This syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
Psychology 1101 with a grade of C or higher or equivalent.
This course will provide an overview of abnormal psychology, from a current, scientific perspective and within a broader, historical context. We will explore abnormal psychology via readings, lectures, discussions, in-class activities, case studies and course assignments. We will use real-life examples and skills-based
exercises to make the course content personally relevant to you so that it will provide value to you inside and outside of the academic setting. This class will also integrate relevant research to address multicultural issues in abnormal psychology.
Additionally, we will strive to create a classroom atmosphere where respect for everyone’s opinions is honored, so that everyone feels comfortable asking questions and commenting on the course topics.
In this course students will:

Become familiar with the American system of classifying mental disorders.


Understand different theoretical perspectives of mental disorders
Learn to use current research and symptomatology to formulate an understanding of the cause and treatment of mental illness

Discuss how the scientific method contributes to increased understanding in the field of abnormal psychology

More generally, develop critical thinking skills, which you will use throughout the course to evaluate controversies and formulate your own ideas about topics in abnormal psychology
Comer, Ronald J. (2014). Abnormal Psychology--DSM-5 Update, Eight Edition . New
York: Worth Publishers. The study guide that accompanies the Comer book is optional.
Readings from the text (chapters listed below) may be supplemented by current journal, video, and/or media articles on specific issues pertaining to mental illness. It is expected that you will complete all assigned readings before each class; this will help you master material presented in lecture and in-class activities more easily. Links to journal articles will be provided on Desire2Learn under “Reading Assignments.”
It is not required that you purchase the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association,
2013). However, it is a useful reference, and it would be beneficial to obtain a copy if you are planning to continue on in the field of psychology. There will be a copy on physical reserve in the GSU Library.

Email. Email communications between the instructor, GLA, and students regarding this class will be conducted using GSU student email. Emails from non-GSU email accounts (e.g. gmail, yahoo, AOL, hotmail, etc.) will not be opened. Students may email the instructor at mmalikina1@student.gsu.edu
. When emailing the instructor, please put “Abnormal Psychology” or “PSYC 3140” in the Subject line. Students will be submitting all written assignments through Desire2Learn; if you can’t submit an assignment on Desire2Learn, you may email your assignment using your GSU email account.
For more information on GSU email accounts for students, go to: http://www.gsu.edu/help/information_students.html?
Desire2Learn. A Desire2Learn (D2L) account has been established for this course.
The syllabus and Syllabus Quiz has already been posted. Power point slides will be posted at least 2 hours before each class. It is the students’ responsibility to download and/or print out slides prior to beginning of class. Exam scores will be posted within one week of administration. Paper assignments and class participation grades will also be posted to D2L. It is the students’ responsibility to check D2L on a regular (if not daily) basis. Additional readings and videos may be posted for students to view prior to attending class.
Software. All students must have a working familiarity with MS Word, MS Excel,
MS PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat (Reader) and be able to download and open files made with these programs. Written assignments must be submitted in MS Word
(*.doc or *docx) format, unless otherwise specified.
This is a 3-credit course. It is expected that you will spend approximately 9 hours per week outside of class time on this course, including required reading, studying for exams, etc.
Exams will consist of multiple-choice, short answer and essay/case studies questions.
Learning objective specific to each exam’s content will be posted on Desire2Learn before each exam and will serve as a study guide.
All exams are closed book. Your individual score response sheets from each exam will be returned to you as soon as possible. However, students do not keep the exams. If you would like to review your answers, this should take place during office hours or scheduled appointments. If there is an issue with a grade on a test, you must dispute the grade within one week of when the grades are posted.
A total of 5 exams will be given, and only 4 exam grades will count toward your final grade. If you take all 5 exams, the lowest grade will be dropped. If you take 4 or fewer exams, all grades will count toward your total grade. In effect, this means that the final exam is optional. If you are happy with your 4 in-class exam grades, you may opt not to take the final exam. In this option, all 4 of your in-class exam grades will count toward your total points. However, if you missed an exam or would like the opportunity to improve your grade, you may opt to take the non-cumulative final exam, offered during the regularly scheduled final exam period.
All phones, tablets, iPads, PDAs, and laptops must be turned off and put away during exams. Any student who looks at or uses one of these devices during an exam will receive a grade of 0 for that exam, which cannot be dropped from your final grade.
Any electronic device that sounds during an exam is considered disruptive behavior,

