WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
Phoenix Campus
School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian
environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
PSYC 4311 Abnormal Psychology
TERM: Fall 2014
Instructor: Mike Spector
Contact Information: 602-653-6240 (cell) Email: mikespector08@gmail.com
Office Hours: set up via e-mail. Will respond within 24 hours and can meet students at Wayland Phoenix Campus, through e-mail, or
by phone at a mutually agreeable time
Class Time and Location: Luke AFB Site
Week 2: August 29,30 (Friday: 5:30pm – 9:40pm / Saturday 8:00am – 4:00pm)
Week 9: October 17,18 (Friday: 5:30pm – 9:40pm / Saturday 8:00am – 4:00pm)
Catalog Description: The study of the psychological effects of trauma with an emphasis on experimental procedures for shifting
posttraumatic stress toward posttraumatic growth.
Prerequisite: PYSC 1301 and 2301 or consent of instructor
Textbook: What Doesn’t Kill Us, Joseph, Basic Books, First Trade Paper Edition, 2013, ISBN 04650032338 / 978-0465032334
Course outcome competencies: the student will understand and be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of trauma and the corresponding effects of posttraumatic stress through field experiments,
through class discussion, and in their portfolios critical thinking.
2. Demonstrate through class discussion, and in their scholarly papers understanding of the major concepts and theoretical
framework of Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress (PST) and the empirical research on the shift from Posttraumatic Stress to
Posttraumatic Growth (PSG).
Attendance: Students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All
absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student
reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an
unsatisfactory progress report with the campus dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class
meetings may receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the
course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy.
Additional attendance policies: Attendance for on-site sessions mandatory.
Regular weekly participation for online portion is a must.
Service for the Disabled: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist
University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be
subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves
as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 2913765. Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.
Course requirements:
Students are expected to attend all “face to face” meetings. If a student is absent—excused or unexcused—it is his/her responsibility
to get notes from another classmate. Again, because of the scarcity in meeting times, it is the student’s responsibility to stay on top of
the readings.
There will be one self-study field research assignment that will be due mid-semester as a 5-10 page paper and one final paper (10-20
pages) due October 25. Additionally presentations will be made based on that final paper during our call meeting on October 18.
Both assignments should cite references to the assigned weekly readings and demonstrate connections between each student’s research
and the theoretical framework defined through the readings.
Method of determining course grade:
Grading will be determined by three components; participation in both the face-to-face and online meetings, original research
demonstrated through the midterm project and final paper, and theoretical knowledge also demonstrated through the midterm project
and final paper.
The University has a standard grade scale:
A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF = withdrew failing, I =
incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within the last two days of a microterm to a
student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or other required work for reasons beyond the student’s
control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks)
term, unless the instructor designates an earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the I is
converted to an F.
Instructor's policy on Academic Dishonesty:
All papers, research, etc. should solely be the work of the student. There will be zero tolerance for plagiarism. Depending on the
severity, using another’s ideas as one’s own could result in a rewrite, zero, and/or referral to the dean. Collective work should be
attributed accordingly All written assignments will require a reference page.
Tentative Schedule (subject to change!):
Week 1 (8/18): Chapters 1 discussions
Week 2 (8/29-8/30): Orientation, expectations, field assignment and final paper assignment; Read Chapters 2 and 3
Week 3 (9/2): Chapters 4 discussions
Week 4 (9/8): Chapters 5 discussion
Week 5 (9/15): Chapters 6 discussions
Week 6 (9/22): Field Research paper due
Week 7 (9/29): Chapters 7 discussion
Week 8 (10/6) Chapters 8 discussion
Week 9 (10/17-10/18): In-Class Sessions
Week 10 (10/20): Final Paper due
Week 11 (10/27): Reflections, Next Steps
Additional Information: This is a tentative schedule. If the class needs to spend more time on an interesting topic, adjustments may
be made.