Syllabus (1-21-06)
Psychology 458
Advanced Psychology of Women

2:30 PM Tuesday and Thursday
Main 302

Dr. Hal S. Bertilson
hbertils@uwsuper.edu
Office: 715/394-8021
FAX: 715/394-8107
Old Main, Room 339
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Belknap & Catlin, PO Box 2000
Superior, Wisconsin 54880-4500
Homepage: The syllabus and all assignments may be found at http://frontpage.uwsuper.edu/psychology
Professor Bertilson emphasizes the opportunity to relate psychological concepts to personal experience. Theory and application are more meaningful and useful that way and remembered better. Brief writing and discussion assignments assist in meeting this goal.

Dr. Bertilson has received a teaching award at Weber State University, professional service awards at Weber State University and University of Wisconsin-Superior, and has served on the University of Wisconsin Teaching Improvement Council. Dr. Bertilson's scholarship and research have been recognized by Saint Joseph's University, the University of Nebraska Graduate School, and the International Society for Research on Aggression. Dr. Bertilson has held faculty appointments at Eastern Montana College, Concordia College (Moorhead), Weber State University, St. Joseph's University, and the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He served as a college dean at the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Vice-Chancellor/Provost at UW-Superior.

Tentative Office Hours. The following are Dr. Bertilson's tentative office hours. Exceptions for faculty committee meetings, symposia, workshops, and research are inevitable. Dr. B. will make a special effort to be available at the office hours listed below. Dr. B's full schedule may be found on the web at http://frontpage.uwsuper.edu/psychology/_oh/_spr06of.htm. To be certain that he will be in his office, you are advised to sign up on his office door for an appointment or make an appointment via email. Of course you are always welcome to stop by and visit.

  Mondays 10 AM - 11:30 AM and 2 PM - 3 PM Other times by appointment or stop by
  Tuesdays 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Other times by appointment or stop by
  Wednesdays 10 AM - 11:30 AM and 2 PM - 3 PM Other times by appointment or stop by
  Thursdays 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Other times by appointment or stop by
  Fridays Times by appointment or stop by  
Course Description. Advanced topics in the psychology of women including the theoretical perspectives, epistemological issues, feminism, the social construction of gender, the role of status and power in women's lives especially the sources of oppression, gender stereotypes and differences, lifespan experience, biological influences on women's behavior, women's health issues, diversity of women and their experiences, autonomy and connection in relationships, contextual constraints and affordances, female sexuality, lesbian and bisexual women, the victimization of women, achievement in context, physical and mental health.  Prerequisite: Psychology 101, 258, 358, or concurrently, or permission of the instructor.
Master Course Objectives: By the end of this course the student should:
1. Be able to engage in informed reading, writing, and discussion of key concepts of psychology of women. The inducements for meeting this objective are writing/discussion assignments and the term paper.
2. Be literate in the psychology of women. Know the key concepts and applications of knowledge. This objective will be measured by tests.
Instructional Materials:
  Hyde, J. S. (2004). Half the Human Experience: The Psychology of Women.  Houghton Mifflin, Sixth Edition. [One copy is available at the library reserve desk].
Additional Resources: Several additional resources may be of interest to students. The American Psychological Association web page (http://www.apa.org/students/) has links to sections on mapping out your college career, graduate school, code of ethics, code of fair testing, free on-line products, and career options in psychology. Psychology: Careers for the twenty-first century (1998) by the American Psychological Association may be ordered through the UW-Superior Bookstore.
Attendance, Class Accommodations, Safe Learning Environments, and Support Services. Information is linked and will be discussed in class.

Course Requirements and Grading

Components of the Grade. Your final grade will be based on your performance in four grading categories. The following table shows how much each category counts toward your grade. Following that is a description of each category:
 


Category

Percent of
Grade

  Unit exams (4) and cumulative final exam 60%
  Daily writing and discussion assignments 15%
  Research article presentations in seminar setting 10%
  Term Project written and oral 15%
  Total 100%
Exams. Each unit exam will cover material from one section only. Exams will contain explain, define, and short-answer essay questions from the textbook and lectures. Questions for the Final Exam may be found at Final Exam.
Grading A 92-100  
  A- 90-92  
  B+ 88-90  
  B 83-88  
  B- 81-83  
  C+ 79-81  
  C 74-79  
  C- 72-74  
  D+ 70-72  
  D 65-70  
  D- 63-65  
  F 50-63  
Daily Writing and Discussion Assignments. Read the assignment. Write a short, informal writing assignment to prepare you for the discussion. Participate in small group discussion where you will deepen your understanding of the assignment. Further information will be provided in a separate document http://frontpage.uwsuper.edu/psychology/458wd.htm and explained in class.
Term Project. The volunteer experience or application paper is designed to be an opportunity for students to experience the concepts and theories in more depth and to relate them to their lives. Concepts and theories that are experienced first hand and/or have application to student's lives are more useful and remembered longer. Further information will be provided in a separate document and explained in class.
Course Calendar
Tuesday, January 24
------ Introduction to the course
Thursday, January 26
  Chapter 1. Introduction (1-28)
Tuesday, January 31
  Chapter 2. Theoretical perspectives (29-54)
Thursday, February 2
  Chapter 2 coninued (55-80)
Tuesday, February 7
  Chapter 3. Gender stereotypes and gender differences (81-98)
Preface (xi-xv)
Appendix: Psychology of Women Resource Directory (489-492)
Glossary (493-499)
Thursday, February 9
  Chapter 3 continued (98-114)
Tuesday, February 14
  Chapter 4. Women of color (115-141)
Thursday, February 16
  Test 1
Tuesday, February 21
  Chapter 5. Gender and language. (142-164)
Thursday, February 23
  Chapter 6. Gender and emotion. (165-180)
Tuesday, February 28
  Chapter 7. From Infancy to old age: Development across the lifespan. (181-199)
Thursday, March 2
  Chapter 7 continued (199-213)
Tuesday, March 7
  Chapter 8. Abilities, achievement, and motivation. (214-239)
Thursday, March 9
  Chapter 9. Women and work. (240-266)
Tuesday, March 14
  Test 2
Thursday, March 16
  Chapter 10. Biological influences on women's behavior. (267-282)
Tuesday, March 28
  Chapter 11. Psychology and women's health issues. (283-303)
Thursday, March 30
  Chapter 11 continued. (303-321)
Tuesday, April 4
  Chapter 12. Female sexuality. (322-348)
Thursday, April 6
  Chapter 13. Lesbian and bisexual women. (347-373)
Tuesday, April 11
  Chapter 14. The victimization of women. (374-391)
Thursday, April 13
  Chapter 14 continued. (391-406)
Tuesday, April 18
  Test 3
Thursday, April 20
  Chapter 15. Women and mental health issues. (407-421)
Tuesday, April 25
  Chapter 15 continued. (421-438)
Thursday, April 27
  Chapter 16 Psychology of men. (439-451)
Term project reports
Tuesday, May 2
  Chapter 16 continued (451-472)
Term project reports
Thursday, May 4
  No class. Use the day to study for Test 4 and prepare for the final exam.
Tuesday, May 9
  Chapter 17. Retrospect and prospect. (473-488)
Term project reports
Thursday, May 11
  Test 4
Tuesday, May 16
  1:30 PM - 3:30. Final exam
Friday, May 19
  Term Project is due