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University of North Texas
Department of Psychology
Spring 2010
January 18– May 15
Lecture: Tues. 6:30–9:20 p.m.
Room Number: LANG 312
Instructor
Mark Vosvick, Ph.D.
Office: TH 334
Phone: 940 565-4715
Email:
Office Hours: By Appointment
Table of Contents:
Course Description 1
Course Format 1 Objectives 1
Course Requirements 2
Course Business 2-3
Performance Eval 3
Course Schedule 4-10 Course Texts 11-12
The focus of this course will be on understanding the health-related behaviors and psychosocial factors associated with sexual minorities, primarily in the U.S. This course is designed for healthcare workers, educators, service providers and individuals who work with or are interested in LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) communities. We will explore the construct of the sexual minority and its development primarily in the west; however we will survey ethnic diversity issues within LGBT communities as well. We will identify and discuss health (e.g. HIV/AIDS, STI’s), health-related behaviors (e.g. substance use, safer sex practices, medical adherence) and psychosocial issues (e.g. stigma, tolerance, depression, anxiety) that LGBT community members must learn to navigate to achieve wellness in the 21st century. Historical and theoretical material will be presented to contextualize the course content for students.
Sensitive material will be presented in this course and students uncomfortable with topics that cover diverse issues in human sexuality, substance use, death and dying, and other non-mainstream social conventions should contact instructor prior to enrollment. A substantial amount of reading is required to cover all of the material. Therefore it is not necessary to read and memorize every word, but to understand the material and be able to discuss it intelligently.
This course will use a seminar format. New material will be presented in the readings as well as in seminar. Class sessions will focus on:
(1) Assigned readings;
(2) Student generated discussion
points; and
(3) Discussion of the diversity with
LGBT communities;
Students are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss any issues that need clarification. Please let me know if you have any difficulties with the class or suggestions for improving the class. Student input is always appreciated.
Course Objectives
The overarching objective of this course is to develop critical reasoning skills and be able to apply them to topics relevant to sexual minority populations.
1. Students will become familiar with biopsychosocial issues commonly found in LGBT communities.
2. Students will develop a solid foundation of the socio-cultural and historical evolution of sexual minorities in the west.
3. Students will explore various theories that inform the development of sexual identity.
4. Students will examine current psychosocial research and theories relevant to health and mental health that address the gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgendered communities.
5. Students will investigate the socio-economic and cultural implications to society of LGBT communities.
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Course Requirements
Attendance & Participation 25%
Leading Discussion 15%
Midterm 20%
Final Exam 20%
Response Papers (movies) 10%
Group Exercises 10%
Attendance & Participation:
Each seminar will typically begin with a critical reading and discussion. Students are expected to read assigned material, attend each seminar, arrive to seminar on time, reflect upon each of the reading assignments and actively engage in discussions about the assigned readings and related concepts. Students' participation will be evaluated based on the above, specifically in terms of the following: apparent thoughtfulness of comments, engagement in course material, and the ability to keep an open-mind and academic courtesy to colleagues, even when discussing controversial viewpoints. Respect must be given towards ALL seminar participants and disrespectful behavior will be considered disruptive and handled through disciplinary action.
Leading Discussion:
Beginning on 1/25, each seminar will be divided by readings and each reading will be assigned to two students. These students will be responsible for leading discussion on their assigned reading. To assist you in organizing your reading, you are required to turn into the instructor (at the end of your discussion) an outline of important topics from your reading and a list of discussion questions. This will contribute to your overall evaluation for Discussion.
It may be strategically wise for you to review the entire semester’s readings early and identify those readings you are interested in preparing for discussion. Each student will still be accountable for mastery of ALL COURSE MATERIAL. The instructor may administer quizzes at any time to motivate students to stay current with the material.
Exams:
A midterm and a final will be administered. Exams will include several different assessment items, including but not restricted to forced choice, multiple choice, matching, short answers and essays. Both exams will cover all course material up to the time of the examination (i.e. the final exam will be comprehensive). Exams MUST be taken when scheduled, since no make-ups will be offered (see ‘Absences’ section for exceptions due to illness or death in family). [If quizzes are necessary they will be in addition to any exams administered during the semester and will be included in the attendance and participation section of the student’s evaluation.]
Homework Films: Four films are reserved at the Media Library in Chilton Hall. You will be required to sign the course log at the library when you see them. This list will be sent to me. Additionally, class discussions will include the movies and an essay question on each exam will focus on one of the movies. For each film, you must write a one page reaction paper and turn it in on the day it is listed on the syllabus.
Group Projects: Each time groups work on a project they will turn in a product along with a roster of group members who contributed to the project. Since these group projects will be in-class exercises you must be present at these groups to be evaluated. You may not make-up a group project and will receive a 0 for any project you miss.
Accommodations: The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at www.unt.edu/oda/apply/index.html. Also, you may visit the Office of Disability Accommodation in the University Union (room 321) or call (940) 565-4323.
Academic Integrity: Integrity is an important component of professional ethics, and the university has a policy on academic dishonesty that applies to this course. You can find more information in the UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline. It is your responsibility as a student to be aware of the definitions and implications of academic dishonesty. Identification of academic dishonesty in this class can result in penalties including: additional work; a failing grade for the assignment or class; a grade being reduced or changed; referral to the Dean of Students. Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Any student who exhibits either of these behaviors will receive an “F” for the course. Disruptive behavior will also not be tolerated.
