Catalog Description:  "(Prerequisite: Psych. 110) A comprehensive survey of mental and behavioral disorders from biological, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives.  The course will consider diagnosis and labeling, overview of specific disorders, and various treatment approaches."

The required textbook for the course will be Abnormal Psychology by Sarason & Sarason.  All reading assignments will refer to this text (see attached assignments).  Assessment of student performance in the course will include three exams, in addition to the Final Examination.  These four examinations are of equal value.  All exams (including the final) will cover reading assignments, lectures, class discussion, and film presentations.  They will include multiple choice and essay questions.  The final exam will be comprehensive.

Grading policy:  Grades will be determined as follows:  95-100% = A; 90-94 = A-; 87-89 = B+; 83-86 = B; 80-82 = B-; 77-79 = C+; 73-76 = C; 70-72 = C-; 67-69 = D+; 60-66 = D; < 60 = F.  (As an alternative grading system, a "curve" may be used.  However, obtaining the above percentages will guarantee a grade at least as high as those delineated above.)  Pop quizzes may be utilized at random times in class as “extra credit” to assess progress and to reward attendance (see attendance policy below).

Attendance policy:  Students are responsible for all information (e.g., announcements, discussion, lectures) that is presented in class.  Class attendance is necessary for mastery of course material.  In addition, performance on the quizzes may improve your course grade (e.g., see grading policy above.)  In cases of unavoidable absences, please see the instructor for assistance.

Each student enrolled in the class will participate in one brief class presentation.  Groups of three students will be formed for each presentation, and responsibilities will be divided as follows:  (1)  Present summary of study, (2)  provide appropriate graphs, tables, etc. to assist in presenting material, (3) pose discussion questions.

Articles are to be chosen by students according to interest.  However, as noted on the syllabus, the chosen article must relate generally to the week's text assignment.

The presenters will be responsible for content of the presentation, and the Instructor will facilitate the brief subsequent discussion.  For this reason, it is suggested that a meeting with the Instructor during "office hours" take place prior to each presentation.  It will be students' responsibility to initiate this optional meeting.

The Journal of Abnormal Psychology is the recommended source for research presentations, and is available in the University library.  Other journals (e.g., Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Behavior Therapy, Behavior Modification,  Psychological Bulletin, Psychotherapy, Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology Review)may also be used, with approval from the instructor, and are also available in the library.  A copy of the selected journal article must be provided to the Instructor at least one week before the presentation date, and a copy of the article abstract (usually the first page of the paper) provided to each member of the class the day of the presentation.  Content of presentations, and following discussions, will be incorporated into exam questions.  Each of these presentations, and subsequent discussion, will take a maximum of 20 minutes of each class period.

The purposes of this exercise are several.  It will familiarize you with original source material from which your textbook is derived.  This may be expected to facilitate independent synthesis of research findings, and critical thinking regarding abnormal psychology.  It will create the opportunity for students to independently pursue course-related interests, and have such interests incorporated into the course.  Finally, it will facilitate exchange of ideas with the Instructor, and among class members.