1 Course Syllabus FHS 482/582 Prevention of Youth Violence University of Oregon Counseling Psychology and Human Services FHS 482 CRN #22665 FHS 582 CRN # 22671 4 credits 12:00 – 1:50 Tuesday/Thursday Location: #125 McKenzie Date of Syllabus: 3/8/16 Overview Preventing youth violence in America is an important component for creating peaceful and safe neighborhoods, fair and just communities and a society based on social justice for all citizens. This course will explore the prevention of youth violence from an ecological perspective (Bronfenbrenner, 1972) and will examine the scholarly literature, social research, and best practices. Students will demonstrate professional competencies by participating in class discussions, small group exercises and by completing written assignments. Instructor Kevin Alltucker, Ph.D. E-Mail: kalltuck@uoregon.edu Office #350 HEDCO Education Building Cell Phone: 541-912-8428 Office Hours: TBA Graduate Teaching Fellow (GTF) Katie Ravitch E-mail: nravitch@uoregon.edu Course Objectives The overall course objective is to imbue students with a sense of critical thinking in regard to youth violence in America. The course is designed to provide knowledge and skills related to understanding and preventing violence, crime and antisocial behavior among children and youth, all wrapped up in a very enjoyable classroom environment that will engage and challenge students’ intellect. Kevin encourages a safe classroom environment in which diverse views and opinions may be expressed openly and professionally, without fear of reprisal or judgment from other students or the instructors. That said, the classroom environment depends greatly on students’ professional conduct. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the current state of violence and crime in schools and communities, evaluating effective and promising practices, and envisioning future directions for practice, policy and research. We will examine youth crime in an American 2 context, using an ecological developmental view that includes risk and protective factors, which may influence the likelihood of violent acts. Issues of privilege and oppression will provide an underpinning for the entire course. Finally, we will probe the macrosystemic forces that challenge traditionalist views of criminology. After participating in this course, you will be able to Identify and explain the interplay of factors that affect the likelihood of children and youth engaging in violence and other forms of antisocial behavior; Identify and explain the factors that affect the likelihood of youth being victims of violence or other forms of antisocial behavior; Understand the causes and correlates bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment and assault; Discuss the influence of exposure to media violence; Explain and evaluate appropriate intervention strategies for violent and antisocial behavior; Integrate information from research studies, reports, and diverse publications into formulae for prevention or intervention practices; Develop and describe strategies appropriate for school and community settings where you intend to work; and, Develop and articulate policies and procedures applicable to those settings. Required Reading There are three required books: 1. Dozier, R. W. (2002). Why we hate: Understanding, curbing and eliminating hate in ourselves and our world. Chicago, IL: Contemporary Books. 2. Venkatesh, S. (2008). Gang leader for a day. New York: Penguin. 3. Aarons, J., Smith, L., & Wagner, L. (2009). Dispatches from juvenile hall: Fixing a failing system. New York: Penguin. These texts are available for purchase from the UO Duckstore, and various on-line booksellers. Students are expected to complete the readings before class and be prepared to fully discuss the particular topic, as listed in the course schedule section of this syllabus. Please be aware that the texts contain graphic descriptions of violence, drug use and sex. Course Structure Dual Number Course This is a dual number course (482/582). There are distinct differences in course requirements for students taking the course as FHS 482 and students taking the course as FHS 582. The 3 differences are the page length requirements for the three individual papers. For students taking the course as FHS 482, the required page length is five to eight pages per paper. For students taking the course as FHS 582, the required page length is 10 to 15 pages per paper. For students taking the course as FHS 582, all references used in papers must be peer-reviewed. Student Engagement Hours This is a four-credit course, and in keeping with University of Oregon standards of 30 student engagement hours per undergraduate credit hour, and 38 student engagement hours per graduate credit hour, the course will be structured in the following manner: FHS 482: 4 credits x 30 = 120 student engagement hours FHS 582: 4 credits x 38 = 152 student engagement hours Here is an estimation of the components for student engagement hours: Description In-class time (20 classes x 1.8 hrs/class) Read Why We Hate Read Gang Leader for a Day Read Dispatches from Juvenile Hall Write Paper #1 Write Paper #2 Write Paper #3 TOTAL FHS 482 Student hours 36 hours FHS 582 Student hours 36 hours 20 hours 15 hours 20 hours 15 hours 10 hours 10 hours 13hours 13 hours 13 hours 120 hours 24 hours 24 hours 23 hours 152 hours Course Requirements Attendance and Participation Attendance and participation are required. There will be a sign-in sheet available at the beginning of each class. You will receive attendance points by signing the attendance sheet at the beginning of each class. These points cannot be made up—that is, if you miss a class for whatever reason, you will not receive credit for that day, unless prior arrangements have been made. There are no excused absences without prior notification, or timely professional communication. It is professional courtesy to let the me know ahead of time if you will not be attending classes. Messages can be left on voice-mail or e-mail anytime of the day or night. Students who are experiencing