Final Project (grad students)
A final project is required of graduate students and will consist of a literature review of current research on one subpopulation of the LGBT communities. It is each graduate student’s responsibility to identify a topic and obtain approval from the instructor. APA citation and reference formats are required. Copies of all papers on reference list are required to be submitted along with the final paper. The graduate student will be expected to present findings from this project to the entire seminar toward the end of the semester.
Additional Readings (grad students)
Graduate students will be required to read additional material for this course that will deepen their knowledge of LGBT literature. Specific titles in LGBT Theory will be assigned based on the individual graduate student’s interests.
Extra Credit: Up to 10 extra credit points can be earned and applied to your final grade. Points can be earned by participating in Psych Department Research. See last page of syllabus for SONA instructions.
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Withdrawals: W’s for withdrawing from the course will be given ONLY if submitted prior to the UNT deadline. No exceptions will be made by the instructor.
Incompletes: Incompletes will only be permitted in extreme situations and only if requested early in the term. If you are granted an “I” (Incomplete) in any course, you must complete the work and have the “I” removed within one year or you must re-enroll in the course again.
Absences
If you miss a class, regardless of the reason, you will be counted absent. You may choose to write a one page essay on the chapter you missed during the absence and this will be taken into consideration, if at the end of the semester your grade is borderline between two grades. Only illness as documented by a physician’s note or a documented death in the family will be accepted for absences on exam days. Vacations and work schedules ARE NOT acceptable reasons to miss an exam. All other absences, regardless of the reason, will be counted as an absence and no work will be permitted to be made up. For those with proper documentation all make up exams will be in essay format and MUST be completed within one week of the absence. No exceptions.
Evaluation of Student Performance: Assignments will receive numerical grades ranging from 0.00 to 4.00 evaluating your performance for each of the above course requirements. The interpretive statements provided below will be used as a basis for assigning these grades. Any late assignments will be assessed a penalty of .25 per day. Failure to complete any assignment or failure in the course will not constitute an excuse for an Incomplete.
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Letter Grade / Numerical Grade / Interpretive StatementA / 3.5 – 4.0 / Exceptional work for a graduate student; work at this level is creative, thorough, well reasoned, insightful, well-written and shows clear recognition and an incisive understanding of the salient issues. Work of good professional quality.
B / 3.0 – 3.4 / Competent and sound work for a graduate student; well reasoned and thorough, but not especially creative or insightful (or creativity is poorly developed); shows adequate understanding of the issues, although that understanding may be somewhat incomplete. This is the grade that indicates neither exceptional strength nor exceptional weakness for graduate-level work.
C / 2.5 – 2.9 / Borderline work for a graduate student; barely meets the minimal expectations for the course; understanding of salient issues is incomplete, and overall performance, if consistently at this level, would be below the level of adequate graduate-level performance.
D / 2.0 – 2.4 / Consistently poor work for a graduate student; frequently does not meet the minimal expectations for the course; less than adequate understanding of the issues and course material. This is the grade that indicates exceptional weakness for graduate-level work.
F / < 2.0 / Unacceptable work for a graduate student; work at this level demonstrates neither a conceptual grasp of salient issues nor evidence of scholarly work.
This syllabus does not constitute a contract and should not be interpreted as such. The syllabus may be modified during the semester.
Course Schedule:
Date / Topic / Readings / Pages / Student AssignedJan 18 / Introduction and Overview of the Semester
Definitions / Barn Raising: Collaborative Group Process in Seminars
McCormack D (1987)
Lesbian, Gay Male, & Bisexual Dimensions in the Psychological Study of Human Diversity
Garnets LD & Kimmel DC (2003)
Will the Real Lesbians Please Stand Up
Diamond LM (2008)
Contemporary Issue:
Debate concerning the extent of choice vs No Choice in the Nature of Sexual Orientation
Garnets LD & Kimmel DC (2003)
Introduction in Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe
Boswell J (1994) / 1 – 6
[6 pgs]
80 – 88
[9 pgs]
1 – 16
[16 pgs]
26 – 29
[4 pgs]
xix - xxx
[11 pgs]
Jan 25 / Identities / History Desire & Identity
Weeks J in
Parker & Gagnon (1995)
Biological Perspectives on Sexual Orientation
Bailey in
Garnets LD & Kimmel DC (2003)
Gender Differences in Same Sex Sexuality
Diamond LM (2008)
Homework Film:
Before Stonewall (1985)
87 min / 33 – 50
[17 pgs]
50 – 85
[35 pgs]
17 – 53
[36 pgs]
Feb 1 / Identities cont. / Finding Sexual Identity and Community: Therapeutic Implications and Cultural Assumptions in Scientific Models of Coming Out
Rust in
Garnets LD & Kimmel DC (2003)
The Psychology of Sexual Prejudice
Herek in
Garnets LD & Kimmel DC (2003)
Contemporary Issue:
Sexual Prejudice, Verbal Abuse, Physical Harassment, and Violence Based on Sexual Orientation
Garnets LD & Kimmel DC (2003)
What Light It Shed: The Life of Evelyn Hooker
Garnets LD & Kimmel DC (2003)
Therapy with Sexual Minorities: Queering Practice
Nichols & Shernoff in
Leiblum SR (2007) / 227 – 269
[42 pgs]
157 – 164
[7 pgs]
153 – 154
[2 pgs]
31 – 49
[18 pgs]
379 – 415
[36 pgs]
Feb 8 / Transgender Issues
Panel Discussion
Transgender Issues cont / Imagining Transgender
Valentine D (2007)
Transgender Communities: Developing Identity Through Connection