PSY 4931: Senior Seminar in Culture & Sexual Health Department Of Psychology- College Of Arts & Sciences Section U02- Spring 2019 Thursdays 2:30pm to 3:45pm in DM 190 Instructor: Dr. Dionne Stephens Phone: 305-348-1809 Email: Use COURSE EMAIL in Canvas only. Dr. Stephens does not accept student emails outside of Canvas Office Hours: Tuesdays 4:45 to 6:00pm in DM 203 COURSE DESCRIPTION & PURPOSE Students in this course will gain broad exposure to several sexual health issues and the interdisciplinary theorizing of feminist, social scientists, and public health scholars. Topics highlighted in some of these works include the psychosocial construction of sexual health problems and; the effects of culture values tied to race, class, sex, violence, and contexual conditions on sexual health outcomes; and how men and women make meaning of their sexual health experiences. We will explore the social and cultural dimensions that underlie sexual health and wellbeing, with special attention to the long-term health effects of cultural values. It is hoped that you will leave this class not simply with a list of the whats and whens of sexuality research in psychology, but increased ability to critique sexual health norms and values in your own life and cultures. Completing this course will help students learn to do the following with greater depth: Understand basic terms, concepts, and domains of culture in sexuality research Comprehend methods, theories and perspectives influencing sexual health research Identify human sexual behavioral patterns cross culturally and discuss their interrelatedness and distinctiveness Enhance understanding of the social constructions of sexuality through the application of conceptual frameworks to first-hand engagement with contemporary issues STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this course, the successful student should be able to: Articulate an understanding of the impact of culture, including gender, race, class, context, region, religion, and other factors, on women and men s multiple sexual health realities Evaluate the social construction of cultural meanings relating to sexual health Integrate personal perspectives with theories and current sexual health research findings, and reflect on their significance Deconstruct factors that impact perceptions about sexual health cross culturally Articulate an understanding of the relevance of the culture to an underlying theme of sexual health and sexuality research Produce an original, research based group project and research paper that synthesize course objectives
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & SKILLS All students are required to purchase an IClicker for this course. Student in this class must have basic computer literacy and access to Canvas. By computer literacy we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in this course are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. COURSE PREREQUISITES PSY 3213: Research Methods REQUIRED READINGS Required: All required readings will be available in Canvas. Iclicker 2 with Iclicker Go 6 Month Access Required by Freeman ISBN: 9781464194559 *students must use this Iclicker as other applications are not supported. COURSE DETAILS COURSE COMMUNICATION Communication outside the classroom in this course will take place via Canvas course mail. The message feature is a private, internal Canvas only communication system. Users must log on to the Canvas system to send/receive/read messages. There are no notifications in Canvas to inform users when a new message has been received; therefore, it is recommended that students check their messages routinely to ensure up-to-date communication. This is the best method to communicate with your instructor privately. 2
ASSIGNMENTS ABSTRACT (5 POINTS) Students will prepare a summary of an assigned area of research to demonstrate their grasp of fundamental cultural influences influencing sexuality. This will be demonstrated through their preparation of a research abstract. See the Abstract section of Canvas for information. LITERATURE REVIEW TABLE (5 POINTS) Toward learning to think critically about research, students are required to illustrate their ability to seek out and identify peer reviewed research. This will be demonstrated through their completion of a literature review table. See the Literature Review Table section of Canvas for information. RESEARCH PAPER (20 POINTS) Research Papers require students to answer three sets of questions based upon their project proposal; this assignment is worth 20 points. Research Papers are to be submitted by the posted due date and time or they will not be accepted; if you are unsure of the due date check the course calendar, Discussion Forum and Research Paper Options sections of Canvas. Please see the Research Paper section of Canvas for specific expectations. ORAL PRESENTATION (20 POINTS) Students are required to prepare a digitally recorded oral and visual presentation of their project proposal. This will be a PowerPoint presentation that must be recorded and uploaded to Canvas. This is a major assignment that integrates course readings and critical research analysis over a semester. See the Oral Presentation section of Canvas for specific information. ICLICKERS (30 POINTS) IClicker questions are intended to assess your understanding, retention, and knowledge of material covered in lectures and in the required readings. Each question is worth 1/2 of a point (.5). Students will be able to earn a maximum of 30 points. Given there are extra weeks of questions available, students will not have the opportunity to make up missed IClicker questions. Students who have IClicker points entered on a day they did not attend class will automatically earn a zero for this entire assignment. Students that enter IClicker points on behalf of another student will also automatically earn a zero for this entire assignment. Further, they will be formally grieved through FIU s Academic Affairs; this is considered cheating. See the IClickers section of Canvas for more information. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS (20 POINTS) The Professional Development section of the course will help students to develop realistic and attainable career and/or educational goals. Professional Development portion of the course comprises of two components. The first are five Professional Development Posts worth a total of 10 points. This requires you to engage in reflections and complete activities related to your career or academic goals. The second component is one Professional Development Portfolio worth 10 points. Please see the Professional Development section of Canvas for specific information. PARTICIPATION & ENGAGEMENT (10 POINTS) Class participation will be based on your level of preparation for each class. This will be determined by (1) your readiness to volunteer or respond appropriately when called on, and (2) the quality (not just quantity) of your responses and questions (I am interested in whether or not your questions / comments show an ability to integrate the materials we've read and discussed, to offer relevant and unique insights, etc.), and (3) punctuality and attendance. Participation is worth 10 points. Please see the Participation & Engagement section of Canvas for specific information. 3
GRADING Course Requirements Number of Items Points for Each Total Points Available Weight Research Paper 1 20 20 20% Abstract 1 5 5 5% Literature Review Table 1 5 5 5% Oral Presentation 1 20 20 20% IClickers 40 0.5 20 20% Participation & Engagement N/A N/A 10 10% Professional Development Posts 5 2 10 10% Professional Development Portfolio 1 10 10 10% Total N/A N/A 110 100 Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range A 95 and above B 80-84 points C 65-69 points A- 90-94 points B- 75-79 points D 60-64 points B+ 85 89 points C+ 70-74 points F 59 points and below Please note the total points possible in this course is 110; extra credit points have been built into this assignment. For this reason, there will be NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTRA CREDIT given for any reason in this course. 4
COURSE SCHEDULE UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE & SEXUAL HEALTH RESEARCH Date Topics Required Readings WEEK 1 January 9 January 13 Course Orientation Introduction to Culture & Sexual Health The Professional Development Post 1 is due by 11pm. Review the links provided in Canvas UNIT 1: CONTEXT & SEXUAL HEALTH RESEARCH WEEK 2 January 16 Globalization & Sexual Health: IPV in India Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in South Asia TBA WEEK 3 January 23 WEEK 4 January 30 Demographics & Sexual Health: Reproductive Justice Approach to Black Women s Sexuality Region & Sexual Health: Commercial Sex Trafficking in the U.S. Racism, African American Women, and Sexual and Reproductive Health Why America s Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis IClicker Grading Begins Sex Trafficking in the US: A Closer Look at U.S. Citizens TBA February 3 LITERATURE REVIEW TABLE DUE The Professional Development Post 2 is due by 11pm. Review the links provided in Canvas The Professional Development Post 2 is due by 11pm. Review the links provided in Canvas 5
UNIT 2: IDENTITY & SEXUAL HEALTH Date Topics Required Readings WEEK 5 February 6 WEEK 6 February 13 Caste & Color: Dating & Intimacy Race/ Ethnicity & Sexuality: Latino Masculinity & Sexuality Ni Pardo, Ni Prieto: Parental skin color messaging on Hispanic women Influence of skin color on Black women s dating preference beliefs Masculinity scripts and Hispanic men's female sexual coercion Hispanic men s appropriate sexual intercourse initiation strategies February 17 ABSTRACT DUE The Data Analysis Assignment is due by 11pm. Review the links provided in Canvas The Professional Development Post 3 is due by 11pm. Review the links provided in Canvas WEEK 7 February 20 Gender & Sexuality: STI Stigmas & Culture STI Prevention and Control for Women TBA WEEK 8 February 27 Sexual Minorities & Sexuality: SPA Project of Trans Latinas of Ontario Advancing Methods for U.S. Transgender Health Research TBA March 3 The Professional Development Post 4 is due by 11pm. Review the links provided in Canvas UNIT 2: Media Cultures & Sexual Health Date Topics Required Readings WEEK 9 March 6 Music & Sexual Risk: Black Women & Hip Hop The Influence of Mainstream Hip Hop s female sexual scripts on African American women s dating relationship experiences Freaks, Gold Diggers, Divas & Dykes March 10 RESEARCH PAPER This assignment is due by 11pm. See RESEARCH PAPER in Canvas for more information March 12-17 SPRING BREAK- No classes WEEK 10 March 20 Film & Sexual Risk: Fifty Shades of Grey Young women s perceptions of the relationship in Fifty Shades of Grey 50 Shades s associated with health risks in adolescent and young adult women 6
WEEK 11 March 27 Television & Sexual Risk: Reality TV & Black Women African American Stereotypes in Reality Television Representations of Race in Reality TV March 31 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO DUE This assignment is due by 11pm. See PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT in Canvas for information WEEK 12 April 3 WEEK 13 April 10 Social Media: Sexting among high school women of color Social Media: Non- Consensual Porn Black college women s reflections on sexting during high school. TBA Last Day of IClicker Grading An examination of nonconsensual pornography websites Revenge Pornography: Mental Health Implications & Related Legislation April 14 The Professional Development Post 5 is due by 11pm. Review the links provided in Canvas Last day to submit SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS option; due by 11pm this day. See SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS in Canvas for more information WEEK 14 April 17 ORAL PRESENTATION DUE This class period will be used for submitting Oral Presentations. Submissions must be on a USB drive brought to Dr. Stephens in her office during the regular class period (DM 203); USB drives will be returned. See ORAL PRESENTATION in Canvas for more information. 7