Course Syllabus
Athabasca University
Psychology (PSYC) 435
Abnormal Psychology (Revision 5)
Revision 5 closed May 14, 2007, replaced by current version
View previous syllabus
Delivery mode: Individualized study or grouped study. Online-enhanced.
Optional video component*.
*Overseas students, please contact the University Library before registering in a course that has an audio/visual component.
Credits: 3 - Social Science
Prerequisite: PSYC 289, PSYC 290, and PSYC 356 are strongly recommended.
Precluded course: PSYC 335. (PSYC 435 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PSYC 335.)
Centre: Centre for Psychology
PSYC 435 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Course Web site
Overview
PSYC 435 examines human behaviours and mental phenomena that diverge widely from the normal.
Outline
Unit 1: Abnormal Psychology: An Overview
Unit 2: Historical and Contemporary Views of Abnormal Behaviour
Unit 3: Causal Factors and Viewpoints
Unit 4: Clinical Assessment
Unit 5: Stress and Adjustment Disorders
Unit 6: Panic, Anxiety, and Their Disorders
Unit 7: Mood Disorders and Suicide
Unit 8: Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
Unit 9: Eating Disorders and Obesity
Unit 10: Health Problems and Behaviour
Unit 11: Personality Disorders
Unit 12: Substance-Related Disorders
Unit 13: Sexual Variants, Abuse, and Dysfunctions
Unit 14: Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Unit 15: Cognitive Disorders
Unit 16: Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
Unit 17: Therapy
Unit 18: Contemporary and Legal Issues in Abnormal Psychology
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 435, you must complete all course assignments and achieve a composite course grade of at least “D” (50 percent), and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of assignments is as follows:
| Five Quizzes | Term Paper | Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 40% | 40% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S., & Hooley J. M. (2004). Abnormal Psychology (12th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Mackenzie, L. (2004). Grade Aid for Butcher, J. N., Mineka,
S., & Hooley J. M., Abnormal psychology (12th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Meyer, R. G. (2003). Cases Studies in Abnormal Psychology (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Other materials
The course materials include a student manual and workbook.