Course Syllabus
PLEASE READ THIS SYLLABUS CAREFULLY!!!
Abnormal Psychology (Online) PSYC3125V 23608
Instructor: Dr. H. Richman
Spring 2012
Rooms/Times TBA
3 Places you need to be able to get to: (subject to change)
1. Course "Webpage"
http://psyc.columbusstate.edu/richman/PSYC3125V.htm (detailed course
information, syllabus, study guides, etc.)
2. “Cougarnet “My Courses” Abnormal Psychology (day to day
information,“NEWS,” files, test information and dates, copies of
emails I will be sending out, etc.
3. CougarVIEW (Vista/Blackboard) login page
https://colstate.view.usg.edu/webct/logonDisplay.dowebct?insId=211940
11&glcid=URN:X-WEBCT-VISTA-V1:03128e43-a818-5d85-016bced828b6330a&insName=Columbus%20State%20University
Do not go to “CougarVIEW” yet. That will be used ONLY for Online
Testing.
email: richman_harvey@ColumbusState.edu fastest response
Phone: 565-3576
Office: Faculty Office Building (FOB) 124
Office Hours: T & Th 12:45 - 1:15 pm
M & W 5:15 - 5:45 pm
Required Text: Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life 12th ed.
preferred. (11th, 13th, or 14th eds. will also work), Butcher,
Mineka, & Hooley.
IMPORTANT!!!!: For an online class to run smoothly, and for students
to do well, both faculty and students must communicate well and be
clear about what to expect and what needs to be done and when. To
avoid potential problems, the following guidelines are being CLEARLY
stated and NO exceptions will be made.
If YOU ENROLL IN THIS COURSE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO 1. BE FAMILIAR
WITH ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE COURSE "Webpage", 2. CHECK "NEWS" IN
Cougarnet "MY COURSES" FREQUENTLY, AND 3, CAREFULLY FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS
POSTED ON THE Webpage, IN CougarVIEW, AND IN THIS SYLLABUS, ESPECIALLY
REGARDING TESTING. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND
I WILL RESPOND PROMPTLY. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS ASKING QUESTIONS
THAT ARE ALREADY ANSWERED ON THE WEBEPAGE OR IN THE SYLLABUS. I WILL EMAIL
ONLY TO YOUR CSU EMAIL ADDRESS (except for responding to an email of yours)
AND WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROBLEMS WITH YOUR EMAIL SERVICE OR CHANGES
IN YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.
Course Description:
This course will provide the student with an in depth understanding
of the field of abnormal psychology, including classification, causal
factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Students will be responsible for
reading the text on their own. Support will be provided in the form
of online (Word Document) study guides which you can download and
print. You will be able to interact with other students and me
through the course "Bulletin / Discussion Board" in "Cougarview." I
also plan on there being a time during the week when I will be
available online for "Live Chat" (also in Cougarview). You can always
email questions to me. I will always do my best to respond to your
email questions promptly, typically within 24 hours.
Tehcnicological Requirements: You will need access to a computer with
reliable and fast (NOT a telephone modem) internet access for taking
online Quizzes and Exams (if you choose online Exams). You will need
access to Cougarnet to receive my emails, access discussion and chat
features, and download files if I place any there. Your computer
will need a web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer), and Microsoft
Word.
Course Grade and Testing: Testing will be objective (i.e., multiple
choice) and closely follow the text and study guides.
Major Exams: 85% of your grade will be based on 3 "Major Exams"
(28.33% each). You will NOT routinely receive detailed results on
the "Major Exams" other than your score. You are welcome to come to
my office to go over your exam in detail. You can take the major
exams online (times TBA) or on campus (traditional paper and pencil).
Depending on how many students request on campus testing, we may
meet as a group (day and time TBA) or take the exams individually by
appointment. If you do not come to the scheduled “on-campus” testing
session or appointment, I will assume that you have chosen to test
“online”. If you do neither, the "Makeup Exams" policy below applies.
The instructor reserves the right to change testing procedures if
necessary.
Quizzes 15% of your course grade will be based on three practice
"Quizzes," one per exam (5% each). The primary purpose of the
quizzes is to let you know how well prepared you are for the exam.
Each quiz, will, of course, cover only a small amount of the material
that will be on the exam. You can take each Quiz two times. On these
Quizzes, you will receive immediate feedback which you can use to
study and improve your score on your second try. The higher of the
two scores is the one that will count towards your grade. Doing well
on these quizzes will, of course, help your overall grade. Quizzes
will be available online only and there are NO makeup quizzes. All
quizzes and exams are based on a 100 point scale.
Makeup exams: will be given ONLY in the two following situations: (1)
If ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, you can schedule an alternate time (paper
and pencil only) in advance of the on-campus/online test time or (2)
without prior notice (“no show”)a makeup test will only be given if
the student provides written documentation that a situation “beyond
the student’s control” was at cause (e.g., illness for which you were
treated, traffic accident, etc.). This is especially true for the
final exam. Time, location, and format for makeup tests will be at
the convenience of the instructor and/or department support staff.