situations that prevent them from attending multiple classes (i.e. personal illness, family emergencies) should contact me immediately. Two unexcused absences may result an automatic one-letter grade reduction for the course. More than two unexcused absences will be handled case by case. 4 Professional Communication Students are required to have an active University of Oregon email account, and to check it frequently for communications from the instructor. Students are also required to use Blackboard to obtain course information and to submit the three writing assignments. Readings Generally, there are about 70 pages of required reading per week for this course. Students will be required to integrate information from the required texts in each writing assignment. Small Group Exercises There will be a series of in-class small group exercises (3-5 people) designed to integrate lecture, book and guest speaker information. You will be expected to work cooperatively and collaboratively with your group members. Students are encouraged to use small group activities as opportunities to explore and discuss diverse viewpoints in a safe, academically supportive environment. Missed small group exercises cannot be made up. Writing Assignments There are three writing assignments. Specific instructions and rubrics will be made available and posted on Blackboard. You are required to format your paper per APA guidelines. Papers must be submitted electronically via Blackboard using a Microsoft Word document format with a .doc or .docx file extension. Course Grading Policy Here are the graded components for this course: Graded Component Attendance Participation Small Group Exercises Paper #1 Paper #2 Paper #3 TOTAL Points Possible 100 100 100 100 100 100 600 Points *Note: Potential one letter grade reduction for two unexcused absences. Your final grade for the course will be determined by the following rubric: Grade A+ A A- Percentage 99%-100% 92%-98% 90%-91% 5 B+ B BC+ C CD F 88%-89% 82%-87% 80%-81% 78%-79% 72%-77% 70%-71% 60%-69% Less than 60% Late Assignments Without prior arrangements, late assignments will be accepted with a 5% grade reduction per calendar day, up to a maximum 50% penalty. Students unable to complete the assignments per the scheduled due dates must contact the instructor ahead of time to arrange for alternative submittal dates. Plagiarism All work submitted in this course must be the student’s own and produced exclusively for this course. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, paraphrases) must be properly acknowledged and documented. For the consequences of academic dishonesty, refer to the Schedule of Classes published quarterly. Violations will be taken seriously and are noted on student disciplinary records. Additionally, the following specific requirements will be expected in this class: (enter specific requirements). If students are in doubt regarding the requirements, please consult with the instructor before completing any requirement of the course. Here is the URL for the UO’s student guide to avoiding plagiarism: Avoiding Plagiarism - A Guide For Students . Plagiarism is a serious breach of the academic student conduct code, and the instructors will vigorously pursue suspected plagiarism. Diversity Statement It is the policy of the University of Oregon to support and value cultural diversity. To do so requires that we: Respect the dignity and essential worth of all individuals Promote a culture of respect throughout the University community Respect the privacy, property, and freedom of others Reject bigotry, discrimination, violence, or intimidation of any kind Practice personal and academic integrity and expect it from others Promote the diversity of opinions, ideas and background which is the lifeblood of the university Course content, lectures, class discussions, and assignments for this class are based on the premise that human diversity is normative and is an important focus of this course. The course requires and expects critical thinking about and sensitivity to the impact of diversity both in relation to the children, youth and families served in educational and human service agencies 6 and in the University of Oregon community. For purposes of this course, diversity includes culture, religion/faith, gender, ethnicity, race, physical and cognitive disability, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Religious Holidays Any student, who, because of religious beliefs, is unable to attend classes on a particular day, shall be excused from attendance requirements and from any examination or other assignment on that day. The student must make up the examination or other assignment missed because of absence. Documented Disability Appropriate accommodations will be provided for students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability and require accommodation, please meet with Kevin within the first two weeks of the term. Documentation must come in writing from the Disability Services. Disabilities may include (but are not limited to) neurological impairment, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, chronic medical conditions, emotional/psychological disabilities, hearing impairment, and learning disabilities. For additional information, contact Disability Services: e-mail disabsrv@darkwing.uoregon.edu. Phone (541) 346-1155. TTY: (541) 346-1083. Academic Misconduct Policy All students are subject to the regulations stipulated in the UO Student Conduct Code (http://www.uoregon.edu/~conduct/). This code represents a compilation of important regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to student life. It is intended to inform students of their rights and responsibilities during their association with this institution, and to provide general guidance for enforcing those regulations and policies essential to the educational and research missions of the University. Certain student behavior will result in the lowering of the course grade by at least one grade level, may result in an “F” grade for the course, and may result in the student’s suspension