Course Syllabus
PSY-340-801 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY FALL 2021
TEXT: Ray, W. J. (2021). Abnormal Psychology (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
INSTRUCTOR: Kelley L. Drayer, Ph.D.
Email: kdrayer@southalabama.edu
Psychology Department: (251) 460-6371
Office Hours: I live out of state; therefore, I will not be holding office hours. The most efficient way to contact me is either by email or by using the messaging tool on Canvas. After the first week of class, while I will be checking email every day, I will only respond on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, unless it is urgent.
COURSE INFORMATION:
Course Format: Online
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Current perspectives in understanding mental disorders and deviant behaviors.
Pre-requisites: PSY 120/PSY 121 or PSY 210
COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Abnormal psychology is concerned with understanding the nature, causes, and treatment of mental disorders. Throughout this course you will learn what constitutes abnormal behavior, what treatments are typically used for the disorders and the legal and ethical complications that are associated with these disorders.
Each class week will begin at 8:00am on Monday and will close the following Sunday at 5:00pm.
GRADING: Each student begins with an “A” in this class. Grades are earned, not given.
Grades will be based on a 10-percentage point scale
90-100% …………………………………………A
80-89% …………………………………………. B
70-79% …………………………………………. C
60-69% …………………………………………. D
0-59% ……………………………………………F
Exams (73%): There will be four exams, 100pts each, and the final exam (Exam 4) will NOT be comprehensive. The format will consist of 50 multiple choice questions, completed in 60 minutes. The exams are closed book, and supplemental resources (e.g. websites, class notes, classmates) are not permitted during the exams. The exams will be open for one week; opening Monday at 8:00am and closing on Sunday at 5:00pm. A lockdown browser is required for exams. This is a stand-alone browser that will not allow access other websites, print, or leave the browser until the exam is complete, and will monitor each student as they are taking the test.
Missed Exam Policy: As this is an online class, exams will be open for one week; there will be no make-up exams. If you are required to attend a school related event during an exam period, please notify me as soon as you learn of the event so that arrangements can be made. If there is an emergency, or for some reason you are not able to complete your exam in the allotted time (e.g. technical issues, weather, etc.), please bring it to my attention as soon as possible and we can discuss how to proceed.
Attendance/Discussions (27%): This is an online class. All attendance and participation are accounted for by discussions. Mandatory discussions and responses will be required each week. One post (at least one paragraph) and two responses (one paragraph for each response) are required each week. Each discussion will open Monday at 8:00am and will close at 5:00pm Sunday. Below is the scoring rubric for discussions. Please note: If you wait until Sunday to complete your discussions, you will not receive full credit. This grading rubric only pertains to the discussions.
|
Criteria |
Ratings |
|
Points |
||||||
|
Initial Post |
(5 pts) Original post is made Mon-Sat and fulfills all required elements |
(4 pts) Original post is made Mon-Sat and partially fulfills required elements |
(3 pts) Original post is made on Sun by 5:00pm and fulfills all required elements |
(2 pts) Original post is made on Sun by 5:00pm and partially fulfills required elements |
(1pt) Original post is made after 5:00pm on Sunday |
(0pts) No discussion post is made. |
5 pts |
||
|
Replies to Peers |
(5 pts) Two replies are made Mon-Sat and fulfills all the required elements |
(4 pts) One reply is made Mon-Sat and fulfills all the required elements |
(3 pts) Replies are made Mon-Sat and partially fulfills the required elements |
(2 pts) Replies are made on Sun by 5:00pm and fulfills all the required elements |
(1 pt) Replies are made on Sun by 5:00pm and partially fulfills the required elements |
(0.5pts) Replies are made after 5:00pm on Sun. |
(0 pts) No replies are made. |
5 pts |
|
|
Total Points: 10 |
|||||||||
If you are struggling to keep up with the class, please contact me as soon as you can; waiting until we are half-way through the semester is too late.
If extra credit opportunities become available, I will let you know. Please do not ask for extra credit to make up missed assignments.
**Please keep in mind that this is an online class, and while seated classes may not be meeting, it is your responsibility to check assignment due dates. **
|
Date |
Content |
|
August 17 Wk1 |
Chapter 1 – AN OVERVIEW OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND CHANGING CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF MENTAL ILLNESS |
|
August 23 Wk2 |
Chapter 2 – NEUROSCIENCE APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOPATHOLOGY |
|
August 30 Wk3 |
Chapter 3 – RESEARCH METHODS |
|
September 6 Wk4 |
Chapter 4 – ASSESSMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Exam 1 |
|
September 13 Wk5 |
Chapter 5 – CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT-ONSET DISORDERS |
|
September 20 Wk6 |
Chapter 6 – MOOD DISORDERS AND SUICIDE |
|
September 27 Wk7 |
Chapter 7 – STRESS, TRAUMA, AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY |
|
October 4 Wk8 |
Chapter 8 – ANXIETY DISORDERS AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDERS Exam 2 |
|
October 11 Wk9 |
Chapter 9 – DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS AND SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS Chapter 10 – EATING DISORDERS |
|
October 18 Wk10 |
Chapter 11 – SEXUAL DISORDERS, PARAPHILIC DISORDERS, AND GENDER DYSPHORIA |
|
October 25 Wk11 |
Chapter 12 – SUBSTANCE-RELATED AND ADDICTIVE DISORDERS Exam 3 |
|
November 1 Wk12 |
Chapter 13 – SCHIZOPHRENIA |
|
November 8 Wk13 |
Chapter 14 – PERSONALITY DISORDERS |
|
November 15 Wk14 |
Chapter 15 – NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS
|
|
November 22 Wk15 |
Thanksgiving Break – last class day, 5:00pm 24Nov20 Final Exam – opens |
|
November 29 Wk16 |
Chapter 16 – LAW AND MENTAL HEALTH |
|
December 6-9 |
Final Exam – Exam 4 |
*This schedule is tentative, and subject to change. If changes are needed, you will be notified in writing of these changes. However, it is your responsibility to stay up to date. *
Important Dates for Fall 2021:
August 17 – Classes begin
August 24 – Last day to drop without a WD
September 6 – Labor Day
October 29 – Last day to drop or withdraw (11:59 p.m.)
November 23 -28 – Thanksgiving Break (begins Tuesday at 5:00pm)
December 3 – Last day of seated classes
December 6-9 – Final Examinations
Once you have finished reviewing the syllabus, please complete the Orientation Quiz.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|