Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Abnormal Psychology

Course Prefix & Number: 

PSYC 2320

Section Number: 

400

Semester/Year:

Spring 2020

Semester Credit Hours:

3

Lecture Hours:

3

Lab Hours:

0

Course Description (NCTC Catalog):

This course provides an introduction to the psychological, biological, and socio-cultural factors involved in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. It includes a review of the historical understanding of abnormal behavior and the development of modern diagnostic systems. It includes discussion of psychological research and practice as it relates to mental health and psychological functioning, as well as legal and ethical issues.   

Course Prerequisite(s): PSYC2301-General Psychology

Required Course Materials: Comer.  Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology.  10th edition. MacMillan Publishing. ISBN 9781319312893 (access code with ebook)

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Jennifer Doran

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth / Room 331 (Office 337)

Telephone Number:

(940) 498-6424

E-mail Address:

jdoran@nctc.edu

 

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Online and by appointment

8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

 

11 to 12:30 p.m.

Online and by appointment

8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

 

11 to 12:30 p.m.

Online and by appointment

It is my goal to return all phone calls and emails within 24 hours.

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

 

Discuss the historical antecedents to modern understandings of abnormal behavior.

 

Identify and describe the major classes and characteristics of psychological disorders as presented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).

 

Describe the factors and theoretical perspectives related to the development and maintenance of different types of abnormal behavior.

 

 List the primary treatments for psychological disorders and discuss their effectiveness.

 

Discuss the current research and methodological issues in the study of abnormal behavior.

 

Discuss the legal and ethical issues associated with the treatment of and research related to abnormal behavior.

 

Develop an understanding of how social and cultural factors impact the expression of psychological disorders.

 

Examine the impact of biological factors on the development of psychological disorders.

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

1.

Exams (100 points x 4 exams)

400 points

2.

Group Activities / Participation

300 points

3.

Brochure

100 points

4.

Institutional Assessment Essay Questions

100 points

5.

Media Analysis Paper

100 points

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

1,000 points

 

  • Exams (400 points):    We will have four exams that are worth 100 points each.   Please bring a scantron, notebook paper and a #2 pencil to class on exam days.   Exams will cover material from our text and material from class.   In the event of a documented emergency, a make-up (for ONE missed exam) may be offered on the day of the final.   Please refrain from phone use or restroom trips during exams.

 

  • Group Activities / Participation (300 points):  During class we will complete activities that help to reinforce the course concepts.   Credit can only be earned if the student is present.   Grade will be determined by reviewing assignments, attendance records, and by observation.

 

  • Brochure (100 points):   We will be designing a brochure based on information learned in Week Nine.    Please see the document in Canvas for additional information.  Due in Week Ten.

 

  • Institutional Assessment Essay Questions (100 points):  Due in Week 13.   Grade will relate to inclusion of required elements and content.   Please see the document in Canvas and the rubric below for additional details.

 

  • Media Analysis Paper (100 points):  Due in Week 15.   Grade will relate to inclusion of required elements and content.   Please see the document in Canvas for additional details.

 

  • TOTAL:   1,000 possible points

 

 

Tentative Course Calendar

 

Week

Date

Topics

Reading

(Please complete                                     PRIOR to class.)

1

January 21

Course Overview / Syllabus Activity

 

January 23

What Is Abnormal Behavior?

Chapters 1, 3

 

2

January 28

Research and Abnormal Psychology

Chapter 1

January 30

Research Activity

 

 

3

February 4

Perspectives in Abnormal Psychology

Chapter 2

February 6

Perspectives (cont.)

 

 

4

February 11

Review

 

February 13

Exam 1 (Covers Chapters 1, 2, and 3) 

Please bring scantron and #2 pencil.  

 

 

5

February 18

Anxiety

Chapter 4

February 20

Anxiety (cont.)

 

 

6

February 25

Obsessive Disorders

Chapter 4

February 27

Obsessive Disorders (cont.)

