APA provides students advanced knowledge and skills in the assessment of client concerns. The course emphasizes the impact of the structural and personal effects of inequity and cultural oppression on assessment and on psychopathology. APA provides substantial content on understanding psychopathology while placing this understanding within the context of social work’s historical emphasis on the person-in-environment. Students taking this course will be prepared to understand the major concepts and presentations of psychopathology, and have skills in the diagnostic process. They will also be able to exhibit advanced skills in assessing the full psychosocial context and to bring a social work perspective to interventive planning.
Students will explore the DSM as one classification system used in social work settings. Case studies, discussions, and lecture will be used to develop knowledge and skills that integrate social work values, including reflexivity and cultural humility, into the psychosocial assessment process.
Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
Upon completion of this course, students will able to:
A variety of learning activities are designed to support the course objectives, facilitate different learning styles, and build a community of learners.
Learning activities for each module include the following:
This course will use an array of readings, podcasts, and videos to present the important concepts in the various modules. The readings and media resources provide the foundation and background for student discussion forums and wikis, and written assignments.
Discussions: An important learning method in this course is student participation and interaction in the discussion threads within each module. Students are expected to participate actively and in a respectful manner. Please read on for a full list of expectations.
Assignments: You will complete one major writing assignment in this course, the Biopsychosocial Assessment, Intervention Plan and Progress Notes. You will then share the draft of this paper with your group for peer feedback and submit the final version to the instructor accompanied by a 2-page summary of the feedback you received with your commentary.
Grading and Feedback Method: The course facilitator will return assignments and other grading items (discussion boards, participation, etc.) to students within three days of the assignment due date. Feedback can be via email, within the assignment itself, or using the feedback in My Grades. Grading and feedback methods are listed with each assignment. Individual rubrics will be provided in the learning modules. Please refer to each module for further detail on grading for participation, and course assignments.
Due Dates: Due dates for all learning activities are provided in the Course Schedule.
Discussion Board: The entire collection of discussions in the main course room.
Discussion Forum: The individual forum (venue) for each prompt.
Discussion Question/Prompt: The actual question/prompt within the discussion forum.
Posts to the discussion board must add substantively to the discussion by building upon classmates’ ideas or posing critical questions to further the discussion. For example, a posting of “I agree with what people are saying” is not sufficient. Discussion contributions are monitored on a weekly basis. Keep in mind that weekly postings make up a significant percentage of the final grade. All postings must be respectful. If at any time you are concerned with a posting, please notify the instructor immediately. In small groups, you are encouraged to reflect and respond to the discussion questions. This is why many of the discussions in your learning modules indicate that they are small group discussions. Your instructor will assign you to a small group at the beginning of the course. This will be the group you work in throughout the course – where small group discussion occurs.
The majority of your discussions require a certain quantity of posts, but this is a minimum amount. Unless otherwise noted, you should post quality responses of no more than two or three paragraphs in length of the indicated quantity in any preferred combination related to the questions. The recommended method is that you carefully read the existing posts and then think about how to build on the presented ideas by offering additional insights, alternative perspectives, or raising critical questions. As part of this process, be sure to refer back to the original discussion question in order to keep the thread focused on the required topic and address the indicated question(s).
All posts to the discussion forums should be completed by 11:59 PM ET on the last day of the module as indicated in the “Course Schedule.” Any discussions that extend beyond that date and time will not be considered a part of the grade and/or assignment, but rather optional reading. Your initial post is due by Saturday to allow your classmates to respond to your posts on time. Posts that no longer relate to the identified topic should be moved to one of the on-going discussion boards such as “Ask You Instructor,” “Hallway Discussions,” or “Resources.”
In all discussions unless otherwise specified, your initial response is due by Saturday at 11:59 pm ET (by Friday in Week 8), responses are due by the end of the course-week.
Your instructor will review the discussion forums by taking note of each of the following criteria listed in the “Discussion Forum Rubric” available in the course.
The journal prompts ask you to provide a more personal reflection on several sensitive issues related to biopsychosocial assessment.
The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignment | Point Value | Percentage of Grade |
Discussions and Case Studies | 450 points (30 points each forum) | 45% |
Journals | 150 points (50 points x 3 entries) | 15% |
Biopsychosocial Assessment, Intervention Plan and Progress Notes (Movie) | 350 points | 35% |
Summary of Peer Feedback | 50 points | 5% |
Total: | 1,000 | 100% |
Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
All assignments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday unless otherwise noted.
Required Readings: Textbook chapters and articles as listed
Multimedia: Podcast: Bad Diagnosis for New Psychiatry “Bible” (Time 34:35 minutes); Who Decides Who’s Crazy: Big Pharma and the DSM (Time 10:40 minutes)
Discussions: Deconstructing Psychopathology Whole Class Discussion
Assignment: Module 1 Journal
Assignment Introduction: Biopsychosocial Assessment, Intervention Plan and Progress Notes (based on a movie character) (share with group by end of Module 5; provide feedback in Module 6; submit final version with feedback summary and reflection for grading by the first day of Module 7); this week – decide on a movie
Required readings: Textbook chapters, articles and documents as listed
Extended Learning
Multimedia: Presentation: Spirit Level; Listen: This American Life: “81 Words” (Time 59:18 minutes)
Discussions: Deconstructing Psychopathology Whole Class Discussion
Required readings: Textbook chapters and articles as listed; Mental Status Exam Readings; DSM-IV Axis IV and Axis V
Multimedia: Videos on Clinical Interviewing
Discussions: Deconstructing Psychopathology Whole Class Discussion; DSM Diagnostics Group Discussion
Required Readings: Textbook chapters and articles as listed; Family Predictors of Child Mental Health Conditions
Multimedia: Kids Mental Health Site
Discussions: Deconstructing Psychopathology Whole Class Discussion; DSM Diagnostics Group Discussion (Module 4 Case Vignettes)
Assignment: Biospychosocial Assessment Paper – Complete the biopsychosocial assessment
Required Readings: Textbook chapters and articles as assigned
Extended Learning
Multimedia:
Discussions:
Assignments: Module 5 Journal; Biospychosocial Assessment Paper – add intervention plan and progress notes; share with group by end of Week 5 through the group discussion forum
Required readings: Textbook chapters and articles as assigned
Extended Learning
Multimedia: Watch: Schizophrenia (Time 57:47 minutes)
Discussions:
Assignment: Finalize your Biopsychosocial Assessment, Intervention Plan and Progress Notes; incorporate peer feedback as appropriate; write a summary of feedback to be submitted by Wednesday of Week 7.
Assignment Submission: Biopsychosocial Assessment, Intervention Plan and Progress Notes with a summary of feedback due on Wednesday, first day of Week 7
Required readings: Textbook chapters and articles as assigned; Document: Module 7 Case Vignettes
Extended Learning
Discussions: Deconstructing Psychopathology Whole Class Discussion; DSM Diagnostics Group Discussion
Required readings: Textbook chapters and articles as assigned; Document: Case Vignettes; DSM-5
Multimedia: Watch: You! Your First Patient (Time 31:21 minutes); Presentation: Secondary Trauma
Discussions: DSM Diagnostics Whole Class Discussion; Lit Review Group Discussion
Assignment: Module 8 Journal
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.