Course Detail :

A study of neurotic and psychotic behavior including origin, classification, symptoms, and a survey of diagnosis, therapy, and prevention.

Rationale :

Because of the complexity of modern society and the diversity of today’s medical system, the student needs a comprehensive understanding and working knowledge of all types of abnormal behaviors. It is also critical to understand both the normal and the abnormal and their relationship to each other. This is essential for any type of psychologically-related work, especially as the student works with other professionals and agencies as part of a “healing team.”

Measurable Learning Outcomes :

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Analyze and interpret the historical background, symptoms, basic theoretical orientations, and established research on abnormal behavior.
2. Categorize and compare the terminology, concepts, and principles that are used in the identity, study, and treatment of abnormal disorders.
3. Recognize and evaluate the various psychopathologies and classifications of abnormal psychology.
4. Recognize and manage deviant behaviors in his/her own life or in the lives of those who may be disturbed or distraught psychologically.
5. Assess spiritual and religious factors in psychopathology and in its treatment.
6. Compare and evaluate psychopathologies according to the DSM-V and appraise and assess the abnormal disorders in their proper place within this system.
7. Demonstrate the skills of gathering information from a library including computerized information sources, bibliographic systems, computerized literacy skills in word processing, APA format, conducting internet/electronic searches, as well as other sources from which one can present a persuasive argument.

Course Assignment :

Textbook readings and lecture presentations :

Course Requirements Checklist :

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4) :

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences.

• Therefore, the student must complete 4 Discussions.
• The discussions will cover topics relating to the course material.
• The student must post a thread for each discussion of at least 200 words and reply in at least 100 words each to at least 2 classmates’ threads.
• In the thread, the student must use a journal reference as well as a Bible passage, including an application of the passage to the discussion topic. (MLOs: A, B, D, E, G)

Autism Case Study Assignment :

Students will review a case study on Autism and provide written answers to the presented questions in a Word document. (MLOs: A, C, F, G)

Research Paper Assignment :

The student will research a specific mental disorder within the realm of Abnormal Psychology. The topic must be one that is discussed in the course textbook and described in the DSM-V. The length of the body of the paper must be 7 pages and must not exceed 10 pages. In addition, the student must include a current APA-style title page and references page. Sources will be all journals dated within 5 years. (MLOs: A, B, C, E, F, G)

Students will complete four (4) disorder review quizzes.  Information about the disorders and the associated multiple-choice quizzes are accessed through the McGraw-Hill link within each assigned Module: Week. (MLOs: A, B, C)

Overall Quizzes (8) :

In each Module: Week, the student will take a 50-minute, open-book/open-notes quiz based on the assigned textbook readings and media presentations. Each quiz contains 25 multiple-choice questions. Additionally, each quiz will only be available for the full week of the Module: Week. (MLOs: A, B, C)