Course Outline
- 3 assignments
- Final examination
- Discussion forum
Course Description and Prerequisites
The definition, history, and scope of deviant behaviour, emphasis on the psychological factors that control its origins, maintenance, and modification.
Prerequisites: Either (a) PSYC 100, or (b) all of PSYC 101, 102, or (c) six credits of 200-level Psychology (but not 205 or 263). Permission from the instructor is required if a student without the course prerequisites wishes to enroll.
Course Objectives
This course provides an overview of psychopathology. It will examine the main classifications of mental disorders from an evidence-based and biopsychosocial perspective. Coverage will span a range of topics including signs and symptoms of psychopathology, methods of assessment and diagnosis, etiological theories, psychotherapy and psychotropic medications.
After completing the course, students will be able to:
- Describe and compare the different paradigms and theories guiding the study of abnormal psychology.
- Explain guiding concepts in the assessment and treatment of mental disorders.
- Demonstrate that they can apply this information (for example, through work on case studies).
- Gain research skills through activities and assignments that require performing literature searches, interpreting methods and findings, and critiquing conclusions.
- Challenge stereotypes and stigma about mental illness.
Course Content
There are five units in this course that you will need to work through. Each unit has corresponding readings on this course website and in your textbook.
- Unit 1: Abnormal Psychology in Science and Clinical Practice
- Unit 2: Problems of Stress and Anxiety
- Unit 3: Problems of Mood
- Unit 4: Problems of Mind and Body
- Unit 5: Problems of Psychosis
Course Format
PSYC300B is an online course that is delivered via Vista. You will need access to the Internet in order to take this course.
Each unit in the course follows a similar structure:
First, you will do your readings in the text and online. The material online will prompt you to read certain chapters at certain points.
Second, at the end of each unit will be the following:
- Case Discussion
- Review (this is your time to work with the material which will help prepare you for the final exam)
- Additional Web Resources (these are not required but may be of interest or even helpful in completing your assignments)
Third, there may be an assignment following a unit. There are three assignments for this course, which will be due after Unit 1, Unit 3 and Unit 5.
Evaluation
Component Description Weight
| Assignment 1 Submitted written work | 14% |
| Assignment 2 Submitted written work | 14% |
| Assignment 3 Submitted written work | 19% |
| Discussions Participation in three of five discussions | 3% |
| Final Exam Short answer and short essay | 50% |
| Total for Course | 100 |
Textbooks
Abnormal Psychology (7th Edition). Ronald J. Comer (2009). Worth Publishers.
