Psych. 3010
Abnormal Psychology
Instructor: Todd C. Baird, Ph.D.
Office Hours: By appointment
Contact: Phone: 626-7724 (office) 920-4215 (cell)
Email: tbaird@weber.edu
Required Text: Carson, Robert; Butcher, James; and Mineka, Susan (2002).
Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life. Boston, MA. Allyn and
Bacon.
Aspects of the syllabus are subject to changes. These will be announced in class if they occur.
Course Objectives:
1. Become familiar with and think critically about theory and research
associated with the study of abnormal psychology.
2. Understand assessment techniques associated with psychological disorders
3. Understand and recognize diagnostic criteria associated with
psychological disorders.
4. Be able to describe and differentiate between different psychological
disorders.
5. Recognize effective treatments associated with each psychological disorder.
Requirements:
Before outlining the course requirements I want to remind you that this is an
upper division course. The workload will reflect this fact.
1. Class Attendance and Participation.
To do well in this course you will need to attend class lectures. It is expected that
students will attend each class period having read the material before the
lecture/discussions. I want to emphasize that again. It is expected that students will
attend each class period having read the material before the lecture/discussion. We will
not cover all of the material in the text and you will need to come to class prepared to ask
questions and clarify information from the book. It is expected that each individual in the
classroom will have something to contribute, and that we will learn as we engage in
discussing abnormal psychology issues. Mutual respect for each other is expected during
the course. If a student continues to disrupt or disrespect others in the class (including
tardiness) he/she will be asked to withdraw from the course. Related to this issue I
require that cell phones and pagers be turned off during all class periods. For other issues
related to student rights and responsibilities see the Student Rights and Responsibilities
section on the Weber State University website.
2. Assignments. You will be required to complete 6 assignments during the
semester. The purpose and details of these assignments are on the website
http://faculty.weber.edu/tbaird. Assignments turned in late will be deducted
8% for the first day and 2% per day thereafter that the assignment is late
(including weekend days).
3. Examinations. There will be 3 exams given. The exams will consist of
multiple-choice and a few essay questions. The final exam will not be
comprehensive. Questions will be drawn from both the text and class lectures.
If you plan on being away on school or personal business during an exam you
must arrange with me to take the exam prior to your departure. Plagiarism
and cheating will not be tolerated. If you are involved in either of these
behaviors you will be referred to appropriate University authorities and will
receive 0 points on that assignment or exam.
Grades: Each of the three exams will be worth 100 points for a total of 300. The
assignments will be worth 180 points total. This gives a combined total of 480 points
possible. The breakdown of grades will be based on the percentage of points you have of
the 500 total points possible. Grades will be determined as follows:
100 to 90%
89.9 to 80%
79.9 to 70%
69.9 to 60%
59.9 to 0%
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
Schedule
Date
Reading Assignments
(dates indicate when you should have completed the readings for the chapters)
Jan 9
Jan 11
Jan 18:
Jan 23:
Jan 30:
Feb 1:
Feb 13:
Feb 20:
Introduction to Class and Syllabus
Chapter 1:
Abnormal Psychology Over Time
Chapter 2:
Factors and Viewpoints in Abnormal Psych.
Assignment #1 Due
Chapter 3:
Clinical Assessment and Treatment
Assignment #2 (Due)
Chapter 4:
Stress Related Disorders
Assignment #3 (Due)
Chapter 5:
Panic, Anxiety, and Their Disorders
EXAM #1
(Take in Testing Center on or Before Feb 24)
Mar 5:
Chapter 6:
Mood Disorders and Suicide
Mar 22:
Mar 29:
April 3:
Chapter 7:
Chapter 8:
Chapter 9:
Assignment #4 (Due)
Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
Psychological Compromises of Physical Health
Personality Disorders
EXAM #2
(Take in Testing Center between April 5 & 7th)
April 10:
April 12:
April 17:
April 19:
April 26:
Chapter 10:
Chapter 11:
Chapter 12:
Chapter 13:
Chapter 14:
Substance Related and Other Addictive Disorders
Sexual Variants, Abuse, and Dysfunction
Schizophrenias and Delusional Disorder
Brain Disorders and Other Cognitive Impairments
Disorders of Childhood and Adolescent
Assignment #6 (Due)
FINAL EXAM
(Take in Testing Center Before Last Day of Finals Week)