Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Prerequisites: None
Course Description: This class will assist students in understanding Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism
from both a science practitioner and clinician stance. Psychological theory and research relevant to cultural
diversity will be explored. Emphasis is also placed on increasing students’ awareness of differing world views,
privilege, the experience of self, and the interactions between different cultures.
Learning Objectives: At semester’s end, students should be able to:
1) define and distinguish between several cultural terms, to include culture, ethnicity, and world view.
2) identify and have a better understanding of their own cultural background and world view, and their
potential impact on their different personal and professional roles.
3) use critical thinking to evaluate popular media and scholarly literature with regard to cultural influences.
4) use creative thinking to address psychology-related issues.
5) demonstrate effective oral communication skills in various contexts (e.g., group discussion, class
presentation) and for various purposes (e.g., informing, teaching, explaining, defending, persuading,
arguing).
6) apply cultural concepts, theories, and research findings to issues in everyday life.
7) identify appropriate applications of psychology in human service, education, and business professions.
8) demonstrate how psychological principles can explain social issues and inform public policy.
Required Textbook: Culture and Psychology (3rd Ed.) David Matsumoto & Linda Juang
Additional Readings: To be announced
Exams and Assignments:
• Tests: There will be three tests: two during class time and one final exam. The last test will be a cumulative
final exam, during the regularly scheduled final exam period.
• Class presentations: Every student will give a class presentation of about 5-10 minutes. See attached
handout. Everyone will sign up for a presentation date on August 29. Sign up for a date you are sure you can
make, because we cannot reschedule presentations – the schedule is just too tight. Presentations will start on
Sept. 5 and end on Nov. 14. Missed presentation dates result in zero credit for the presentation.
• Class assignment: Due November 28. See attached handout.
• Class participation: Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions, demonstrating
knowledge of the readings and sharing their understanding and viewpoint of various cultural issues to the
professor’s satisfaction.
• Grading Policy: Grading is based on a set of a priori criteria: 90% correct for A’s, 80% for B’s, 70% for C’s,
and 60% for D’s. If I find my tests were unusually difficult I may relax these criteria. Grades will be based on
the total number of points across the course.
5% Class presentation 20% First exam
10% Class participation 20% Second exam
10% Class assignment 35% Final exam
Course & Instructor Policies: A good portion of the material on the exams will come from class lectures and
discussions (not from the book). The final exam will be cumulative thus it will cover everything in the class,
including material tested on the previous two exams. DON'T MISS AN EXAM! Exams will begin promptly at
the beginning of the exam period. If you arrive after the first person has left, you cannot take the exam. You will
be allowed only the class period to finish the exam. Make- up exams will be given only if: (a) you were
seriously ill and have verifiable documentation from a physician, or (b) you were detained the day and time of
the exam, or (c) you made arrangements prior to the exam to attend an urgent family affair (e.g., funeral). In any
of these cases, you must notify the professor in advance of the scheduled time of the exam (call and leave a
voice-mail message if you can do nothing else). Otherwise, you will receive an F. It is the student's
responsibility to make sure that an exam is made up within one week of the scheduled time. Be aware that
make-up exams are designed to be more comprehensive to compensate for having more study time.
Faulty Exam Questions: Occasionally, I write faulty exam questions. If you encounter such a question, let me
know immediately after the exam period. (You may talk to the instructor or leave a note with the secretary in
the Associate Dean’s Office, GR 4.528). I will consider your arguments before grading the exams, and if
necessary throw out the question for everyone.
Conduct during class and other details: If you arrive late or leave early do not disturb those around you. Put
pagers and cell phones off or on vibrate during class, and leave the room only if you absolutely must take a call.
I consider surfing the net while in class an absence and will count it as such for your attendance.
Academic Integrity: The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:
and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the
The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a
student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)
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
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For
dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or
example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders
falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject
to disciplinary proceedings. or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an
assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an
oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The
from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-
policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). taking, or mobility assistance.
Email Use: The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual members to verify that the student has a disability and needs
in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the
correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty professor after class or during office hours.
and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student
account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the
Religious Holy Days: The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from
identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted
information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in class or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day
for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section
all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.
Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail
forwarded to other accounts.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as
possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student,
Withdrawal from Class: The administration of this institution has set deadlines for
withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any
student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other
missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails
words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to
to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing
ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to
grade for that exam or assignment.
attend the class once you are enrolled.
Student Grievance Procedures: Procedures for student grievances are found in Title If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about
V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating
Procedures. whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed
assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling
from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC
fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or executive officer or designee.
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the
respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning
These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the
grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance Professor.
must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School