Abnormal Psychology
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Abnormal Psychology
Psychology 280-Section 730
Summer Session II 2012 Course Syllabus
Professor
G. Anne Bogat, Ph.D.
bogat@msu.edu
Class Start and End Dates:
July 2, 2012 – August 16, 2012
Chat Room Office Hours:
By appointment arranged via email
MSU ANGEL Help-Line: 1-800-500-1554 (toll-free) or 517-355-2345 (local)
**THIS COURSE IS ONLY OPEN TO STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT TAKING
ON-CAMPUS COURSES AT MSU DURING THE SECOND SUMMER SESSION.**
I. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2009). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach (6th
edition). Wadsworth Cengage Learning: Belmont, CA.
Please note that the book comes in two versions.
Hard Cover Text+ CourseMate
Barlow/Durand
Abnormal Psychology : An Integrative Approach (with Psychology CourseMate with eBook
Printed Access Card), 6th Edition
1111343624
CourseMate with EBook ONLY ( All Digital)
Barlow/Durand
Abnormal Psychology : An Integrative Approach CourseMate with eBook
9781111357221
You may purchase the hard copy of the textbook at the bookstores on campus. One option is the
Student Bookstore located at 421 E. Grand River Ave East Lansing, MI 48823 Phone: 517-3514210 or on-line at http://www.sbsmsu.com/.
You may purchase the ebook version of the textbook online.
II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this class is to familiarize students with the field of abnormal psychology, or
psychopathology, as it is often called. The approach of the textbook is to embed the field of
psychopathology in an integrative framework. You will learn about biological, psychological,
emotional, social, interpersonal, and developmental influences on abnormal behavior. These
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factors are all important in order to understand what causes psychopathology and how it
manifests itself in different individuals. There is not one factor alone that can explain
psychopathology.
We will learn about definitions of abnormal psychology and how these have shifted during
different times in history. We will explore current definitions, especially as they are described in
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the handbook for mental health professionals to assess and
diagnose various disorders. Then you will learn about research methods used to study disorders.
The bulk of the course focuses on specific mental health disorders. These are subsumed under 10
broad categories: anxiety disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder), somatoform and
dissociative disorders (e.g., dissociative amnesia), mood disorders and suicide (e.g., bipolar
disorder), eating and sleep disorders (e.g., bulimia nervosa), sexual and gender identity disorders
(e.g., orgasm disorders), substance-related and impulse-control disorders (e.g., alcohol-use
disorders), personality disorders (e.g., borderline personality disorder), and schizophrenia and
other psychotic disorders. Each week you will read 1-3 chapters. On the course web page you
will find, for each chapter, learning objectives, a lecture, audio flash cards to help you study, web
links for more information, and a practice quiz to make sure you have learned the material. The
readings for each week are described later in the syllabus.
III. HOW AN ONLINE COURSE WORKS
Some of you may be familiar with online courses; for others of you, this might be the first online
course you have taken. Please take the time to read this section in order to familiarize yourself
with the procedures that are followed in online courses. This course will be held entirely online
through the ANGEL course management system at MSU. There will be no physical classes to
attend. Since this course is completely online, you need to make sure that you will have
consistent access to the Internet throughout the course. This course requires a high speed internet
connection.
The ANGEL System
The ANGEL site is: www.angel.msu.edu. In order to login to the system you will need your
MSU user name and password. If you do not already have these, please contact the MSU
Registrar’s Office (517-432-3952) and one will be assigned to you. If you should encounter
ANY technical difficulties throughout the course, contact the MSU Helpline by calling
1-800-500-1554 or 517-355-2345.
**IMPORTANT NOTICE**
The following Internet browsers are compatible with ANGEL and have been recommended for
this course. You are likely to encounter problems during examinations if you do not follow these
recommendations.
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If you are using Windows
Internet Explorer 9.x
Firefox 3.6
Firefox
Chrome
Safari
If you are using Macintosh
Firefox 3.6
Firefox
Chrome
Safari
If you are using UNIX/Linux:
Firefox 3.6
Firefox
ANGEL Supported Browsers: Especially Important at Exam Times!
If you are not sure about what browser you are using or don't understand how to get
Firefox remember that we have a great Help Desk! Just call 355-2345 or 1-800-500-1554.
They are just as happy to help you prevent a problem as they are to help you in the
middle of one.
Here are the download links to get Firefox.
For Windows:
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html
For Mac:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/mozillafirefox.html
Before you begin an exam:
1. Clear you cache and cookies by going into the Tools tab in Firefox.
2. Choose “Clear Private Data” and check two boxes, “Cache” and “Cookies”.
3. Click on “Clear Private Data Now”.
4. Log into ANGEL and begin your exam.
Required Online Orientation inside your ANGEL Course
Every student enrolled in Psychology 280 is required to take the ANGEL training course online.