or expulsion from the University. These behaviors include, but are not limited to: 1. Dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information or signatures on attendance sheets; 2. Intentional disruption, obstruction, or interference with the process of instruction. This includes disproportionately large amounts of verbal comments in class. Expected Classroom Behaviors Classroom expectations include; 1.participating in class activities; 2. Respecting the diversity of cultures, opinions, and viewpoints in the classroom; 3. Listening to fellow students, professors, guest speakers and lecturers with respect; 4. Arriving on time and prepared for class; 5. Attending for the duration of the class; 6. Not reading other materials during class such as newspapers or personal e-mails/other web-based information not relevant to class; 7. Avoiding side conversations once class has begun; 8. Remaining alert and focused on the activities within the classroom (i.e. no sleeping, no working on assignments for other classes, no reading of books or newspapers during class). 7 Participation Students are expected to fully participate in all class activities and discussions. Accordingly, students are expected to have completed the assigned reading prior to class and be prepared to discuss ideas, concepts, issues and practices derived from the readings. Students should be prepared to answer “cold calls” in class. It will be students’ responsibility to formulate and present questions when information from the reading and class presentations is unclear. Cell Phones If your cell phone rings during class, you will be asked to share your conversation with everyone! To avoid potentially embarrassing situations, please silence your phone prior to class. This rule applies also to Kevin! Food Yes. Laptops Open laptop computers during class send a signal (perhaps unintentionally) to the instructors that you: 1. Are bored to tears and are trying to stay awake by entertaining yourself; 2. Have fooled yourself into thinking that you can multi-task during class; 3. Are checking Facebook. In any case, an open laptop creates a physical barrier between the student and instructor, which can send out negative vibes. Please be aware of this. Using laptops to take notes is an acceptable use during class time. Conflict Resolution The mission of the College of Education is to “Make educational and social systems work for all.” Several options, both informal and formal are available to resolve conflicts for students who believe they have been subjected to or have witnessed bias, unfairness or other improper treatment. Contact: UO Bias Response Team: 346-1139 or http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~brt/ UO Conflict Resolution Services 346-0617 or http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~crs/ UO Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity 346-3123 or http://aaeo.uoregon.edu/ If you believe you have been the victim or a witness to a bias incident, harassment, or a hate crime, the University of Oregon encourages you to report it to the Bias Response Team. The team can help you document the incident and can provide support. Bias Response Team: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~brt/ . Phone (541) 346-1139 Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity: http://aaeo.uoregon.edu/. Phone (541) 3463123. Grievance Policy 8 A student or group of students of the College of Education may appeal decisions or actions pertaining to admissions, programs, evaluation of performance and program retention and completion. Students who decide to file a grievance should follow the student grievance procedure, or alternative ways to file a grievance outlined in the Student Grievance Policy (http://education.uoregon.edu/feature.htm?id=399) or enter search: student grievance. Inclement Weather Policy In the event the university operates on a curtailed schedule or closes, UO media relations will notify the Eugene-Springfield area radio and television stations as quickly as possible. In addition, a notice regarding the university’s schedule will be posted on the UO main homepage (in the “News” section) at http://www.uoregon.edu. College of Education students should contact their program department for further information. Course Incomplete Policy Students are expected to be familiar with university policy regarding grades of incomplete and the time line for remove of these. Consult the UO Catalog for the policy and procedures specifics regarding incompletes for undergraduate or graduate students. See the form College of Education Incomplete Grade Contract at http://interact.uoregon.edu/pdf/sas/AIncGrdCon.pdf 9 FHS 482/582 Prevention of Youth Violence Winter 2012 Week Date 1 1/10 Introduction & Course Overview Kevin 1/12 Public Health Model of Prevention Kevin Why We Hate Chptrs 1-3 1/17 Development of Antisocial Behavior Kevin WWH 4-6 1/19 Healing the Wounds: Life without Vengeance Kevin WWH 7-9 1/24 School Violence Guest Speaker WWH 10-13 1/26 Why We Hate Discussion Kevin WWH 14-16 1/31 Gun Violence in America Kevin Paper #1 Due 2/2 Self-hate: Preventing Suicide Kevin & Guest Gang Leader Chptr 1 2/7 Hate Crimes Guest Speaker GLFAD 2-3 2/9 The Invisible Revolution: Hate and Anti Hate Teenage Groups Kevin GLFAD 4-5 2/14 Gang Violence Guest Speaker GLFAD 6 2/16 Drugs & Alcohol: Fueling the Violence Kevin GLFAD 7 2/21 Gang Leader for a Day Discussion Kevin GLFAD 8 2/23 Juvenile Justice System: Remediation or Condemnation? Kevin Paper #2 Due 2/28 View from the Bench: Juvenile Justice Judge Guest Speaker Dispatches from Juvenile Hall Chptrs 13 3/1 Lane County Department of Youth Services Guest Speaker DFJH 4-6 3/6 Lane County Department of Youth Services Guest Speaker DFJH 7-10 3/8 Lane County District Attorney Guest Speaker DFJH 11-13 3/13 Community Intervention: Mentoring Guest Speaker DFJH 14-17 3/15 Beyond Criminality & Dispatches from Juvenile Hall Discussion Kevin 3/19 Paper #3 Due by 5:00 PM 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Topic Lecturer/Guest Speaker Reading & Paper Due Dates Paper #3 Due