 

 

7

March 3

Depression

Chapter 6

March 5

Depression (cont.) / Bipolar Disorder

 

 

8

March 10

Bipolar Disorder / Review

Chapter 6

March 12

Exam 2 (Covers Chapters 4 and 6)

Please bring scantron and #2 pencil.

 

 

 

 

March 16-22nd - Spring Break – Enjoy!

 

9

March 24

Suicide

Chapter 7

March 26

Eating Disorders

Chapter 9

 

10

March 31

Addictive Disorders

Brochures Due

Chapters 10

April 2

Sexual Disorders

Chapter 11

 

 

11

April 7

Complete Unit / Review

 

April 9

Exam 3 (Covers Chapters 7, 9, 10, and 11)  

Please bring scantron and #2 pencil.  

 

 

12

April 14

Schizophrenia

Chapter 12

April 16

Schizophrenia (cont.)

 

 

13

April 21

Trauma / Stress Disorders

Chapter 5

April 23

Trauma / Stress Disorders (cont.)

Institutional Assessment Essay Questions

 

 

14

April 28

Personality Disorders  

Chapter 13

April 30

Personality Disorders (cont.)

 

 

15

May 5

Disorders Diagnosed in Childhood

Media Analysis Paper Due

Chapter 14

May 7

Wrap Up / Review 

Extra Credit Projects Due (Optional)

 

 

16

 

Final Exam Week:   May 11th – 15th, 2020

 

Exam 4 (Covers Chapters 12, 5, 13 and 14 and class activities)  

Please bring scantron and #2 pencil.  Exam will include multiple choice questions.

 


 

RUBRIC for Institutional Assessment Essays

 

Grading Criteria

Excellent

Proficient

Approaches Expectations

Does Not Meet Expectations

Content Relevance, Accuracy and Organization

 

~Up to 75 points

65-75 points

**Presents appropriate material clearly and in a well-organized manner.

**Writing clearly demonstrates sound understanding of subject matter.  

55-64 points

**Presents material in a somewhat organized manner.

**Writing demonstrates a degree of understanding of subject matter.  

 

30-54 points

**Presents somewhat relevant material but organization is not fully achieved. **Writing demonstrates some understanding but some uncertainty with  subject matter.  

 

0-29 points

**Content is unclear.   Overall organization is difficult or impossible to follow. 

**Writing demonstrates a lack of knowledge with regard to the subject matter.  

 

 Sources

 

~Up to 10 points

8-10 points

**Cites all data obtained from sources.

**Sources are reliable and APA citation style is accurate.

 

5-7 points

**Cites most  data obtained from sources.

**Sources are largely reliable and APA citation style is somewhat accurate.

 

3-4 points

**Cites minimal data obtained from sources.

**Sources are present but not reliable; errors in APA citation style are noted.

 

 

0-2 points

**Does not cite sources.

** APA citation style is not evident.

 

 Mechanics

 

 

~Up to 15 points

12-15 points

**Ideas are communicated clearly.

**Accurate grammar/spelling.

 

9-11 points

**Ideas are generally communicated clearly.

**Grammar/spelling generally accurate.

 

5-8 points

**Ideas are often unclear due to mechanical errors.

**Errors in grammar/spelling noted.

 

0-4 points

**Message is lost due to significant mechanical errors.

**Significant errors in grammar/spelling are present.

 

TOTAL POINTS EARNED

 

 /100 POINTS


 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 3rd, 2020.

 

 

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______       

 

o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

 

o         Government/Political Science

X         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

o         American History

 

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

 

                X Critical Thinking

                X Communication

                X Emperical and Quantitative

o           Teamwork

            X Personal Responsibility

                X Social Responsibility

 

 

 

COURSE TYPE

o           Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

 

Students may earn a zero for an assignment or for a course due to academic dishonesty.  

Please come to me for help with any of these topics.   You may also visit our library for

additional information:  http://www.nctc.edu/library/research-help/CitationGuides.html

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Crystal R.M. Wright

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 24

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4320

E-mail Address:

cwright@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408

Telephone Number:

940-498-6464

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu