7400:446/546 Culture, Ethnicity, and the
Family
Course Syllabus
Spring 2007
This
syllabus has clickable links:
http://www3.uakron.edu/schulze/446/
We see things not as they are, but as we are. --Anais Nin
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Instructor: Pamela Schulze, Ph.D. ph: (330) 972-7725 ofc: 220J Schrank Hall South |
email: Schulze@uakron.edu Office
Hours: MW 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. and by appointment |
Class Meeting Time: 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. M W Class Location: SHS 220
Course Description: This course builds upon concepts and issues related to culture, human development, and family relations. An integrative approach to theory, research, and practice will be used to understand families and individuals in the context of culture.
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Course Objectives: |
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1. |
Identify beliefs, values,
traditional practices of various ethnic groups. |
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2. |
Develop a greater
understanding and appreciation of one’s own cultural beliefs and values. |
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3. |
Explain cultural beliefs in
relation to family practices and development across the lifespan |
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4. |
Develop
a cultural perspective that can be applied to professional or practical
issues |
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5. |
Apply a family strengths
perspective to the understanding of cultural diversity in family functioning |
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6. |
Apply course material in ways
that has the potential to empower individuals, families, and communities |
Required Text (all students):
Rogoff, Barbara (2003). The Cultural Nature of Human Development.
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Course Webpage:
http://www3.uakron.edu/schulze/446/
Students are required
to visit the webpage at least once a week to check for announcements and other
new information such as detailed information about assignments and extra credit
opportunities. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with all
instructions and information posted on the course website pertaining to the
class.
Course Requirements:
Participation:
Active
participation in this class is essential. Attendance is necessary but not
sufficient for active participation. Students must come to class prepared
(having read all assigned readings and having completed any assignment(s)
given). Students must show that they are actively listening. Students must also
attempt to answer questions and/or become actively engaged in class
discussions. All students are expected to be current with the reading materials
and assignments to be able to participate and contribute in class and group
discussions.
Email:
Students are required to use their
Attendance:
According to University policy, “A student is
expected to attend all meetings of a class for which he or she is registered.”
Since some material discussed in class (but not in the text) will be on exams,
attendance is crucial. We cover a lot of
material, and it will be much easier to keep up if you attend class regularly.
If unable to attend a class, notify instructor ahead of time (exceptions
may be made for certain emergencies). Non-notification will be considered an
unexcused absence. Preparation for class will consist of doing class
assignments, readings, field activities, film critiques and attending guest
lectures as assigned. After two (2) absences, ten (10) points per absence will
be deducted from your final grade. Note: Students who sleep in class,
habitually “rest their eyes”, do work for other classes, or have frequent
conversations about things unrelated to class will be considered absent
(unexcused).
Lateness:
Students
coming and going during class time is inconsiderate and distracting to fellow
students and the instructor. Students who arrive in class after attendance is taken
will be considered late. After arriving late in class two (2) times, each
subsequent late attendance will result in two (2) points deducted from your
participation grade. The same applies for students who leave early without
prior consent of the instructor.
Exams:
The midterm and final exams will be based on assignments, lecture content,
guest speaker input, and textbook content, and will require the student to
recall, analyze, and apply knowledge. The exams questions will be primarily
short answer, with some multiple choice and listing. The instructor will allow
students to prepare long essays in advance of the exam; students must answer in
their own words. If students fail to bring essays to the exam, they will not be
expected later. Students may write their answers during class time on exam day.
Assignments:
There
will be both in and out of class assignments. Out of class assignments must be
typed, double-spaced, 12 cpi, Times New Roman font, 1 “ margins, length as stated
on specific assignment, and labeled with the title of assignment, due date, and
student’s name. If the assignment
write-up contains excessive mistakes in spelling, grammar, syntax, or usage, it
will be returned for a redo. A maximum of 80% credit will be given if it is
redone by the next class period.
Assignments may be submitted by email on the day they are due if arrangements
are made with the instructor in advance. The assignment will only be considered
submitted when you receive a reply from the instructor that states that it was
received (therefore, it is your responsibility to check for a relply).
Submitting by email is risky in that servers can be troublesome with such
activity. It is your responsibility to keep a hard copy in case transmission is
faulty. There is no other alternative method for submitting assignments;
assignments left in the instructor’s mailbox will not be graded.
It is the
student’s responsibility to turn in his/her assignments in the classroom at
each class meeting. Late assignments will be given half credit maximum and must
be submitted in the class period following the original due date, and redone
assignments are due the class period following notification of need to redo.
Service Learning Project:
Students must provide 20 hours of service with an agency (such as
International Institute of Akron) that serves diverse populations. The
instructor will schedule you to work at an agency based on your availability
and interests. Students are responsible for showing up when scheduled; students
must call in advance should something unavoidable prevent them from doing so.
Failure to do so will affect the student’s grade.
Project Proposal: All students must submit a one page
(minimum) proposal that gives background pertaining to the agency, a
description of the clients served, and a description of the activities in which
the student expects to be engaged, and how the service learning experience will
relate to course content and/or course objectives.
Student Presentations:
Students will give a 10-12 minute presentation based on their service
learning experience. Handouts or visual aids are required, in addition to a one
page (minimum) summary or outline of the presentation. Students will sign up
for presentation times in class. Unless absence is excused in advance, students
must present on scheduled day or receive a grade of “0” for the presentation.
Additional information regarding presentations will be made available on the
course website.
Project Paper:
Students must write a 10 (ten) page paper (typed, doubles spaced, 12 pt.
font, 1” margins) about their service learning experience. The presentation
must include a discussion of how the service learning experience relates to
course content and/or course objectives. A service learning form, signed by the
supervisor, must accompany the paper in order for the paper to be graded.
Further guidelines regarding the service learning project and the report will
be provided in class and on the website.
Exemption from
paper – If students earn at least a
B average in the class and miss two or fewer classes, then they may be
exempt from the 10 page paper requirement. Students who are exempt but wish to
turn in a paper to attempt to improve their overall grades may do so. All
students will still be required to turn in the proposal, the signed service
learning form, and give an in-class presentation.
Grading:
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Requirement |
Points |
due dates |
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Participation |
25 |
Each class |
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Assignments |
100 |
TBA |
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Project Proposal |
25 |
Jan 31 |
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Exam 1 |
100 |
Mar 7 |
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Exam 2 |
100 |
Apr 25 |
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Project |
100 |
May 2 |
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Presentation |
50 |
Sign up in class |
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Total |
500 |
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Grading Scale:
Compute your percentage by
dividing the total number of points earned by the total number of points possible.
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≥ 92% A |
88-89% B+ |
78-79% C+ |
68-69% D+ |
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90-91% A - |
82-87% B |
72-77% C |
62-67% D |
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80-81% B - |
70-71% C - |
60-61% D - |
Academic Misconduct:
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will result in immediate
disciplinary action. Go to http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.pdf
for more information regarding plagiarism. For more information on disciplinary
proceedings and the student code of conduct, go to: http://www.uakron.edu/studentaff/osd/SJADiscPro.php
Harassment Policy:
The
Withdrawal Policy:
Last Day to Drop: April 13, 2007. For more information, go to: http://www.uakron.edu/registrar/spring07wddates.php.
Note: In order to be prepared to engage in class discussion, readings must be read prior to the class period that pertains to the topic.
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Date |
Topics & Assigned
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Week 1 |
Introduction to Class |
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Mon Jan 15 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance – No Class |
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Wed Jan 17 |
Introduction |
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Week 2 |
Culture, Ethnocentrism, and Bias
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Mon Jan 22
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Read: Chapter 1 and http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ethno.htm Culture,
Ethnocentrism
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Wed Jan 24
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Stereotyping, Bias
– Strengths Perspective
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Week 3 |
Theoretical Perspectives – Human Development &
Family Relations |
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Mon Jan29 |
Read: Chapter 2 |
Wed Jan 31
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Project Proposal Due |
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Week 4: |
Individualism-Collectivism/
Interdependence-Autonomy
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Mon Feb 5 |
Read Chapter 6 – IND-COL ASNMT DUE |
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Wed Feb 7 |
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Week 5: |
Cultural Transmission of Values |
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Mon Feb12 |
Read: Chapter 3 |
Wed Feb 14
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Week 6: |
Parenting in Cultural Context |
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Mon Feb19 |
Read Chapter 4 and http://www3.uakron.edu/schulze/446/maternalteaching.pdf |
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Wed Feb 21 |
Cultural Nature of Parenting Assignment |
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Week 7: |
Culture and Attachment |
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Mon Feb 26 |
(Refer to Chapter 4) Read: http://www.attachmentacrosscultures.org/beliefs/bfeed_culture.pdf
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Wed Feb 28 |
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Week 8: |
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Mon Mar 5 |
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Wed Mar 7 |
EXAM 1
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Week 9: |
Developmental
Milestones/Transitions (Universals and Cultural Variations)
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Mon Mar 12
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Read Chapter 5 |
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Thu Mar 14 |
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Mar 19 – Mar 25 Spring Break! |
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Week 10: |
Cultural Values and “Intelligence” |
Mon Mar 26
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Read Chapter 7 cultural IQ assignment |
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Wed Mar 28 |
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Week 11: |
Guided Participation: “Teaching” in
different cultural communities
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Mon Apr 2 |
Read Chapter 8 |
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Wed Apr 4 |
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Week 12: |
Acculturation/ Being “Bicultural” |
Mon Apr 9
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Read Chapter 9
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Wed Apr 11
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Week 13: |
Generational Differences/ Aging and Culture
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Mon Apr 16 |
Video Assignment Due |
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Wed Apr 18 |
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Week 14: |
Applications:
Working with Diverse Families and Children
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Mon Apr 23
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Read: Zero to Three Article http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_edu_culture |
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Wed Apr 25 |
Exam 2
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Week 15: |
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Mon Apr 30 |
Student Presentations |
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Thu May 2 |
Service Learning Project Reports Due Student Presentations |
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Thu, May 10 2:00 – 3:55 (“Final Exam” Day) |
Student Presentations Multicultural Potluck Culture and food assignment video: tba |
Note: The final exam schedule can be found online at: http://www.uakron.edu/registrar/SpringExam07.php.