Introduction to Clinical Psychology
PSYC 3339
Spring 2007
Instructor: Mekhala Samsi
Office: 229-F Heyne
Email: samsi.mekhala@gmail.com
Lectures: MW 1:00 – 2:30pm; MW 2:30 – 4:00pm
Office hours: By Appointment
Room: 120M, 109M
TA: Kelly Grover Email: kegrover@uh.edu
Office: Psychological Research and Services Center
Office Hours: By appointment
Required Text:
Compas, Bruce E. & Gotlib, Ian H. (2002) Introduction to Clinical Psychology: Science &
Practice. Boston: McGraw Hill.
Purpose of this Course:
This course is designed as a survey of the science and practice of clinical psychology and its
specialty areas, including discussion of diagnoses, assessment, empirically-validated
interventions and prevention strategies for use with clinical populations.
Course Requirements:
(1) Assigned Readings must be completed on time.
(2) Each student will write a paper and lead a class presentation on a current issue in clinical
psychology. Papers will be due in class on the day of the assigned topic in the syllabus.
(3) Three exams will be given. There will be a 4th optional cumulative final.
Note: All papers should be submitted with your full name & section number.
Attendance:
Attendance will not be taken, however, if you are not in class then your class participation
will suffer. Information will be given in class and posted on WebCT. Do NOT ask the TA
or me what was covered after missing class. You may want to exchange phone numbers
and email addresses with fellow students to get information about classes that you have
missed. I also post my lectures on WebCT and I require you to download a copy of it before
class so that you can follow along on the power points with me.
Learning Outcomes
(1) Students will attain, through lectures, discussion, and reading knowledge about the
foundations of Clinical Psychology and demonstrate, through exams and papers,
familiarity with important psychological concepts.
(2) Class discussions focusing on current issues in the field will help students
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develop critical reading and analytical thinking.
(3) Paper assignments will enable students to improve their writing skills.
Grading:
Grades for this course will be based on three exams (best of the 4 exams) and
paper/presentation. Your final grade consists of the following:
3 exams
Paper
Presentation
Extra Credit (2 allowed)
25% each
20%
5%
1% points for each extra credit
Grade Assignments:
93-100 A
90-92 A-
87-89
83-86
80-82
B+
B
B-
77-79
73-76
70-72
C+
C
C-
67-69
63-66
60-62
D+
D
D-
59
or below
F
There will be four exams. If for some reason you cannot attend an exam, you can take the
optional cumulative final. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. I will count the
best 3 grades out of the 4 for your total.
Posting of Grades: Your course grades and this syllabus can be found on WebCT this
semester. Please see the instructions at the end of this syllabus.
Students w/ Disabilities:
In accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, we will make every effort to
reasonably accommodate students who request and require assistance.
Cheating:
Students are expected to produce and submit their own original work, via class participation,
papers, and examinations. Allegations of academic dishonesty, e.g., copying during exams,
submitting the work of others without proper attribution, will be reported to the Chair of
Academic Affairs, Department of Psychology. Students should also consult the Student
Handbook to review their responsibilities and rights regarding academic honesty.
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Course Outline and Assignments:
Date
01/17
Lecture Topic
Course Overview and
Description
Assigned Reading
01/22
NO CLASS
----
01/24:
UNIT I
Overview of Clinical
Psychology
Chapter 1
01/29
History of Clinical
Psychology
Chapter 2
01/31
Scientific Foundations of
Clinical Psychology
Chapter 3
02/05 &
02/07
Theoretical Foundations
of Clinical Psychology
Chapter 4
02/12 &
02/14
Diagnosis &
Classification
Chapter 5
Presentation:
Classification systems
(02/14)
02/19
EXAM I: Unit I
Please bring a blue
scantron
02/22
NO CLASS
02/26:
UNIT II
Intro to Clinical
Assessment: Clinical
Interviewing
Chapter 6 & 7
Presentation: Psychology
in the media
02/28
Assessment of
Psychological Ability
Presentation: Learning
disorders
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Chapter 8
03/05
03/07
Neuropsychological
Assessment
Presentation:
Confidentiality
Personality Assessment
& Behavioral
Assessment
Chapter 9 & 10
Presentation: Forensics
in Psychology
03/12 to
03/17
SPRING BREAK
NO CLASS
03/19
EXAM II: Unit II
Please bring a scantron
03/22:
UNIT III
Introduction to
Psychological
Chapter 11
Interventions/Prevention
03/26 &
03/28
Psychoanalytic/
Psychodynamic Therapy
Chapter 12
Presentation: Dual
Relationships (03/28)
04/02 &
04/04
Humanistic/ Existential/
Experiential Therapy
Chapter 13
Presentation: Group,
Family, Couple, and
Individual Therapy
(04/04)
04/09
Behavioral/ CognitiveBehavioral/ & Cognitive
Therapy
04/11
Behavioral/ CognitiveBehavioral/ & Cognitive
Therapy
Presentation:
Prescription Privileges
(04/11)
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Chapter 14
Chapter 14
04/16
Psychotherapy
Effectiveness/ Present &
Future Trends in Clinical
Psychology
Chapter 15 & Chapter 16
Presentation: Therapy vs.
Medication (4/16)
04/18
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
04/23
EXAM III: Unit III
Please bring a scantron
04/25
Optional Review for the
Final Exam
Extra Credit Due
04/30
Optional review of your
previous exams in the
Graduate Instructional
Facility (GIF), 1st floor,
Heyne Bldg.
OPTIONAL FINAL
EXAM
05/02
Please bring a scantron
WebCT Instructions:
Students have three options to get their WebCT username:
1) Online at http://www.uh.edu/webct - Student Information - Get your username – Enter
student ID number.
2) In person in Room 56 in the basement of the MD Anderson Library on the main campus,
Monday-Friday, 8 am to 8 pm.
3) By phone at 713-743-1411 Monday-Friday, 8 am to 8 pm.
Each student’s initial password is his/her birthdate in the format MMDDYYYY. WebCT
usernames and passwords are case sensitive. Students should change their password the first
time they log on to WebCT. Once students have their username, they will log on to WebCT
courses by going to http://www.uh.edu/webct and clicking Student Information, then "Go
to WebCT Courses."
Support for students using WebCT will be available in four ways (log in through
WebCT Vista)
1) Online at http://www.uh.edu/webct - Student Information – Online Documentation.
2) In person in Room 56 in the basement of the MD Anderson Library on the main campus,
Monday-Friday, 8 am to 8 pm.
3) By phone at 713-743-1411 Monday-Friday, 8 am to 8 pm.
4) By sending an email to support@uh.edu.
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Topics for Papers and Presentations:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Is the DSM the right way to determine psychological problems?
What is a learning disorder?
Prescription privileges
Psychology in the media
Forensic psychology: What is it and what are the methods
Ethics:
Confidentiality
Dual Relationships
Effectiveness: Which is better – therapy or medication
Therapy formats: Group, family, couple, and individual therapy
I will be asking you to rate your top 3 choices today, and giving you your assignments next
class so you can begin preparing.
PAPERS will require to be 3 pages long, double-spaced. The paper can draw from current
news stories, journal articles, books etc. Your arguments should be presented in a clear,
understandable manner. Failure to keep to these guidelines will lead to loss of points. You
will be provided with additional guidelines for the paper in the coming weeks.
PRESENTATIONS will last for 5 minutes and you should be able to present your
arguments to the class. Your class can also ask you questions at this time.
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