You will find it in the “ANGEL Orientation” unit folder. Even if you have taken the training
course for prior online courses, you are required to take it again for this course.
The tutorial explains how to use the ANGEL system and what you will need to know in order to
successfully complete the course. You must take a short quiz when you have completed the
tutorial; the quiz tests your basic knowledge of the ANGEL system. You will need to click on the
Orientation quiz link to access this quiz. Please note: You cannot begin the course until you
get 90% of the answers correct. If you do not get a score of 90% on your first try, you can keep
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taking the quiz until you do. However, every time you re-take the quiz, you will need to rereview the ANGEL course orientation. Your score on the quiz is not included in your grade. We
have you take the orientation course and the quiz so that you are comfortable navigating the
ANGEL system. Learning about ANGEL before you begin will help avoid later problems.
Office Hours & Communication with the Instructor
There are 3 ways that students may communicate with the professor and teaching assistant: (1)
the Chat Room, (2) email, and (3) FAQ Discussion Forum.
Students may schedule “Chat Room” times with the professor and/or teaching assistant via
email. The Chat Room allows for real time interaction between students and the instructor. If you
have specific questions about material covered in the textbook, this is probably the best way to
get your questions answered.
You can also simply email the professor or teaching assistant. Email should always be used to
communicate about sensitive or confidential issues/questions such as grades and exams. Both the
professor and teaching assistant will check email often. We will do our best to respond to you
within 24 hours during weekdays.
An FAQ Posting is also available for students. You will find this under the Units tab. When there
is information of interest to many students it is posted on the FAQ. The professor and teaching
assistant will regularly add responses to frequently asked questions. Please check the FAQ
Discussion Forum to see if a question you have has already been answered!
Class Lounge
Every student in the class can post comments and questions at the Class Lounge discussion
forum. If you read something in the newspaper that relates to Abnormal Psychology and you
think other students would be interested, you could post that information here. If it is 2:00 a.m.
and you want to talk about one of the points in lecture that you aren’t sure about then make your
comments here. In previous classes students have provided excellent resources and study tips to
help one another. Your professor will pop into the Class Lounge every now and then. If you have
a question that requires an answer from the faculty then please send an email to the faculty under
the “COMMUNICATE” tab rather than posting it in the Class Lounge. You will get a quicker
response.
Student Tracking on Angel
ANGEL tracks all student login information. It keeps a record of when you log in to ANGEL and
when you log out. It also records when you begin an exam and when you submit it. This helps us
to resolve problems that might arise with the ANGEL system. You should know, however, that
the professor and teaching assistant cannot view student activity except in the course content
area. That is, we cannot view anything you put in the “My Content” area.
Course Announcements
All time sensitive assignments will be highlighted in the course schedule at the end of this
syllabus and on the course calendar in ANGEL. Reminders for examinations and course
assignments will also be posted in ANGEL in the course announcement section.
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IV. GRADING
There will be 3 non-cumulative (hourly) examinations. All exams are open book and will be
timed. All exams will consist of multiple choice questions that will include information covered
in course readings, learning objectives, outlines, and powerpoint presentations. Each of the 3
hourly exams will consist of 50 multiple choice questions; you will have one hour to
complete each.
Examinations will be available to take online on the day of the exam from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time. Please plan accordingly and remember that the exam closes at 9 p.m.
That means you must start the exam so that you can give yourself sufficient time to complete the
exam by 9 p.m. Once time is up, if you have not already pressed the submit button, the test will
automatically be submitted for you. Once you start an exam you must complete it; you cannot
save the exam and continue it at a different time. ANGEL offers this option when you are taking
an exam but since the time continues to tick away it is not a useful feature most of the time. It is
useful if there is a problem with your internet connection and you want to reopen your browser.
You also cannot have another browser window open when you are taking the exam. This
can lead ANGEL to skip questions or close your exam.
As noted above, there is a tracking system in ANGEL for your protection and ours; it lets us
know when exams were begun and submitted. All discrepancies between the student’s report and
the ANGEL system will be investigated by the professor.
If there is a problem during an examination report it as soon as possible to the MSU helpline at
1-800-500-1554 or 517-355-2345. They will log the problem and, in turn, report it to us. These
technical problems should be reported immediately (maximum within 6 hours). You may also
report the problem to us (although we are not available 24/7 like the Helpline). If there is a
system problem, it helps us more quickly to discover what went wrong if we hear from several
students. If it is just a problem with your computer, they can help problem solve that issue too.
Because of the generous amount of time allotted for students to take each exam, there will not be
a need to offer make up exams. There are only two exceptions to this rule: students who have a
significant illness or who have a serious family problem (e.g., death, funeral). Students will be
required to document the veracity of these incidents if they request a make up exam. Students
who do not provide adequate documentation will receive a grade of zero for that exam. Submit
the documentation by attaching it to an email or by following the procedure below:
1. FAX the information to: 517-432-2476.
2. Include a cover sheet that says:
To: Dr. Bogat
From: [your name]
Subject: Psych 280 Missed Exam Documentation.
