84.0%
B- | < 84.0 % to 80.0%
C+ | < 80.0 % to 77.0%
C | < 77.0 % to 74.0%
C- | < 74.0 % to 70.0%
D+ | < 70.0 % to 67.0%
D | < 67.0 % to 64.0%
D- | < 64.0 % to 61.0%
F | < 61.0 % to 0.0%

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation
Module 2: Mindfulness in Movement and in Our Senses
Module 3: Mindfulness for Emotional Well-Being
Module 4: Mindful Self-Compassion and Kindness
Module 5: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Foundations
Module 6: Mindfulness in DBT and Daily Life
Module 7: Mindfulness and Yoga for Youth Development

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Policy/Make Up Work - Late work will not be accepted unless the student provides a reasonable excuse for missing the deadline and appropriate documentation (e.g., a doctor’s note).

Because this is a summer course that moves at an accelerated pace, it is especially important to stay on schedule. Assignments build on one another, and falling behind can make it difficult to keep up with the course.

Attendance Policy

Attendance - This is an asynchronous online course and therefore synchronous attendance is not required. Your participation in the course activities and discussions are essentially your attendance.

Additional Policies and Resources

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback

Online classes provide unique challenges for interaction. Feedback is an important part of learning, please look for feedback on your assignments. To find feedback look at this tutorial How do I view assignment comments from my Instructor.
It is my goal to:
  • Respond to student messages within 3 business days
  • Provide grades and feedback within 5-7 business days from the due date
  • Students have 5 days to appeal the assigned grade after grades have been posted.

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

Financial Security Statement

Finances are an integral part of maintaining your wellbeing. If you are struggling financially or wish to know more about budgeting, please visit the Financial Wellness Center in room 201C in the Sharwan Smith Center, contact Ashleigh Zimmerman at (435) 865-8436, or text the Financial Wellness line at 435-708-1952.  

AI Use

AI is a useful tool and it is one that you will likely want to be familiar with as you look for a job. That being said, the purpose of this class is to train and develop critical thinkers that can analyze, solve problems, and apply research. In this class you are welcome to use AI to help you during the brainstorming and research gathering part of the class as well as checking grammar and syntax. However, during the composition of the assignments, the work needs to be your own. AI used to answer questions or create drafts for your discussion posts, assignments, or projects is in violation of academic integrity under plagiarism and will result in punishments from failing the assignment/class up to being expelled. AI checkers and plagiarism checkers may be used for any discussion, assignment, test, or project. The responsibility for violations of intellectual property laws, misinformation, or unethical content lies on the student. If you have any questions, please reach out to me.

SUU Campus Resources and Services

SUU has several resources and services available to support you during your time here at SUU, please review this list of SUU Campus Resources and Services (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and the Student Handbook (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. For more information on Canvas and other technologies, and their statements on Accessibility and Privacy statements please review our Vendor Resources  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.page.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.