Syllabus
PSY 321 Human Sexuality (3.0 credits)
Class Time: 8:00 a.m.-5.00 p.m., MTWRF
Place: COB 115 Course Starts 03/27/2006 ends 03/31/2006
Lecturers: Professor Hasker P. Davis hdavis@uccs.edu ; Professor Robin E. Cornwell rcornwel@uccs.edu
Office Location and Hours: By appointment
Office: 4023 Columbine Hall (Prof. Davis); 4049 Columbine Hall (Prof. Cornwell)
Phone: (719) 262-4148
Fax: (719) 262-4166
Book: Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind by David M. Buss
Your notes are located in the outbox of Dr. Davis. Go to enterprise in one of the labs or library. From there go to the folder for hdavis. Open the OutBox and the folder for Human Sexuality Spring Term 2006. Lecture 01 notes are there. The other material is extra credit reading you don't need to worry about yet.
Description of Course: This course examines aspects of human sexuality through the lens of Darwinian Selection. Humans, like all other living organisms, are subject to both natural and sexual selection. In particular, sexual selection has shaped our physical characteristics as well as our behaviours. Using current evolutionary theories, you will explore why women and men differ on the type of qualities they prefer in a mate, and also why they may have similar preferences. Additionally, we will look at individual differences and how life-histories may influence our preferences.
This course is designed to be a full semester course, and thus we shall be covering a great deal of material in a short amount of time. You will be expected to have read the chapters to be discussed in the lectures prior to the class (except for the first day of class). This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the material and make the most of the lectures.
In addition to the chapters assigned, there will be some short articles to supplement some of the lecture material.
At the beginning of each day of class (other than the first day) an exam will be given on the material covered in the assigned chapters and lectures. All material in the assigned chapters and all lecture materials are candidates for the exam. Take good notes!!
There is no final exam. The exams will consist of 20-30 multiple choice questions. Each exam is worth 10 points. Because this class is condensed into 5 days, all exams will be included in your final average for the course. Please DO NOT miss an exam.
Grading: A = 90% +
B = 80% - 89.9%
C = 70% - 79.9%
D = 60% - 69.9%
Fail results in a 59.9% or less
Extra Credit: You can earn up to 20 points of extra credit, which equals one full exam. In other words, if you earn all 20 extra credit points, you can possibly improve by one grade. Extra credits can be earned during the regular Spring semester. Extra credits are due on the last day of regular classes -- not during finals week.
There are two possible ways of earning extra credit:
A three to four page essay on an aspect of human sexuality. Each essay can be worth 5 points. However, the essay will be graded. A list of possible topics will be provided along with more information on the grading criteria.
Participant in an experiment. On-line experiments may be available. The number of points you can earn for each experiment will be between 1 and 3. A report of your participation in the experiment will be sent to me electronically, however all data is secured and not available to me. Please take these experiments seriously, as most of the data will be used by postgrad students for their PhD.
Special Needs: The University of Colorado is obliged by law to accommodate any special needs. However, these needs must be brought to the attention of the professor on the first day of class.
Absences: This course is very fast paced, and so every effort must be made not to miss class. Missed exams cannot be made up, and lateness to class may also result in missing an exam. If you foresee any problems, please contact either Prof. Davis or Prof. Cornwell by phone or by e-mail (see above). Each exam may me made up by a ten page paper on the test topic. The topic of the paper must be approved by the instructor.
Breaks: We will leave breaks flexible as the course proceeds.
The following is the course schedule. Because of the tight schedule, we will do everything possible to keep to this schedule. If there are particular issues that you find difficult to understand, we can discuss immediately after class, during the break, or by appointment.
The Cafe in Columbine Hall will not be open, however Jazzman's near the library will be open for business. We will take an hour long lunch break.
Recorders are not allowed to be used in class. Thank you.
Monday, March 27
Evolutionary Psychology, Required reading: Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5
Lecture on evolutionary theories: Natural and Sexual Selection
Mating Strategies
Tuesday, 28 March
Exam 1 on Lecture and reading materials. Exam will begin at 8.00am- multiple choice. Please bring a scantron and number 2 pencil.
It is an OPEN note (not book) exam. PLEASE do not make Xeroxed copies of the book as your notes, this will result in a failing grade.
Required reading: Chapters 6, 7 and handouts
Short-term Mating Strategies and Individual Differences (book and lecture)
Sex and Pregnancy (from lecture)
Birth and Breastfeeding (from lecture)
Problems of Parenting (book)
Wednesday, March 29
Exam 2
Required reading: Chapters 8, 11 and handouts
Problems of Kinship
Conflict between the Sexes
Thursday, March 30
Exam 3
Chapter 12 and Handouts
Status, Prestige and Social dominance
Sexual behaviors, gender roles, and social attitudes
Friday, March 31
Exam 4
Sex and Morality, STD, and Population
Dying for Love (lecture)
Too Many People (lecture)
Exam 5