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.
Bridley, A. & Daffin, Jr., L.W. (2018). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology. Retrieved from https://opentext.wsu.edu/abnormalpsychology/front-matter/title-page/
Access to Screencast-O-Matic (free), Zoom, or another video-recording platform for recording your Case Study Presentation in Week 15.
Mandatory UNE-approved webcam – To be used during proctored exam
In lecture courses, students should be able to:
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.
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 towards 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 explaining the etiology of the disorder. A brief video summary of the content of the paper will also be provided.
Final Cumulative Exam (Proctored) – This is a 50-item, multiple-choice exam that is proctored. Students will have 1 hour and 1 attempt to complete the exam. This exam will be open-book, open-note. This Cumulative Exam must be taken though ProctorU. See UNE’s ProctorU page for information about signing up and scheduling your exam. The official UNE webcam is required.
Proctored exams are closed for review. You will not be able to review them at any time. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignment/Category | Grade |
---|---|
Self-Assessments/Matching Activities | 0% |
Discussion Boards | 9% |
Clinical Assessment Assignment | 10% |
Reflection Papers | 15% |
Problem-Based Learning Scenarios | 36% |
Creative Activity | 5% |
Holistic Case Study | 10% |
Final Cumulative Exam | 15% |
Total | 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 |
Week |
Topic |
Readings/Resources |
Assignments |
1 |
Introduction to Abnormal Psychology |
Textbook Chapter 1 |
Discussion Board 1 Self-Assessment – Types of Mental Health Professionals Timeline Activity Reflection Paper – Stigma and Mental Illness |
2 |
Contemporary Models of Abnormal Psychology |
Textbook Chapter 2
Article “Racism as a Stressor for African Americans: A Biopsychosocial Model” |
Problem-based Learning Scenario – The Biopsychosocial Model |
3 |
Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment |
Textbook Chapter 3
DSM-5 – Basics in the DSM-5 |
Clinical Assessment Activity |
4 |
Anxiety Disorders Part 1 |
Chapter 4: Anxiety Disorders (Sections 4–4.3.4) DSM-5: Anxiety Disorders (Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia) Video Anxiety Disorders
|
Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Anxiety Disorders |
5 |
Anxiety Disorders Part 2 |
Chapter 4: Anxiety Disorders (Sections 4.5–4.6.3) DSM-5: Social Anxiety and Agoraphobia Video Scared to Leave Home
|
Self-Assessment – Anxiety Disorder Jeopardy Creative Activity – Propose a New Diagnosis |
6 |
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Part 1 |
Chapter 5: Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (Sections 5–5.1.5) DSM-5: Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (Introduction and the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder entry) Video OCD: A Monster in My Mind
|
Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Obsessive Compulsive Disorders – OCD |
7 |
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Part 2 |
Chapter 5: Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (Sections 5.2–5.2.5) DSM-5: Body Dysmorphic Disorder Video I Feel So Ugly: Body Dysmorphic Disorder
|
Self-Assessment – Matching OCD and BDD Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Obsessive Compulsive Disorders – BDD |
8 |
Mood Disorders Part 1 |
Chapter 6: Mood Disorders (Sections 6–6.1.5) DSM-5: Depressive Disorders Introduction, Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) Video Mood Disorders
|
Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Mood Disorders – Major Depressive Disorder |
9 |
Mood Disorders Part 2 |
Chapter 6: Mood Disorders (Sections 6. 2 – end) DSM-5: Depressive Disorders Introduction, Bipolar I and Bipolar II Video Living the Roller-Coaster
|
Self Assessment – Mood Disorders Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Bi-Polar I and Bi-Polar II Discussion Board 2 |
10 |
Dissociative Disorders Part 1 |
Chapter 7: Dissociative Disorders (Sections 7–7.1.5) DSM-5: Dissociative Disorders Introduction, Depersonalization Disorder, and Derealization Disorder Video Dissociative Disorders
|
Reflection Paper – Dissociative Disorders – Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder |
11 |
Dissociative Disorders Part 2 |
Chapter 7: Dissociative Disorders (Sections 7.2 – end) DSM-5: Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dissociative Amnesia Video: Dissociative Identity Disorder
|
Self-Assessment – Dissociative Disorders Fact or Fiction Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Dissociative Identity Disorder
|
12 |
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Part 1 |
Chapter 8: Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (Section 8 – 8.2.2) DSM-5: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Introduction, (Schizotypal Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Brief Psychotic Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder) Video: I am Not a Monster: Schizophrenia
|
Reflection Paper – Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders |
13 |
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Part 2 |
Chapter 8: Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (Section 8.3 – end) Video: Schizophrenia: Neurotransmitter Tracts, Causes, Treatment & Assessment
|
Self-Assessment – Matching: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorder Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Treatment of Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders |
14 |
Personality Disorders Part 1 |
Chapter 9: Personality Disorders (Section 9 – 9.2.3) DSM-5: General Personality Disorder and Cluster A Personality Disorders Video: Schizophrenia vs. Schizotypal vs. Schizoid Personality Disorder: the Differences.
|
Problem-Based Learning Scenario – Cluster A Personality Disorders |
15 |
Personality Disorders Part 2 |
Chapter 9: Personality Disorders (9.3 – end) DSM-5: Cluster B and Cluster C Personality Disorders Video – Exploring the Mind of a Killer
|
Self-Assessment – Matching – Personality Disorder Case Study Presentation |
16 |
Review and Final Assessment |
Review/Study Guide
|
Discussion Post 3 Final Cumulative Exam |
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The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.
Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded any required additional software. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.
Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.
Students must use ProctorU and must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade. Students can schedule their second attempt by following the same ProctorU instructions as with the original exam.
All students are encouraged to utilize a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.
Discussion topics cover events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each discussion topic may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials, visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video before writing a response following the specific guidelines in the discussion topic prompt.
To earn full credit you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You may need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.
Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each discussion topic. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.
Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion is worth.
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A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.
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Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..
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