Dr. Don S. Christensen
Spring Quarter 2016
Intra-American Studies, and Social Sciences
Shoreline Community College
Psychology 205: Abnormal Psychology
Mini-Syllabus
The full version of the syllabus (which you are strongly encouraged to read) and all handouts
for the course are available at the following web site: http://shoreline.edu/dchris/psych205
Basic Information
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Class Location:
Meeting Time:
Dr. Don S. Christensen
Room 5300 (FOSS Building)
(206) 546-5885
dchriste@shoreline.edu
Monday through Thursday: 10:30 – 12:00
& by appointment
Room 2904
Daily 8:30 – 9:20
Textbook
Comer, R. J. (2007). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (5th Edition). Worth Publishers: New York.
Course Web Site
http://shoreline.edu/dchris/psych205
Exams, Assignments, & Grading
There are four total formal tests in the course (3 regular exams and an optional final). Each test is worth 50
points. I will look at your 3 best test scores for the purpose of determining your grade. If you are satisfied
with performance after completing the 3rd exam (Exam 3), you can skip the optional final. People can
choose to take the optional final as an attempt to improve their best 3 test scores. After each of the regular
exams, there will be an extra credit session offering students the chance to add extra points to their exam
score from the previous day. There are 5 separate required assignments for this class: 3 practice test
question assignments (worth 5 points each) and 2 papers (both 2-3 pages in length and worth 15 points
each). There are also three short optional papers that students may choose to do. I grade on a percentage
scale which ranges from 96% = A (4.0) to 60% = D- (0.7). Additional details on exams, assignments, and
grading can be found in the full syllabus.
Important Dates in This Class
Exams
4/22 Exam 1
5/14 Exam 2
6/9
Exam 3
6/11 Optional Final (8:00 a.m.)
4/14
5/5
5/27
Optional Assignments
Optional Paper #1 Due
Optional Paper #2 Due
Optional Paper #3 Due
4/21
4/28
5/12
5/13
6/2
6/6
Required Assignments and Deadlines
Exam 1 Practice Test Questions Due
Research Paper Due
Last day to drop classes with a W
Exam 2 Practice Test Questions Due
Movie Paper Due
Exam 3 Practice Test Questions Due
Just In Case This is the Last Day You Come to This Course…
If you have already registered for this course but later decide not to take it, PLEASE BE SURE TO
OFFICIALLY DROP THE COURSE. Each quarter, a number of students get a grade of 0.0 (V) in this
course because they forget to drop the class after they have stopped attending it. Please don’t let this
happen to you.