Heartland Community College, Course Syllabus: Fall, 2013
Division: Liberal Arts & Social Sciences / Course Prefix and # PSY 203-01
Course Title: Abnormal Psychology
Credit Hours: 3 (Contact Hours: Lecture Hours: 3 / Lab Hours: 0)
Class Meetings: TR 9:30-10:45 AM / ICB 2703
Catalog Description
Prerequisite: PSY 101.
This course provides an examination of the etiology, assessment, and treatment patterns of psychological
disorders across the lifespan.
Required Textbook
Comer, Ronald J. (2014). Abnormal Psychology (8th ed.). New York, NY: Worth.
Instructor Information
Angela Carey, M.S.
Social & Business Sciences Division (Office 2100)
(309) 268-8590
angela.carey@heartland.edu (best method of communication)
Reminder: You are responsible for any communication sent to you through your HCC e-mail account.
Office Hours: immediately before class or by appointment
Relationship of this Course to Academic Programs & Transferability
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or A.S.
degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the
Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the IAI. However,
you should consult an academic advisor for transfer information regarding particular institutions. Refer to
the IAI web page at www.itransfer.org for more information.
General Education and Learning Outcomes:
This course contains expected learning outcomes to help you develop proficiency across the four areas of
our General Education Program: Communication, Diversity, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking.
Throughout the semester, you should achieve the following general education outcomes:
1. Determine the value of multiple sources or strategies, and select those most appropriate in a given
context.
2. Listen to comprehend information, critique and evaluate a message, show empathy for the feelings
expressed by others, and/or appreciate a performance.
3. Identify the type of problem and, from multiple problem-solving methods, choose the best method
and solve the problem.
4. Consistently and characteristically approach diversity issues in a manner that exemplifies respect
for and appreciation of difference.
Course Objectives:
Throughout the semester we will:
1. Investigate and evaluate the research methodologies that make abnormal psychology a scientific
field of study.
2. Analyze the historical and current perspectives and their applications to abnormal psychology.
3. Investigate the symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatment of stress, including the impact it can
have on behavior.
4. Evaluate and discriminate between the various psychological disorders that can develop across the
lifespan.
5. Question and demonstrate understanding of the relationship between assessment methods, causes,
and treatment approaches for psychological disorders, with application of appropriate treatment
strategies.
Course Outline:
Over the course of our 16-week semester, we will cover topics included in all 16 chapters of our text. We
will not, however, spend the same amount of time on each chapter. The following topics will be included:
Research Methods and the History of Abnormal Behavior, Contemporary Perspectives on Abnormal
Behavior, Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior, Methods of Treatment, Stress and
Psychological Factors/Health, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders and Suicide, Dissociative and
Somatoform Disorders, Eating Disorders and Sleep Disorders, Personality Disorders, Substance-related
Disorders, Disorders Involving Gender and Sexuality, Schizophrenic and Other Psychotic Disorders,
Cognitive Disorders, Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence, and Abnormal Psychology and the Law.
Required Reading:
This course requires approximately 35 pages of reading per week. You are responsible to read the
chapters in our textbook as we are covering them in class. If you have not purchased or rented a copy of
the book, a copy of the book is on reserve in the library for you to borrow. As a student, you are allowed
to use the book in 2-hour increments, but it must remain in the library. An additional copy is available to
borrow from tutoring services if someone else is using the library’s copy when you plan to read it.
Reading the assigned material is crucial for performing well on quizzes and exams. Furthermore, it is
time-sensitive for the quizzes, since you will not know when you will be quizzed on the required reading.
Required Writing:
Every psychology course is required to include a minimum of 10 pages of writing from each student to
account for no less than 20% of his/her final grade. Although this is not an English, Writing, or Grammar
class, you will be expected to write at the college level. Additionally, you will be expected to use APA
formatting for papers requiring the citations of sources.
Methods of Evaluation:
Exams:
You will be given 5 exams that will account for 55% of your final grade for this course. Chapters will be
covered as they appear on our class schedule. The cumulative final exam is only required for those who
miss an exam (without making it up), 2 or more quizzes, or a paper assignment during the semester. It
will also be mandatory for anyone who misses more than 3 class periods for any reasons. It will be
optional for everyone else. Final exam grades will be factored in with the chapter exams to account for
the 55% unless you opt to take the exam in an attempt to raise your grade.
Quizzes:
You will be given 5 unannounced quizzes. One will be given for each section covered (as the chapters are
divided for exams). These will account for 15% of your final grade. Quizzes will be given at the
beginning of the chosen class periods. If you arrive late to class on the day of a quiz, you will be allowed
to complete whatever you can while the rest of the class finishes the quiz. No extra time will be given.
Writing Assignments:
You will be expected to write 4 papers throughout the semester. These will account for 20% of your final
grade. You will be given specific topics and directions for them as they are assigned.
Your paper may be returned with an attached paper indicating your need for a “Research Appointment” or
a trip to the Writing Lab. If you are expected to meet with a librarian for a research appointment (to
discuss how to properly cite the sources within or at the end of your paper), you should ALSO have
someone in the writing lab review your paper (especially if I have marked a significant number of errors
on your paper). You will then need to turn in to me the signed form, your original paper, and a corrected
version of your paper.
