Discipline: Psychology Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Psychology 35


COURSE DESCRIPTION
35 Abnormal Psychology Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite: None.
 
Survey of historical and contemporary approaches to diagnosing, understanding, and treating major forms of psychological disorder, including: anxieties, fears, obsessions, psychoses, sexual and personality disorders, disorders of childhood and adolescence. Total of 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
A survey of the nature, causes, and treatment of psychological disorder.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Identify the symptomotology of the recognized disorders as stated
      in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

2.   Compare and contrast major contemporary theoretical perspectives
      on the causes of mental illness.

3.   Analyze the interaction between biological, psychological, and social
      aspects of psychological disturbances.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Nature and history of abnormality
    1. The concept of abnormaility
    2. History of approaches to abnormality
  2. Investigating and diagnosing abnormality--Systems of assessment and diagnosis
  3. Emotional disorders
    1. Anxiety, somatoform, and dissociative
    2. Psychosomatic
    3. Depression, mania, bipolar
  4. Psychotic and organic disorders
  5. Social and interpersonal disorders
    1. Sexual dysfunction
    2. Substance abuse
    3. Personality disorders
  6. Developmental disorders
    1. Disorders of childhood and adolescence
    2. Mental retardation
  7. Models and treatments of abnormaility
    1. Biomedical approach
    2. Psychodynamic and existential approaches
    3. Behavioral and cognitive approaches
    4. Community mental health approach
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Class lectures/discussions/demonstrations
  • Videos/films/slides/audiotapes
  • Pair and small group activities/discussions
  • Guest lecturers
  • Reports and papers
  • Cooperative learning tasks
  • Distance education
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Oral reports/presentations
  • Written reports/presentations
  • Quizzes/examinations
  • Written assignments
  • Class and individual projects
  • Final Examination
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Berger, K.. The Developing Person Through the Lifespan. 5 ed. any: Worth, 2001.
  • Berk, L.E. . Development Through The Lifespan. 3 ed. any: Allyn & Bacon, 2003.
  • Dacey, J.S., & Travers, J.F.. Human Development Across the Lifespan. 6 ed. any: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
  • Papalia, D.E., Olds, S.W., Feldman, R.D.. Human Development. 8 ed. any: McGraw-Hill, 2001.
  • Santrock, J. W. . Life-Span Development. 8 ed. any: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
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