3. Then send an email to Dr. Bogat (bogat@msu.edu)
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Policy on Cheating
Students taking this course are expected to adhere to the highest ethical conduct. Students may
not assist other students taking the exams, either by sitting with them when they take the exam or
by sending or posting exam answers. Anyone caught cheating will automatically receive a failing
grade for the course.
We encourage you to visit 2 websites for more information about what constitutes academic
dishonesty http://www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/index.htm and
http://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/honestylinks.html.
Accommodations for Disabilities
Students with disabilities should contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities to
establish reasonable accommodations. For an appointment with a counselor, call 517-353-9642
(voice) or 517-355-1293 (TTY). Visit the RCPD website at http://www.rcpd.msu.edu/Home/
or send them an email at rcpd@msu.edu.
Also, send Dr. Bogat your VISA document by email on or before the first day of class.
PSY 280: Abnormal Psychology Grading Scale
Course Requirements
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Possible Total
% of Total Grade
33.3%
33.3%
33.4%
100%
Total Points
50
50
50
150
Your final grade will be calculated based upon the total number of points you have
accumulated across the semester.
Points
135-150
127-134
120-126
112-119
105-111
97-104
90-96
< 89
V. COURSE UNITS
Percent
90-100%
85-89%
80-84%
75-79%
70-74%
65-69%
60-64%
0-59%
Grade
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0
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The course is organized into 7 weekly Units. Each unit includes the following material. Some
material is required for the course. Other material is optional and is made available for your help
or for you to learn about a topic in more depth.
**REQUIRED UNIT COMPONENTS**
Online (ANGEL) Materials—found in Course Content
1. A power point presentation is provided for each chapter of the textbook. These provide an
overview of the material presented in the textbook chapter. Information from these materials will
be on the test.
2. I have provided 4 lectures to supplement the course material for Weeks 2, 3, and 6. These
are available online. This material will be on the test.
3. For some weeks (3, 5, 6), there is a video(s) provided to watch. For one week (6), there is an
audio link to listen to. This material will be on the test.
Readings
All reading assignments come from the course textbook. There will be an assignment page in
each week’s unit (on ANGEL) to remind you of what should be read for that week. Information
in the textbook will be on the test.
VI. COURSE SCHEDULE
WEEK 1: July 2
Chapter 1: ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Chapter 2: AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Chapter 4: RESEARCH METHODS
WEEK 2: July 9
Chapter 3: CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS
Chapter 16: MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES
Recorded Lecture: Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis, posted on ANGEL in this week’s unit
Recorded Lecture: “Mental Health Services: Legal and Ethical Issues” posted on Angel in this
week’s unit
Examination 1:
MONDAY, July 16 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
You will be tested on information contained in readings and lectures from Weeks 1 and 2.
WEEK 3: July 16
Chapter 5: ANXIETY DISORDERS
Chapter 6: SOMATOFORM AND DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS
Recorded Lecture: “Anxiety Disorders: PTSD” posted on Angel in this week’s unit
Video: Mirror, Mirror: Body Dysmorphic Disorder Parts 1 and 2, posted on ANGEL in this
week’s unit
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WEEK 4: July 23
Chapter 7: MOOD DISORDERS AND SUICIDE
Chapter 8: EATING AND SLEEP DISORDERS
Examination 2:
MONDAY, July 30 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
You will be tested on information contained in readings and lectures from Weeks 3 and 4.
WEEK 5: July 30
Chapter 10: SEXUAL AND GENDER IDENTITY DISORDERS
Chapter 11: SUBSTANCE-RELATED AND IMPULSE-CONTROL DISORDERS
Video: Getting an Addict into Treatment: The Craft Approach (Chapters 1 and 2), posted on
ANGEL in this week’s unit
Video: Getting an Addict into Treatment: The CBT Approach (Chapters 1, 2, and 3), posted
on ANGEL in this week’s unit
WEEK 6: August 6
Chapter 12: PERSONALITY DISORDERS
Chapter 13: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
Chapter 14: DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
Recorded Lecture: “Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders” posted on Angel, in this
week’s unit
Audio Recording: This American Life: Edge of Sanity (Act II: Guided by Voices), link posted
in this week’s unit
Examination 3:
THURSDAY August 16 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
You will be tested on information contained in readings and lectures from Weeks 5 and 6.
*This syllabus is subject to modification. Any modification will be posted to the course web site at least one week prior to
implementation. It is the responsibility of the student to regularly check the course web site for additional materials and course
updates.
Keep the ANGEL help numbers by your computer in case there is a problem. Print
a copy of this syllabus so that you have this information handy in case there are
problems with accessing ANGEL.