Similarly, if you are expected to take a paper to the Writing Lab (most likely for help with overall themes
of grammatical errors, such as paraphrasing or run-on sentences), you will need the person who assists
you to sign the form. Then you will be expected to turn in to me the signed form, your original paper, and
a corrected version of your paper.
The additional work you do in making corrections to your paper will not only improve the grade on your
paper, but it will also help you earn higher grades on future paper assignments (in this class and others).
You will not be allowed to turn in the next paper assignment until you have met the requirements of the
previous paper, including any necessary appointments and/or corrections.
Failure to complete an assignment to meet with a librarian or a tutor in the writing lab will result in
a zero for the paper. Any attempts to forge the signature of a librarian or tutor will result in a zero
for the class.
Group Projects/Class Participation & Attendance:
Your attendance and participation in this class are necessary for you to do well in this course. Your
decision to attend class regularly and actively participate in the learning process will account for
10% of your final grade.
Grading System:
A = 100% - 90%
B = 89% - 80%
C = 79% - 70%
D = 69% - 60%
F = 59% and below
PSY 203-01 Course Calendar:
The following schedule is an estimation to give you an idea of what to expect and how to plan your
semester. This schedule may change, as our class discussion will determine the amount of time needed to
adequately cover the chosen material for each chapter.
Attend each class, and you will never be surprised by schedule changes.
Week 1 (Aug. 20/22):
Introductions/ Ch. 16 (The Law)
Week 2 (Aug. 27/29):
Ch. 1 (Research Methods)/ Paper #1 assigned
Week 3 (Sept. 3/5):
Ch. 2 (Contemporary Perspectives)/ Paper #1 due
Week 4 (Sept. 10/12):
Exam 1/ Ch. 3 (Classification & Assessment)/ Paper #2 assigned
Week 5 (Sept. 17/19):
Ch. 4 (Treatment Methods)/ Paper #2 due
Week 6 (Sept. 24/26):
Ch. 7 (Dissociative & Somatoform Disorders)
Week 7 (Oct. 1/3):
Exam 2, Paper #3 assigned/ Ch. 5 (Stress, Psychological Factors, & Health)
Week 8 (Oct. 8/10):
Paper #3 due, Ch. 6 (Anxiety Disorders)
Week 9 (Oct. 15/17):
Ch. 8 (Mood Disorders & Suicide)
Week 10 (Oct. 22/24):
Exam 3/ Ch. 9 (Substance-related Disorders)
Week 11 (Oct. 29/31):
Ch. 11 (Gender/Sexuality Disorders)/ Ch. 14 (Childhood/Adolescent
Disorders)
Week 12 (Nov. 5/7):
Ch. 15 (Cognitive Disorders)/ Exam 4
Week 13 (Nov. 12/14):
Ch. 10 (Eating & Sleep Disorders)/ Paper #4 assigned
Week 14 (Nov. 19/21):
Ch. 12 (Psychotic Disorders)/ Paper #4 due , Ch. 13 (Personality Disorders)
Week 15 (Nov. 26/28):
Ch. 13 (cont.)/ Thanksgiving
Week 16 (Dec. 3/5):
Exam 5/ Extra credit & Final grades & Review
Final Exam Date:
Thursday Dec. 12th at 8AM
**In the above schedule, items mentioned before a slash / refer to Tuesday, and items after a slash / refer
to Thursday. This will help you determine when papers are due and when exams are to be held. If one
chapter is listed without a slash, that chapter is the only new material you will need for that week.
Instructor Policies
*Laptops are not permitted.
*Phone usage during class will not be tolerated (even for texting). If your phone catches my
attention, I may collect your phone and return it to you at the end of the class period. Talk with me
before class begins if you have a need to be available by phone for some reason.
*Missed exams may be taken BEFORE the following class meeting ONLY if you contact me
regarding a last-minute illness or emergency within 24 hours of the exam period. If you know in
advance that you will be missing an exam, you MUST make arrangements to take the exam PRIOR
to your absence. You will only be allowed to make up one exam.
*Missed quizzes may not be made up. I will drop your lowest quiz score at the end of the semester.
*Late papers will NOT be accepted. Regardless of reasons for missed classes, assignments MUST
be turned in by 5pm on the due date (even if you are sick on the due date).
*Your conduct within the classroom is expected to be polite and mature. I reserve the right to
determine conduct that does not meet expectations. If your behavior is problematic, you will be
asked to leave the classroom for the remainder of the class without the option to make up any
missed assignments, quizzes, or exams.
*You are responsible for missed announcements and assignments made in class (whether you attend
or not). You are also responsible to obtain missed notes from a classmate. I will not provide notes
to students who miss class.
*Extra credit may be offered to the class, but it will not be offered on an individual basis. If you
miss class the day extra credit is offered, you will not be given the opportunity to take advantage of
it.
Syllabus Disclaimer:
Changes may be made to this syllabus at any point. You will be notified (in class) of any changes,
at the time at which they are made.