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PSYCH 80103/WSCP 81000 22                                                        Prof. Tracey A. Revenson        
Spring 2006                                                                                 TRevenson@gc.cuny.edu
Monday, 9:30-11:30                                                                      (212) 817-8709

                                  PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN’S HEALTH

The goals of this seminar are to introduce students to current theory and research in psychology of women’s health, provide students with an opportunity to evaluate the literature, and consider the relationship between women’s health, social status, and social change.  The course emphasizes the biopsychosocial model of understanding health and illness. Through readings, class discussions and written assignments, the class will challenge untested assumptions about differential risk factors and the delivery of health care to women, and women’s health-related roles, behaviors and position in society.  Women’s health is a large, interdisciplinary, and somewhat fragmented enterprise, so the course will necessarily be selective.  However, course readings and written projects will give students the opportunity to think critically about research and theory within the field that is tailored to their own personal interests. 

REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

1.  Participation (50% of your grade)

Participation has two components: Leadings two classes and being an active member in class

Participation in class will be based on attendance, level of preparedness for class, and participation in class discussion. Punctual attendance and class participation are important to the success of the course.  It’s early Monday morning – we’ll all be tired and grumpy, so bring coffee. Students are required to attend all classes, read the assigned materials before class, and participate regularly in classroom discussions by contributing ideas, comments and observations based on the assigned readings. 

Each student will be responsible for leading two seminar sessions during the semester, one in section I and one in section II.

Section I:  Group work. Groups of 3-4 students will lead the discussion for a class, using the required and additional readings on the syllabus.  The form for the seminar will be a brief introduction or mini-lecture (20-30 minutes) by the presenters to set the context for the intellectually stimulating class discussion to follow. They will also lead the discussion.  

Section II. Individual work. Students will identify a topic, develop a reading list, and then lead a one-hour discussion of the topic/readings. Class leaders will be responsible for: 1) choosing and assigning readings; 2) preparing a set of discussion questions to be distributed at least one week prior to that class); 3) summarizing and synthesizing the key points in the assigned readings; 4) questioning assumptions made in the readings; 5) suggesting future directions for research; and 6) stimulating class discussion. Assigned readings must be made available to TAR in electronic form to post on Blackboard no less than 1 week before the class.

• Menstruation
• Menopause
• Pregnancy and birth
• Infertility
• Assisted reproductive technologies

►Violence against Women
►Sexuality and Health
►Women & the Health Care System

• Patient-Physician Relationships
• Poverty, Ethnicity and Health Care

►Health Issues for particular demographic groups

• Ethnic Minority Women’s Health
• Lesbian Health
• Issues for Older Women

►Women and Health‑Related Behaviors 

• Eating disorders
• Smoking
• Alcohol use
• Exercise

►Prevention of Disease

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cancer
• HIV
• Diabetes

►Adaptation and Living with Illness

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cancer
• HIV
• Diabetes

3.  Final Paper
The final paper will expand your section II presentation or focus on a particular aspect of it.   The final paper will take the form of a special issue proposal for a journal (guidelines attached).  The grade for the final paper will include both the concept sheet (10%) and the final proposal (40%).  The concept sheet is due on February 21 and the final paper on May 15.