Course Detail

PSY 311 Abnormal Psychology

PSY 311 IS Sec 1, University of Mississippi
[See UM Catalog for Description]

3 credit hours

Instructor Information:

Instructor name:
Jennifer Caldwell, Ph.D.

Instructor Information:
I received my undergrad psychology degree from Ole Miss, a Master's degree in clinical psychology from Argosy University in Atlanta, and my Ph.D. in experimental psychology at Ole Miss.

I also work in the research compliance department, overseeing the IRB and IACUC. I'm a double cancer survivor, and my husband and I just had our first child, a boy.

I enjoy teaching online classes because I get to know my students on a more personal level, as they seem to reach out more when it's email based. I've always found psychology interesting, because people are interesting!

Contact Information:

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the email link in the "Communications" tab. NOTE: Whenever sending email, please be sure to indicate your Course title and number in the subject line.

Course Description

Welcome to Abnormal Psychology: the characteristics, causes, and treatment of abnormal behavior. Most people find psychology very interesting, since it is about people, and many find abnormal behavior to be the most interesting part of psychology. I hope you enjoy this course!

Textbook Information:

Textbook information will be provided upon enrollment in your iStudy course.

Course Objectives:

After completing this course, you will:

1. have an integrative overview of the field of abnormal psychology and major psychological problems and disorders
2. be familiar with the multiple causes of psychopathology as viewed from a number of different theoretical perspectives
3. have exploredan integrative view of research in the area of abnormal behavior
4. be able to discuss intervention and prevention strategies for psychological disorders

Course Outline:

This course consists of 16 instructional modules, a final paper, and 2 proctored exams. 

You MUST take the syllabus quiz within 2 weeks of enrolling or you will be dropped from the course. NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Lesson

Reading Assignments

Required Assignments

Syllabus

*You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance.* NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Syllabus Quiz

1

Chapter 1: Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context
Notes, presentation, and video

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

2

Chapter 2: An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology. Notes, presentation, and video

Written assignment
Chapter quiz

3

Chapter 3: Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis. Notes, presentation

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

4

Chapter 4: Research Methods. Notes, presentation, and video

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

5

Chapter 5: Anxiety, Trauma, and Stressor-Related and Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders. Notes, presentation, and videos

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

6

Chapter 6: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders and Dissociative Disorders. Notes, presentation

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

7

Chapter 7. Mood Disorders and Suicide. Notes, presentation, and videos

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

8

Chapter 8: Eating and Sleep-Wake Disorders. Notes, presentation

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

Midterm Exam

This exam covers Chapters 1-8

To be scheduled
and completed
before proceeding

MIDPOINT OF COURSE

If you are a semester student, you must reach the midpoint of your course by the date specified in your information.
If you are a Flex UM student, you CANNOT WITHDRAW from this course after the exam has been submitted.

All lesson assignments or exams needed to reach the midpoint of the course.
The exact date semester students are required to reach the midpoint is specified in your information.

9

Chapter 9: Physical Disorders and Health Psychology. Notes, presentation

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

10

Chapter 10: Sexual Dysfunctions, Paraphilic Disorders and Gender Dysphoria. Notes, presentation

Written assignment
Chapter quiz

11

Chapter 11: Substance-Related, Addictive and Impulse-Control Disorders. Notes, presentation

Written assignment
Chapter quiz

12

Chapter 12. Personality Disorders. Notes, presentation, and video

Written assignment
Chapter quiz

13

Chapter 13: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders. Notes, presentation, and video

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

14

Chapter 14. Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Notes, presentation

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

15

Chapter 15: Neurocognitive Disorders. Notes, presentation

Written assignment
Chapter quiz

16

Chapter 16: Mental Health Services: Legal and Ethical Issues. Notes, presentation

Journal entry
Chapter quiz

Movie Paper

You must choose a movie where the main character is suffering from a mental disorder, give a synopsis of the disorder, and compare and contrast 2 possible therapies for that character.

Final paper

Final exam

This exam covers Chapters 9-16

To be scheduled
and completed
to finalize credit

Grading:

This course uses the University of Mississippi's Plus/Minus grading scale.
94-100% = A
90-93% = A-
87-89% = B+
84-86% = B
80-83% = B-
77-79% = C+
74-76% = C
70-73% = C-
60-69% = D
0-59% = F

FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.

You must submit the lessons required to take the course exam(s). Lessons required but not submitted will receive a grade of zero. For the final exam, all coursework must be submitted and graded.