PREREQUISITE: Psyc 2301 or permission of the instructor. Students should have completed
Eng. 1301 before taking this course. Case essays will be 20% of the grade.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS:
In this course you’ll learn about normal and abnormal personality, with the focus on the abnormal.
In order to better understand personality, the early portion of this course will look at the major theoretical approaches to understanding personality. This will be followed by a look at psychological assessment and the diagnostic criteria for the different disorders. We will also discuss issues such as the insanity plea and psychological disorders among the homeless.
Upon Completion of this course, you should:
1. Understand the major theories of personality and how they apply to both normal and abnormal behavior.
2. Understand the methods of research and assessment that are unique to the study of mental disorders.
3. Be able to describe the diagnostic criteria for most of the major mental disorders in both adults and children.
4. Understand the issues relating to prevention and treatment of mental disorders, as well as current social issues such as the insanity plea and homelessness.
The overall goal of this course is for you to engage as a full partner in the learning process. There will be discussions during every aspect of the course, from fundamental concepts of abnormal psychology, to how you will be evaluated. It is your responsibility to choose to prepare for each class, to participate in discussions and activities, and ask questions to further your understanding of psychology. It is my responsibility to facilitate learning and to be available during my office hours.
CORE COMPETENCIES FOR ALL PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
1. Reading at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials.
2. Writing at the college level means having the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion and audience. In addition, students should have correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.
3. Effective speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, doherent, and persuasive language.
4. Listening means the ability to analyze and interpret various forms of spoken communication.

5. Critical thinking embraces methods for applying both qualitative and quantitative skills analytically to the subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and construct alternative strategies.
6. Computer literacy means having the ability to use computer-based technology in communicating and acquiring information.
TEXTBOOKS: Nolen-Hoeksema, Susan. (2008) Abnormal Psychology, Fourth Edition.
Boston:
McGraw-Hill. Find the cheapest text you can since this will not be used again. You will be given a set of Learning Objectives that you will need to learn and understand, and bring to class when we review for test.
Publisher website: www.mhhe.com/nolen4
HCC Policy Statement – ADA Services to Students with Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability SupportServices Office.
Northwest ADA Counselor – Mahnaz Kolaini – 713.718.5422 Her office is the first one on the right as you come in the main entrance off the Beltway 8.
Southwest ADA Counselor – Dr. Becky Hauri – 713.718.7910
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty
A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not showing that the coursework has been learned, and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each student's individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcement roles. You are expected to be familiar with the University's
Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. “Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
It is my policy to give a F/0 on the first occasion and an F in the course if any of the below occurs a second time.
Cheating on a test includes:

C opying from another students’ test paper;

Using materials such as extra notes that not authorized by the person giving the test;

Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;

Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of a test that has not been administered;

Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of tha t work in one’s own written work offered for credit. This includes paraphrasing a source without citing the source and page number. It also means copying the work of another student!
Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. (See the Student Handbook)

HCC Policy Statements
Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! Attending class regularly is the best way to succeed in this class. Research has shown that the single most important factor in student success is attendance. Simply put, going to class greatly increases your ability to succeed. You are expected to attend all lectures. You are responsible for materials covered during your absences. Class attendance is checked daily. Although it is your responsibility to drop a course for nonattendance or poor grades, the instructor has the authority to drop you for excessive absences.
If you are not attending class, you are not learning the information. As the information that is discussed in class is important for your career, students may be dropped from a course after accumulating absences in excess of 12.5% hours of instruction. The six hours of class time would include any total classes missed or for excessive tardiness or leaving class early.
Poor attendance records tend to correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class, including the first week, you are responsible for all material missed. It is a good idea to find a friend or a buddy in class who would be willing to share class notes or discussion or be able to hand in paper if you unavoidably miss a class. If you have a question, you may email me.
Tardiness and leaving early : This is disruptive to the class and thus will be noted on the official attendance forms. If you feel you have a valid reason, please discuss it with me outside of class time or by email. As with absences, it is the student’s responsibility to ask if there were handouts or special announcements and get the notes from another student.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
If you feel that you cannot complete this course , you will need to withdraw yourself from the course prior to the final date of withdrawal. When you begin to have trouble in the class, please contact me to discuss any academic or person problem that is interfering with your success in the class. I may be able to provide you with suggestions that would enable you to complete the course. Your success is very important to me. You also need to realize that if you have more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree, there will be financial consequences. To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and HCC counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
If you plan on withdrawing from your class, you may withdraw yourself online OR contact a HCC counselor . November 14 th at 4:30 is the withdrawal deadline . Remember to allow sufficient time (at least 24-hour response time). If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade.
I will meet with students who are wondering if they need to take a W about 2 days before the withdrawal date. Usually withdrawals for documented medical reasons or military service are not counted in the six.
Repeat Course Fee
The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed classes. To increase student success and protect the taxpayer, students who repeat the same course more than twice, are required to pay extra tuition. HCC charges a higher tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. I am willing to help avoid withdrawing if you come to tutoring or email me as early as possible. I can help you improve your study habits, improve your reading and writing skills and test taking skills.

International Students
Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student Visa. Once a W is given for the course (after you have submitted withdrawal form formally), it will not be changed to an F because of the visa consideration. Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-
8520, if you have any questions about your visa status and other transfer issues.
Classroom Behavior
As your instructor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. Your instructor takes this responsibility very seriously and will inform members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for him/her to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you are asked to respect the learning needs of your classmates and assist your instructor achieve this critical goal.
If a disruption of class continues, it is my policy to move the student to another part of the room and, if necessary, withdraw the student from the class.
Use of cell phones, cameras and/or recording Devices
As a student active in the learning community of this course, it is your responsibility to be respectful of the learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your fellow students and instructor, you will turn off your phone and other electronic devices, and will not use these devices in the classroom unless you receive permission from the instructor.
You may use a laptop computer to take class notes and use an eText. But it is inconsiderate of others and not helpful to learning to use them to surf the web or use
FaceBook. If they are open while we are going over a test or quiz, you may get a 0 on that test or quiz. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations
STUDENT ACTIVITIES IN PSYCHOLOGY : It is highly recommended that psychology majors join the psychology honor society (Psi Beta) if you received an A in Psyc 2301, or have a 3.5 in all psychology courses and a 3.0 overall. There are also lectures and other activities sponsored by
Psi Beta., and lectures in the community.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION: There will be lectures, discussions, in-class activities and videos/media. The instructor is responsible for the lectures, but students are expected to attend classes and to participate in discussions and activities. These in-class activities earn points, which cannot be made up, so attendance is very important. If a student is absent or tardy, it is their responsibility to ask after class about any announcements or handouts.
The lectures will cover most of the textbook material on which you will be tested. Talking between students during lecture is considered disruptive . Students should be ready at any time to answer questions about the lecture or text.
Evaluation will measure the different skills needed on multiple-choice tests, case reports, and inclass discussions and possible outside activities. Tests I-Final Exam will consist of 50 multiplechoice questions (50 points). Since these case reports are meant to fulfill the “writing across the curriculum” requirement of HCC, they are expected to be well written, with correct spelling and grammar. The first Case Report that earns less than 18 points may be rewritten for additional partial credit. You will have a handout for guidance.
GRADING SYSTEM:
3 Tests 50 M/C question, 50 points each
Two case reports
150 points
60

In-class quizzes, activities and assignments
Final exam: 65 questions
A=270-300 points or 90%
B=240-269 points or 80%
C=210-239 points or 70%
40 points
50 points
300 points
D=180-209 points or 60%
There will be no make-up exams without a documented emergency. Then arrangements will be made to take a harder exam the last week of class.
Extra credit (up to 15 points) can be earned by writing out the answers to the learning objectives and handing them in just before each test. Relevant outside lectures or activities may be used for extra credit with approval of the instructor.
SPRING 2011 CLASS SCHEDULE FOR PSYC 2316, 9:30-11 MW
Jan. 19 Introduction and Chapter 1: Looking at Abnormality. Only a few details on pages 11-21 will be on the test.
Jan. 24 Please finish Chapter 1 and ½ of Chapter 2 so we can discuss the theories.
Jan. 26 *Chapter 2: Contemporary Theories of Abnormality. *Assignment on your two favorite theories in Chapter 2 and why (1-2 pages typed) with class discussion (10 points). Due Jan.31.
Jan. 31 *Discussion of your favorite theories and hand in typed report. Cover parts of Chapter 3:
The Research Endeavor. See the objectives for this chapter.
Feb. 2 Start Chapter 4.
Feb. 7 Chapter 4: Assessing and Diagnosing Abnormality.
Demonstration of personality tests. Review for Test 1.Bring your Learning Objectives. Discuss extra credit.
Feb. 14 * Test I: Chapters 1-4. Bring Scantron and pencil. Hand in extra credit on Learning
Objectives at the beginning of class, and pick it after you finish the exam.
Feb. 16 We will go over the multiple choice test and then start Chapter 5: Treatments for
Abnormality.
Feb. 21 President’s day holiday.
Feb. 23 Finish Chapter 5. And start chapter 6.
Feb. 28 Chapter 6: Stress Disorders and Health Psychology (including PTSD). Sign up for the disorder you will write about in your 1st Case Report.
Mar. 2 Start Chapter 7: Anxiety Disorders. Watch Videos of DSM training cases.
Mar. 7 Finish Chapter 7.
Mar. 9 We will cover parts Chapter 8: Dissociative and Somatoform Disorders. Read your case and create your case notes and begin your report during spring break.
Spring Break: March 14-20
Mar. 21 *Group discussions on Cases (5 points). Review for Test II. Remember to bring your
Learning Objectives. Go over guidelines for case report. Make sure you follow the case report format carefully.
March 23 *Test II: Chapters 5-8 . Hand in Typed Case Report. If it is handed in late on March
28 th , you will lose 4 points, or 8 points on March 30. It will not be accepted after March 30th.

Mar. 28 Go over Test II and Chapter 9: Mood Disorders with videos. Sign up for 2 nd case report.
Mar. 30 Parts of Chapter 10: Suicide. Discussion of depression and suicide. Begin Chapter 11.
Apr. 4 Chapter 11: Schizophrenia with videos and discussion. Chapter 12: Personality
Disorders.
Apr. 6 * Review DSM-IV Criteria. Group Discussions on Cases (5 points),
Apr. 11 * Test III: Chapters 9-12. Hand in one typed case report.
Apr. 13 Go over multiple-choice . Chapter 13: Childhood Disorders. Conferences with students about their grades so far if it is needed
April 14th ** Last day for you to withdraw from the class by 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18 Finish Chapter 13. Chapter 14: Cognitive Disorders: Dementia, Delirium and Amnesia.
*Begin looking for articles on the internet, newspaper, or news magazine that feature issues covered in Chapter 18 (insanity, commitment, etc.) or new discoveries or treatments for the disorders we have covered. This is due on May 4, 2010.
April 20 Chapter 16 Sexual Disorders and Gender Identity Disorders (certain parts only, note pages on the review).
Apr. 25 Chapter 17: Substance-Related Disorders (certain parts only).
Apr. 27 Begin Chapter 18: Mental Health and the Law
May 2 Finish Chapter 18 and Type a ½ to 1 page summary of the article you found.
May 4 * Final group activity: Five minute oral reports on Chapter 18 project and hand in summary. Review for the Final Exam on Chapters 13,14,16-18.
May 9 *9:30 a.m. (Monday) *Final Exam: Chapters 13,14,16-18 (50 Multiple-choice). Hand in extra credit.
*means that there will be an assignment, group discussion or Test on that day.