If you miss a test without just cause (e.g. I forgot, I didn’t feel
well, my car wouldn’t start, my hamster had an anxiety attack) you
will NOT be given a makeup test. Normally, the grade for the missed
test will be computed as the average of your other two test grades
(before addition of any extra credit points if any have been offered)
minus 30 percent. However, CSU policy states that if you miss a
“previously announced” test you can be given a grade of 0 for that
test.
Attendance:
There is, of course, no attendance policy. However, it is the
student’s responsibility to keep up with reading and regularly check
the "homepage" for test dates, optional meetings/assignments,
changes, etc. Check under “NEWS” in Cougarnet My Courses often.
Deportment:
The same standards that apply to a traditional class apply here.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate
to a college classroom as specified in the student handbook. Behavior
which is inappropriate to a college classroom, interferes with class,
and/or infringes on the rights of other students is unacceptable and
will quickly result in contact with the appropriate university
authorities and appropriate action taken.
Additionally, it is important for us all (student and faculty) to be
particularly careful about what we say and how we say it when we
communicate online. Whatever the message, it tends to come across as
less courteous, more extreme, and more impersonal on a computer
screen.
Overall Average is computed as follows:
Average = .85*(average of 3 major exams) + .15*(average of three
quizzes).
Example Assume your three Exam grades were 80, 80 and, 78; and your
three Quiz grades were 90, 85, and 95
Overall Average = .85*[(80+80+78)/3] + .15*[(90+85+95)/3]
= .85*[238/3]
+ .15*[270/3]
= .85*[79.333] + .15*[90]
=
67.43 + 13.5 = 80.9 = "B"
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
Overall Average
Grade
_______________________________________________________________
90 - 100
A
80 - 89
B
70 - 79
C
60 - 69
D
Below 60
__
F_
(Note: on all grade computations .5 or larger fractions round up, .4
and smaller round down) Example 79.4 = a "C", 79.5 = a "B" The grade
you receive will be the grade you earn. It is NOT negotiable.
Factors such as GPA, Academic Standing (probation, exclusion),
Funding can NOT be considered in determining Course Grade. Please
don't ask. Thanks.
Tentative Course Outline:
Book ed.
Week of
Topic(s) / Readings
12th /13th
14th
-----------------------------------------------------------------1
1/9 Abnormal Psychology: An Overview
ch. 1
same
2. 1/16 Historical and Contemporary Views
ch. 2
3. 1/23 Causal Factors and Viewpoints
ch. 3
4. 1/30 Clinical Assessment
ch. 4
5.
2/6 Stress and Adjustment Disorders
ch. 5
6. 2/13 Panic, Anxiety, and their Disorders
ch. 6
7. 2/20 Mood Disorders and Suicide
ch. 7
8. 2/27 Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
ch. 8
9.
3/5 Spring Break no classes
10. 3/12 Eating Disorders and Obesity
ch. 9
11. 3/19 Personality Disorders
ch. 11
10
12. 3/26 Substance Related Disorders
ch. 12
11
13. 4/2 Sexual Variants, Abuse, Dysfunctions
ch. 13
12
14. v4/9 Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders
ch. 14
13
15. 4/16 Cognitive Disorders
ch. 15
14
16. 4/23 Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
ch. 16
15
17. 4/30 Therapy - Contemporary and Legal Issues ch. 17-18 16-17
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dates, times, and locations for Exams 1, 2, and 3 will be announced
(by email and in the CougarNET My Courses “NEWS” section). We have
16 weeks so expect Exam1 about 5 weeks in, Exam2 at about 10 weeks,
etc. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of announced
dates and times. Exam 3 will be scheduled during the LAST WEEK OF
CLASSES.
Official Withdrawal Policy:
To drop a course after schedule change (Jan 13):
You may drop a course by submitting the Request for Withdrawal from Courses form in ISIS.
Any course dropped after Jan 13 becomes part of your academic record. A grade of
"W" will be assigned for withdrawal requests submitted by the "withdrawal Deadline" of the
term or part term (see the Dates of Terms section) unless a grade of "WF" has been
assigned already by the registrar for excessive absence. A grade of "WF" will be assigned for
courses on withdrawal requests submitted after the "withdrawal Deadline" of the term or
part term. Contact the Instructor, for procedures to appeal the assignment of a "WF" grade.
The "withdrawal Deadline" for Spring 2012 full term classes is Friday Feb. 3
Learning Objectives
1. Identify, analyze, and communicate the major schools of thought and historical
development of the field of abnormal psychology.
2. Identify, analyze and communicate the methods and techniques utilized in research
related to identification, assessment, and treatment of psychological disorders.
3. Identify, analyze, and communicate the current status of, and future directions in,
important issues in abnormal psychology.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the primary classification system (DSM-IV)
used by psychologists and other mental health professionals.
Official ADA Policy:
If you have a documented disability, as described by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L.
933-112 Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and would like to
request academic and/or physical accommodations please contact Joy Norman at the Office
of Disability Services in the Schuster Student Success Center - Room 221 or call 706-5078755 as soon as possible. Course requirements will not be waived but reasonable
accommodations may be provided as appropriate.