and will result in a 10 point penalty. One announcement will be made to remind students to mute devices before exams begin.
Make-up Exam Policy:
Given that you will have the opportunity to drop one exam; this class offers very limited make-up exam policy. Exams missed for any reason, will count as the student’s dropped exam grade; no exceptions to the make-up policy will be allowed.
Students will complete a Syllabus Quiz on D2L as their first assignment, which will be due at 11:59pm on 9/2 . Students must complete the Syllabus Quiz in order to gain access to all other D2L materials. Students will need to attain a 90% on their Syllabus
Quiz and will have multiple attempts to do so.
Attendance in this class is not required. However, 50 participation points are included in the final grade. Participation points can ONLY be earned through in-class
activities. There will be 11 in-class activities throughout the semester, and will not be announced in advance. However, only 10 in-class activities will count towards your final grade. If students complete all 11 assignments, they will receive 10 extra credit points added onto their final grade. You must attend class and complete the in-class activities in order to receive participation points.
Make-up Participation Policy:
There will be no make-up policy for participation points.
Each student will choose an empirical and peer-reviewed article of interest from one of the scientific journals listed below and complete a summary of that article following the article summary template provided on D2L. Instructions for this assignment will be given out in class on 9/4 and will also be posted in D2L. A grading rubric will also be posted on D2L. Please remember to include a reference to the article, so that the instructor can find it. If the instructor cannot find the article reviewed, the grade will be zero. The article summary is due at 11:59pm on D2L on
10/14. This article summary will be worth 70 points . Relevant empirical articles are to be chosen from the following peer-reviewed scholarly journals:
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice
Depression & Anxiety
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
International Journal of Eating Disorders
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Journal of Affective Disorders
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Journal of Clinical Psychology
Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Journal of Developmental Disabilities
Journal of Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders: Research, Theory, & Treatment
Schizophrenia Research

Make-up Research Article Summary Policy:
Late assignments will be penalized 10 points for every day that they are late. If students know they will be missing class, they need to make arrangements prior to the due date to turn in their assignment.
Students will choose a case study from multiple options provided on D2L and will assess the case. Students will describe the symptoms, present possible causing factors
(based on materials presented in class), stressors that may trigger or worsen condition, provide DSM-5 criteria met and discuss appropriate treatment. Based on the content learned in class, students will also describe the possible prognosis and whether the treatment will work. Instructions for this assignment will be given out in class on
10/28 and will also be posted in D2L. A grading rubric will also be posted on D2L.
Please remember to include the case study description in your paper. The case study paper is due at 11:59pm on D2L on 12/4. This assignment will be worth 70 points .
Make-up Case Study Paper Policy:
Late assignments will be penalized 10 points for every day that they are late. If students know they will be missing class, they need to make arrangements prior to the due date to turn in their assignment.
Assignment Points Possible
Syllabus Quiz
Exam 1
Exam2
10
100
100
Exam3 100
Exam 4
* Exam 5 (Optional)
100
(100)
Participation (11) 60
Research Article Summary
Case Study Paper
70
70
Total 610
* Note: Each student’s lowest exam grade will be dropped, across all 5 exams. If you choose to take all 4 in-class exam grades, then your final exam grade may be dropped or you may opt not to take the final exam.
Final course grades will be assigned according to the following system, based on the number of points you earn on assignments. There will be an extra assignment available for those who wish to earn extra credit points. See Above.
Grade
A+
Points Earned
582-610
A
A-
B+
558-581.4
540-557.4
522-539.4

B
B-
C+
C
C-
D
498-521.4
480-497.4
462-479.4
438-461.4
420-437.4
360-419.4
F <360
In order to earn a particular letter grade, you must earn the minimum number of points listed for that grade. In the event that a student has a final score that is not a whole number, the number will be rounded to the nearest integer for the purpose of assigning a final grade. For example, a score of 539.5 will be rounded up to a 540, which is an A-, whereas a score of 539.4 will be rounded down to a 539, which is a
B+. There are no exceptions to this grading policy.
Any student who has an issue with the grading for a particular assignment has one week after the graded assignment is returned to meet with the instructor and
request a grade review. All reviews must be turned in with the original work; no copies will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the original if it has been handed back from the instructor. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made to the grading policy outlined above.
General Attendance. Attendance in this class is not required. However, if you do not attend class, you may be forfeiting participation points and may not get the full benefit from activities, discussion and case studies covered in class. It is especially important to attend class for case studies, as they will be on exams. If you are unable to attend a class, it is your responsibility to get notes from another student. You are responsible for course content covered in the text, class and on D2L, including any changes to the course or announcements made. Please arrive on time and leave only when dismissed. Students who demonstrate a pattern of late arrival or early departure from class will be considered in violation of the Board of Regents
Policy on Disruptive Behavior (see the Classroom Behavior section, below).
If you know in advance that you will be absent, have to leave early, or come in late, please notify the instructor.
Veterans’ Attendance. The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that institutions
of higher learning immediately report to them when a student discontinues attendance. Veterans who are receiving benefits to fund their education will be reported to the DVA if they do not attend class for a period of two weeks or more.
For a full explanation of academic dishonesty, see the GSU student code of conduct at: http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwdos/codeofconduct.html
The most common types of academic dishonesty are plagiarism, cheating on assessments, and unauthorized collaboration.
GSU Department of Psychology Definition of Plagiarism
If a student uses or relies on others’ work in preparing any academic materials (e.g. written assignments, posters, presentations) the student must cite the source correctly according to the directions provided by the instructor. Failure to do so is plagiarism.
Copying and pasting even part of a sentence or phrase is plagiarism, even when the source is cited correctly. Paraphrasing a source in a way that copies the phrase or

