Katherine Dowdell, M.S.

Chair, Psychology Department

DMACC West Campus

5959 Grand Avenue

West Des Moines, IA 50266

Email: kdowdell@dmacc.edu

Office: West Campus Room 217 E

Office Hours:  : 

  • Mon/Wed 9:30-10am
  • Tues 8:30-9:30am
  • Thurs 11:15am-12:45pm
  • Friday 9:40-10:40am; 12:30-1:00pm

Courses:

 

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PSY 241 Abnormal Psychology: Spring 2008

Section WA (CRN23801)      MW 12:50-2:15pm                 West Campus Rm 219E

 

PSY 241 Syllabus Spring 2008

 

Grades  FINAL GRADES as of April 24, 2008. 

 

Course Schedule: REVISED as of March 3, 2008

Date

Prepare

Assignment/Activity

Mon Jan 7

 

Introduction

Wed Jan 9

1  Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context

Lecture Ch1

Mon Jan 14

 

Lecture Ch 1

Wed Jan 16

2  Integrative Approach

Lecture Ch 2

Mon Jan 21

MLK Day: College Closed

 

Wed Jan 24

 

Lecture Ch 2

Mon Jan 28

3 Clinical Assess, Diagnosis, Research

Lecture Ch 3

Wed Jan 30

Guest Speaker Questions: Don

Guest speaker: Don

Mon Feb 4

 

Lecture Ch 3

Wed Feb 6

4 Anxiety Disorders

Don paper due

Lecture Ch. 4

Mon Feb 11

 

Lecture Ch. 4

Wed Feb 12

6 Mood Disorders

Lecture Ch 6

Mon Feb 18

 

Lecture Ch 6

Wed Feb 20

Guest Speaker Questions: Jason

Guest Speaker: Jason

Mon Feb 25

5 Somatoform & Dissociative Disorders

Lecture Ch 5

Wed Feb 27

7 Physical Disorders/Health

 

Lecture Ch 7

Jason paper due

Mon Mar 3

Review Ch. 1-7

Exam 1

Wed Mar 5

8 Sleep/Eating Disorders

Lecture Ch 8

Mon Mar 10

9 Sex/Gender Disorders

Lecture Ch 9

Wed Mar 12

9 Sex/Gender Disorders

Lecture Ch 9

Mon Mar 17

Spring Break: No Classes

 

Wed Mar 19

Spring Break: No Classes

 

Mon Mar 24

Changed from this point

12 Schizophrenia

 

Lecture Ch 12

Wed Mar 26

Hearing Voices Questions

Bring CD player/headphones

Hearing Distressing Voices Training Exercise

Mon Mar 31

10 Substance/Impulse Dis

Lecture Ch 10

Wed Apr 2

Guest Speaker Questions: Ginger

Hearing Voices Paper Due***

Guest Speaker: Ginger

Mon Apr 7

11 Personality Disorders

Lecture Ch 11

Wed Apr 9

13 Developmental & Cognitive 

 

Lecture Ch 13

Ginger Paper Due

Mon Apr 14

 

Lecture Ch 13

Wed Apr 16

14 Mental Health Services: Legal/Ethical Issues

Lecture Ch 14; Video: A Crime of Insanity

Mon Apr 21

 

Lecture 14

Wed Apr 23

Review Ch. 8-14

Exam 2

Mon Apr 28

Finals Week:  Will have Exam 2 @ 9am

if needed due to rescheduling/weather

 

 

Guest Speaker/Hearing Voices Questions:  Click on the speaker’s name below to access the requirements for the written assignment.  Click for a sample of an excellent Guest Speaker paper.

 

Chapter Notes:  Click on the chapter title to access power point notes for each class.  You should print these out and bring them with you to class.  I would recommend that you choose “handouts” instead of “slides” in the ‘Print what?’ drop down menu; otherwise you will end up with only one slide per page!           

 

1

Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context

2

An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology

Alternative Presentation of the Brain/Neuron

3

Clinical Assess., Diagnosis, Research

4

Anxiety Disorders

5

Somatoform  & DissociativeDisorders

6

Mood Disorders

7

Physical Disorders/Health

8

Sleep/Eating Disorders

9

Sex/Gender Disorders

10

Substance/Impulse Control Disorders

11

Personality Disorders

12

Schizophrenia

13

Developmental and Cognitive Disorders

14

Mental Health Services

Course Evaluation:

            Your course grade will be based on the total number of points earned from exams and guest speaker/experience papers.

·        Written Papers: Guest Speakers and Hearing Distressing Voices Training Exercise

o       You must be present in class to hear the guest speaker or participate in the training exercise in order to complete the assignment.

o       An assignment sheet is available on my instructor web site.

o       The papers must be typed, single-spaced, ~1" default margins in 12 pt font. 

o       The speaker/training papers require clear, concise and meaningful information for a maximum of 30 points. 

o       Papers are due in class at the beginning of the class period assigned.(see course schedule).  Late papers will be worth only half credit.

o       If you miss a guest speaker or the training exercise, you will be allowed one make-up/alternative assignment.

  • Exams   There will be 2 unit exams worth up to 60 points each.  The first unit exam will cover material in chapters 1-7, and the second unit exam will cover material in chapters 8-14.  The exams will consist of multiple choice and short answer essay questions.

 

            Exam Study Guide 

 

Exam policy   Exams require the use of a #2 pencil and a pen.  Please arrive on time.  Students who arrive late to class will not be allowed additional time. A make-up exam will be allowed only with advance permission of the instructor and will require documentation of the reason for the absence (i.e., doctor’s excuse, subpoena). Unexcused and/or undocumented absences will result in a loss of half the points earned on the make-up exam. Any exception to this policy will be at the sole discretion of the instructor. 

 

Extra Credit:

You may earn up to 15 points of extra credit.  Extra credit may be earned by bringing in news articles (not internet) related to mental health, legal initiatives, etc.  An oral presentation of the material is worth up to 3 points; a written summary is worth up to 5 points per article.  An alternative assignment (available on my instructor web site) is also available for extra credit.

 

Final Grade  

Your course grade is based on your exams (120 points) and papers (120 points).  The total number of points possible for the course is 240.  This does not include any extra credit points.

 

 

Percent

 

 

Percent

 

A

93.33%

 

C

73.33%

 

A-

90.00%

 

C-

70.00%

 

B+

87.67%

 

D+

67.67%

 

B

83.33%

 

D

63.33%

 

B-

80.00%

 

D-

60.00%

 

C+

77.67%

 

F

< 60%