Syllabus
UNE Summer Session
PSYO 1030: Abnormal Psychology – 6 Weeks (Summer Session 2 2025)
Credits - 3
Description
This abnormal psychology course will explore basic concepts and theories related to abnormal psychology and how psychopathology is classified. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the history of abnormal psychology, the negative impact of stigma related to the diagnosis of mental health disorders, strategies for clinical assessment, the biopsychosocial model for explaining mental illness, as well as the classification, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the major disorders. Upon completion, students should be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior patterns as well as demonstrate knowledge of etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Program Outcomes
In lecture courses, students should be able to:
- Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
- Illustrate fundamental laws, theories, and principles of scientific disciplines.
- Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how psychologists define abnormal psychology and how it is classified.
- Identify types of mental health professionals.
- Explain perceptions, diagnoses, and treatments of mental illness with appropriate historical context.
- Analyze the stigmas associated with mental illness.
- Evaluate mental illness using the biopsychosocial model.
- Employ appropriate methods for clinical assessment.
- Describe the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of various anxiety disorders.
- Describe the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of various obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
- Describe the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of various mood disorders.
- Describe the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of various dissociative disorders.
- Describe the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.
- Describe the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of various personality disorders.
Assignments
Self-Assessments/Matching Activities – Students will be provided a matching bank and will be asked to match key terms with their definitions or related concepts. Self-Assessments are not counted toward the student’s final grade.
Discussion Boards – Students will respond to a discussion prompt and will interact with peers by providing feedback to their discussion responses.
Clinical Assessment Assignment – In this assignment, students will watch a popular film depicting an individual with a mental health disorder and they will imagine they had an opportunity to administer a clinical assessment to the character and will complete the assessment with information provided in the film.
Reflection Papers – These written assignments ask students to reflect on different phenomena that occur in abnormal psychology in a manner that is informed by their own reading and research.
Problem-Based Learning Scenarios – These written assignments provide the student with a real-world example of a clinical issue from the subsection of diagnoses being addressed in that learning module. The student will be expected to apply their knowledge of abnormal psychology to suggest a strategy for diagnosing and treating the individual.
Creative Activity – Students will be asked to create a possible new mental health diagnosis. This proposed diagnosis will be justified using clinical research.
Holistic Case Study – In this written assignment, students will evaluate a complex case study of an individual with a mental health disorder. The student will be expected to apply their knowledge of abnormal psychology to suggest a strategy for clinical assessment, diagnosing, and treating the individual. The student will also be required to apply the biopsychosocial model to fully explain the etiology of the disorder.
Midterm Exam (Proctored)– This is a 25-item, multiple-choice exam that is proctored. Students will have 90 minutes to complete the exam. Students may use a single page (front and back) of notes during the exam. This Midterm Exam will cover material from weeks 1 – 4. An external webcam is required.
Final Cumulative Exam (Proctored) – This is a 25-item, multiple-choice exam that is proctored. Students will have 90 minutes to complete the exam. Students may use a single page (front and back) of notes during the exam. This Cumulative Exam with content weighted towards weeks 4 – 6. An external webcam is required.
Practice Proctored Exam – There is a highly recommended Practice Proctored Exam available to all students. The first attempt is free. This exam does not cover course material and is not included in your overall course grade. It prepares test takers for what the testing environment will be like, what forms of identification are needed, and provides a chance to test your external webcam with a live proctor. This is a great way to become familiar with and prepare for your exam!
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment | |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board: Share and Reflect (3 @ 3 points each) | 9 |
| Reflection Paper (3 @ 5 points each) | 15 |
| Problem-Based Learning Scenarios (9 @ 4 points each) | 36 |
| Clinical Assessment Assignment | 10 |
| Creative Activity Assignment | 5 |
| Case Study Presentation | 10 |
| Mid-Term Assessment | 7.5 |
| Final Cumulative Assessment | 7.5 |
| Total | 100 |
Grade Scale
| 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 |
Schedule
Schedule
Week 1: Jul 2 – Jul 6
Week 2: Jul 7 – Jul 13
Week 3: Jul 14 – Jul 20
Week 4: Jul 21 – Jul 27
Week 5: Jul 28 – Aug 3
Week 6: Aug 4 – Aug 8
| Week | Topic | Assignments | Due Dates |
| 1 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology, Contemporary Models of Abnormal Psychology and Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 2 | Anxiety Disorders |
|
Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 3 | Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders |
|
Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 4 | Mood and Dissociative Disorders |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 5 | Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders |
|
Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
| 6 | Personality Disorder, Review, and Final Assessment |
|
Discussion Initial Post Due by 11:59 PM EST Sunday Response Posts & Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday Assignments Due by 11:59 PM EST Tuesday |
Student Resources
Summer Session Online Student Support
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. If you are a current UNE undergraduate taking online Summer Session courses, please continue to work with your Advisor and include them on your outreaches.
Questions? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.
UNE Libraries
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Further Assistance and Accommodations
Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.
To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.
If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.
If you are a current UNE undergrad, please continue to work with your coordinator at bcstudentaccess@une.edu and ensure any accommodations you have in place - are put in place for your online Summer Session course(s).
Online Peer Support
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.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
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.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
Policies
Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation.
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. For all proctored exams, an external camera is required. Please see the course for the exact exam requirements, test-taker guidance, proctoring format, and allowances (such as calculators or whiteboards, as indicated in the course). https://success.une.edu/science-prerequisites/honorlock/
Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.
Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar. Students in online Summer Session courses will have early access the Saturday prior to the course start date to review course content as needed.
- Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.
Late Policy
Unless stated otherwise by your faculty: 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 if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
Academic Integrity
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.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the College. 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.
Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework
Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.
In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.
Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.
Unauthorized Use
Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.
Citing AI Use
If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools.
Instructor Responsibility
Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE AI Use Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester.
Student Responsibility
Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.
An UNE-Compliant Webcam and Whiteboard is required for ed exams. If you do not have one, you may order one here: UNE-Compliant Webcam and Whiteboard – Portal for UNE Online Students.