sentence structure of a source is also plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism, students are expected to properly paraphrase others’ ideas.
Quotes in scientific writing should only be used when the wording of the original source is critical to the student’s argument. Whether quoting is appropriate in a given instance is at the discretion of the instructor, not the student.
Cheating and Unauthorized Collaboration
Cheating includes the use or sharing of any unauthorized materials and/or assistance before, during, or after an assessment (e.g. exams, tests, quizzes). Unless otherwise specified by your instructor, you may not discuss an assessment or share materials or information with any other student at any time. Unauthorized collaboration occurs under the same circumstances as cheating, but involves assignments outside of the classroom (e.g. papers, projects, presentations) rather than assessments.
General Courtesy. All members of the class are expected to treat each other in a respectful, civil manner. Students who exhibit behaviors that are considered obstructive or disruptive to the class or its learning activities will be treated according to the GSU Policy on Disruptive Behavior (http://deanofstudents.gsu.edu/facultystaff-resources/disruptive-student-conduct/). Disruptive students will first receive a verbal warning. Continued violations will result in the student being removed from the classroom, a meeting with the Chair of the Department of Psychology, and finally formal disciplinary action at the University level. Any student who engages in disruptive behavior may receive point deductions from the final grade or administratively withdrawn from the course.
Cell Phones/Pagers/Etc. According to the university’s official policy on disruption
“Students are required to turn off or set on silent mode all mobile phones, pagers and like devices while in class or in other instructional University environments. Students shall not allow their personal electronic communication devices to ring or beep during or otherwise disrupt scheduled University instructional activities. Making or receiving phone calls or pages while in class or other University instructional environments is prohibited.” Disruptive students will first receive a verbal warning. Continued violations will result in the student being removed from the classroom, a meeting with the Chair of the Department of Psychology, and finally formal disciplinary action at the University level. If circumstances beyond your control require that you be available to receive a phone call or page during class (e.g., your child is ill), please notify the instructor before class .
Georgia State University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who seek academic accommodations must first take appropriate documentation to the Office of Disability
Services locate in Suite 230 of the Student Center. Any student who has a documented disabling condition that requires accommodations in this class or on assignments must provide the appropriate documentation from the Office of Disabled
Student Services by the end of the second week of class . If your condition is identified during the semester, please see the instructor as soon as possible after receiving the relevant supporting documentation so arrangements can be made for accommodations for the remainder of the term. Students will not be able to make-up any assignments prior to providing documentation.
Students are encouraged to see the instructor during office hours or to schedule an

appointment if they are having difficulty with the course material, need to discuss a grade, need clarification on class materials, review test, or discuss assigned written assignments. For brief questions that do not require a face-to-face meeting, students may contact the instructor through the GSU email.
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State University. Upon completing this course, please take the time to fill out the online course evaluation.
There will be an informal opportunity to evaluate aspects of this course around the mid-point of the semester on D2L using an anonymous survey. Students are encouraged to complete the mid-semester evaluation, so that the instructor can adjust course pace, clarity and activities.
Below is the semester schedule including readings and assignment due dates.
Changes to this schedule will be announced in class and/or on Desire2Learn; you are responsible for knowing the content of these announcements. Listed readings should be completed BEFORE coming to class.
D ATE T OPIC R EADINGS
8/26 Syllabus & Overview
8/28 Abnormal Psychology: Past & Present
9/2 Models of Abnormality
9/4 Library Visit with Ida Martinez
(Research Article Summary Assignment Distributed)
9/9 Research in Abnormal Psychology
9/11 Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, & Treatment
9/16 EXAM 1
9/18 Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, & Related Disorders
9/23 Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, & Related Disorders cont’d
9/26 Stress Disorders
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
D2L Readings
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
Ch. 1, 2, 3 & 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
D2L Reading
Ch. 7
Ch. 5, 6, & 7
9/30
10/2 EXAM 2
10/7 Disorders of Mood
10/9 Disorders of Mood cont’d
10/14 Treatment for Mood Disorders
SEMESTER MIDPOINT – LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH A “W”
**Research Article Summary Assignment DUE**
10/16 Suicide
10/21 Comorbidity
Ch. 8
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Tues., October 14, 2014
Ch. 10
D2L Readings

10/23 EXAM 3
10/28 Eating Disorders
(Case Study Paper Assignment Distributed)
10/30 Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
11/4 Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
11/6 Disorders of Sex and Gender
11/11
11/13 EXAM 4
11/18 Schizophrenia
Ch. 11, 12 & 13
Ch. 14
11/20 Personality Disorders
Thanksgiving Break (November 24 th – November 29 th )
Ch. 16
12/2
12/4
Culture-Bound Syndromes
Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
**Case Study Paper DUE**
12/9 FINAL EXAM (Optional): 10:45AM-1:15pm (Tuesday, Dec. 9 th
)
Ch. 8, 9 & 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
D2L Readings
Ch. 17
D2L Reading
Ch. 14, 16, 17 & 18