University of Texas at Dallas

COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2006

Course: PSY 4345—501 (3 semester hours)

Course Title: Violence in the Family
Pre-requisite: None
Required Texts: Shepard, Melanie F., & Pence, Ellen L. (1999) Coordinating Community Responses to Domestic Violence:
Lessons from Duluth and Beyond. SAGE Publications.
Rivers, Victor Rivas. (2005). A Private Family Matter: A Memoir. Atria Publications.
Professor: Sarah Feuerbacher, Ph.D., LMSW
Office Hours: Email for questions or to set appointment at Sarah.Feuerbacher@utdallas.edu or FireS330@sbcglobal.net
Class Time: Wednesdays, 7:00-9:45pm
Classroom: GR 4.301

Course Description: Explores the area of family violence with primary emphasis on the problems of spouse abuse and child
abuse. Analysis of each of these areas of family violence focuses specifically on the epidemiology of the problem, characteristics
of the families, etiological theories, and treatment approaches.
*Due to the sensitive nature of family violence, assignments and classroom activities or discussions may be disturbing for those
who have experienced domestic abuse or know someone who has. The National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential crisis
counseling and referral is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-7233.

Course Requirements:
1. Reading of assigned materials.
2. Class participation.
3. Satisfactory completion of daily reading assignments.
4. Satisfactory completion of 1 exam.
5. Satisfactory completion of 1 project.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance: Appropriate accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. This
university will adhere to all applicable Federal and State Laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable
accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the university in a
timely manner if he/she desires to arrange for accommodations.

Attendance Policy/Class Participation: Attendance is very important, especially since the class meets only once a week, and
participation will account for up to 20% of your grade. In order to receive credit for attending and turning in assignments, the
student must be present during the class meeting time. Students will be responsible for all classes missed due to either an excused
or unexcused absence. Excessive tardiness or disruptive behavior may result in the student being asked to leave the classroom, and,
if necessary, steps may be made to refer the student for disciplinary actions. If you stop attending, but do not officially withdraw
from the course by the withdrawal date, you will receive an “F”.

Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications
for enrollment or the award of a degree and/or the submission as one's own work material that is not one's own. Scholastic
dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated
texts or teacher’s editions, and/or falsifying academic records. Evidence of scholastic dishonesty will be referred to the Dean of
students and not be accepted in this class.

Method of Presentation: Discussion, lecture, projects, small group exercises, and technology. It is important that you read the
chapter before coming to class so the material will be familiar to you in order to take part in class discussions.

Method of Evaluation:
Assignment Percentage / Points
Daily Reading 20% / 20 points
§ 16% / 16 points: discussion papers
§ 2% / 2 points: project proposal
§ 2% / 2 points: exam questions
Final Project 40% / 40 points:
§ 30% / 30 points: instructor grade
§ 10% / 10 points: peer review
- 5% / 5 points: from peers
- 5% / 5 points: for peers
Exam 40% / 40 points
Daily Reading/Discussion Papers: Daily reading assignments will be given and are to be completed prior to the following class
period. While reading each chapter, students should type one question/point they thought of during the readings and, at the
conclusion of the reading assignment, create 1 page-length (double-spaced) discussion of what they believe is the answer to the
question based on what was learned from the text. There should be one paper per weekly assignment. The papers will be discussed
in class, and all students will be held accountable for this information. Students will be asked to discuss questions in class and will
lose credit if participation does not occur. At the conclusion of each class, the papers should be handed into the instructor for
credit. The student should turn in a total of 8 questions worth 2 points each. Two typed questions about the exam will count for
two more points, and the project proposals account for the final two points (see “Project” section for more details), for a total of 20
points (20%) of the final grade. Homework must be turned in during class for credit; no late or early work will be accepted.

Project: A final project will be chosen by each student to be completed by the end of the semester. A list of project choices will be
given at the first of the semester. Projects will be completed by assigned groups of students, and should be worked on throughout
the entire semester. Project proposals must be turned in no later than the date assigned on the course schedule and need to be
approved by the instructor. Presentations of the projects will be done during assigned timeslots towards the end of the semester
(see schedule for exact dates). The presentations must be between 15 and 20 minutes and must include visual aids and summary
handouts for the instructor and each of the fellow classmates. Projects account for 40 points (40%) of the final grade, and peer
reviews will be completed by each student regarding every presenter (students will also receive points for completing reviews on
peers). Project dissemination will occur on the final day of the semester (see schedule for exact date and time), and failure to attend
on this day will result in class failure.

Exam: One examination worth 40 points (40%) will be given during the semester. The exam may have numerous testing formats,
including multiple choice, true/false, short answer, listing, and discussion questions. Questions regarding the test may be asked to
help the student prepare, but the instructor maintains full discretion to include additional information in the test. A blank blue
book will be required for the test and will not be provided by the instructor; students may purchase blue books from the campus
bookstore.

Date Topic Activity Homework For Next Class

1/11/06 Introductions, contact info, syllabus, project choice list Find out what class is about Ch. 1,2 paper
1/18/06 Ch. 1, 2 (Must have textbook by today) Nonviolence Ch. 7,12 paper
1/25/06 Ch. 7, 12 Non-threatening Behavior Ch. 6, 10 paper
2/1/06 Ch. 6, 10 Respect Ch. 8 paper, project proposals
2/8/06 Ch. 8 (Project proposals due no later than today) Support and Trust Ch. 5 paper
2/15/06 Ch. 5 Honesty and Accountability Ch. 11, paper
2/22/06 Ch. 11 Sexual Respect Ch. 4, 9 paper
3/1/06 Ch. 4, 9 Partnership Work on projects
3/8/06 Spring Break Take a break Ch. 3, 13 paper
3/15/06 Ch. 3, 13 Negotiation and Fairness Rivers book, 2 questions
3/22/06 A Private Family Matter: A Memoir Book discussion, review Complete projects
3/29/06 Project Presentations Present or peer review Complete projects
4/5/06 Project Presentations Present or peer review Complete projects
4/12/06 Project Presentations Present or peer review Complete projects
4/19/06 Project Presentations Present or peer review Study
4/26/06 Exam Ace the test Have a great summer!