DEP 4482
DEATH AND DYING
Spring, 2008
Instructor: Dr. Russac
Office: 51/3433
Phone: 620-1637
E-mail: rrussac@unf.edu Personal information, e.g., code numbers or grades, can not be obtained by e-mail or phone. Nor will the instructor respond to email/phone requests for dates of assignments/exams. Please put the class name and number in the subject line of all emails.
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:20 – 9:45 & Friday mornings.
Prerequisites: DEP 3054, or consent of instructor.
Texts: Corr, Nabe, & Corr. Death and Dying, Life and Living (5th Edition) – Required.
Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie – Required.
Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilych – Required.
Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed – Required.
Web Page: The course web page contains the class syllabus, topical outlines, copies of class handouts, and links to other related web sites. Visiting the course web page is a must for students who want to do well in the course. The most direct route to my home page is http://www.unf.edu/~rrussac/rrussac.htm. Once there, find your course in the drop-down list and click on it.
Course objective: in this course we will examine end-of-life issues within the more general context of lifespan developmental psychology. Topics to be discussed include historical perspectives, euthanasia, medical and legal issues, hospice, grief and bereavement, children and death, violent death/disasters/megadeath, and beyond death.
Assignments:*
Examination I 50 points
(date TBA)
Examination II 50 points
(date TBA)
Examination III 50 points
(Final exams week)
Advanced Directives 10 points
(due the day Examination I)
Book Reports 30 points
(due the last regular class day)
Research Participation (if available) (10 points)
___________
Total: 190 points
Grades:**
A 165-190 points (plus ALL assignments completed)
B 145-164 points (plus ALL assignments completed)
C 105-144 points (plus ALL assignments completed)
D 90- 104 points
F 89 points or less
Examinations:
Examinations consist primarily of fill-in-the-blank and short-answer completion questions and are NOT cumulative. Students must be in their seats within five (5) minutes of the scheduled starting time for each examination. A ten (10) point penalty will be assessed for ALL exams begun after the five minute 'grace period.' Examinations I & II can be made up within one week of the assigned date in well-justified situations. All make-up exams must be taken during the instructor’s office hours (see above). However, a ten (10) point penalty will be assessed for ALL late assignments, regardless of circumstance. Examination III must be completed on the date and at the time assigned by the University. Please check your schedule now to be sure you have no conflicts with the final examination. If calculations are required, a calculator may be used – cell phones or Ipods cannot.
* A hard (paper) copy of all assignments must be submitted for grading. No electronic copies will be accepted
** Plus/minus grades will not be given in this course.
Class attendance:
Class attendance is not mandatory. However, the student is responsible for all information presented in class.
Cheating:
All assignments must be completed independently by each student. If a student cheats, or allows another student to use his/her class assignments, one, or both, students will receive a failing (F) grade for the course and the instructor will move to have the student(s) removed immediately from the University of North Florida.
Disabled Services:
Students using Disabled Services are responsible for the following: (a) Arrangements must be made with Dr. Russac the week (within 5 calendar days) of the examination either by written note handed to the instructor, e-mail, or voice mail. Notes or phone messages left with secretaries or with others will not be accepted. (b) The examination must be taken at the same time and on the same day as the class takes the test. Students who take the test after the class will receive a late penalty. (c) The reader for the examination must be assigned by Disabled Services. All deviations from these requirements must be cleared with the instructor.
Beepers/Cell Phones:
Beepers, cell phones, and similar devices MUST be turned off or put on vibrate during class. If a beeper, cell phone, or similar device goes off in class, there will be an automatic 5-point grade deduction.
Advanced Directives:
Advanced directives will be turned in the day of the midterm examination. All students must fill out their advanced directives to receive class credit. The forms should be filled out with the care required of any legal document. This means they must be legible, filled out in ink, and properly witnessed. The directives will be returned to students by the end of the semester. At that time each student can decide whether to use the directives or destroy them.
Book Reports:
The three books should be read in the order given at the top of the syllabus. Each book report should be a minimum of four (4) pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, and stapled or otherwise bound. Loose, paper-clipped, 'dog-eared,' and untyped papers will be penalized. I am interested in your thoughts about the books, particularly as they relate to class discussions and to your own personal experiences. For this reason, except for the above instructions, you do not need to write your reports in any particular “style” (e.g., APA style). However, you must convince me that your read each book thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Topical Outline:
I. Death Education.
Read: Chapter 1.
II. Demographics.
Read: Chapter 2.
III. Social/historical Perspectives.
Read: Chapters 3-5.
IV. Dying and Death 1: Medical-legal Issues.
Read: Chapters 16 & 18.
EXAMINATION I
V. Dying and Death 2: The Dying Process.
Read: Chapters 6-8.
VI. Last Rites.
Read: Chapter 11.
VII. Bereavement, Grief and Mourning.
Read: Chapters 9-10.
EXAMINATION II
VIII. Stress Disorders.
IX. Suicide.
Read: Chapter 17.
X. Developmental Perspectives.
Read: Chapters 12-15
XI. Beyond Death.
Read: Chapter 19.
EXAMINATION III
Revised: 12/30/06