Department of Psychology PSYCO 239 - X01
FALL 2018 Abnormal Psychology Instructor: Dr. Andrew Haag
Class Time: Wednesday (18:00 – 21:00) Class Location: CCIS L1 140
Office : BS 343 Phone: 780-905-0461 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: By appointment Course Website: Eclass
Course Teaching Assistant: Shannon Drouin Course Description:
“Nature and treatment of psychological disorders, such as cross-disciplinary perspectives and an emphasis on improving understanding of psychopathology in everyday life.”
Prerequisite:
PSYCO 104 or SCI 100, and PSYCO 105. Not open to students with credit in PYSCO 339.
Required Text:
Barlow, D.H., Durand, V.M., Hofmann, S.G., & Lalumiere, M.L. (2018). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach (5th Canadian ed.). Toronto, ON: Nelson.
Note: Student Editions of the PowerPoint notes will be made available on the course website.
Recommended or Optional Learning Resources:
References for additional readings will be supplied to students electronically (eclass) during the course.
Grade Distribution/Evaluation Schedule
There will be three exams in this course. Midterm and final exams will consist of about 75-100 multiple choice questions. The content for the exams will come from the text and lectures. Lecture materials are supplemental to the text and may or may not be covered in the text. It is important to note that Dr. Haag will not be covering all text book topics in class. However, students are nonetheless responsible for all text material. Test weightings are as follows:
Midterm 1 33 % (Sept 5, 12, & 19) Midterm 2 33 % (Oct 3, 10, & 17)
Final Exam 34 % (Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 21, & Nov 28)
Total 100%
Course Outline
Date Topic Text Reading
Sept 5 Introductions, Syllabus, Concepts & Theory With Regard to Abnormality
1 & 2
Sep 12 Classification, Assessment, & Research 3 & 4 Sep 19 Anxiety, Dissociative, & Somatoform Disorders 5 & 6
Sep 26 Mid-Term 1
Oct 3 Mood Disorders & Suicide, Eating Disorders 7 & 8 Oct 10 Psychophysiological Disorders & Sexual Disorders 9 & 10
Oct 17 Substance Abuse 11
Oct 24 Mid-Term 2
Oct 31 Personality Disorders 12
Nov 7 Schizophrenia 13
Nov 14 Reading Week
Nov 21 Neurodevelopmental Disorders 14
Nov 28 Neurocognitive Disorders & Mental Disorder And The Law
15 & 16
Dec 5 Final Exam
Please note: it is the student's responsibility to verify the final exam date on bear tracks once the final exam schedule is posted.
Please note:
● Dr. Haag may have a special presenter during this class. The date of this special lecture has yet to be determined. This presentation may impact the above lecture schedule but would not impact the reading schedule.
● Due to Dr. Haag’s upcoming and unpredictable court schedule, Dr. Haag may need to deliver a lecture(s) for this class via eclass (i.e., Adobe Connect). With Adobe Connect, students will be able to access the virtual classroom from any computer that is able to access eclass and is able to run Adobe Flash (i.e., students could “attend” such a lecture without being physically present at the U of A). Dr. Haag will notify students via a class announcement as far in advance as possible of Dr. Haag needing to deliver a lecture via electronic means. Should there be a student class presentation on the day of the day of an eclass session, the respective students will have the option to deliver their
presentation using the eclass platform if they choose (this would require a computer,
attached microphone, attached webcam, and reliable internet connection). Alternatively, students will have the option to reschedule to a different date.
“Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.”
Academic Integrity:
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty.
Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism,
misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.
Learning and Classroom Etiquette
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment. The department urges anyone who feels that this policy is being violated to:
● Discuss the matter with the person whose behaviour is causing concern; or
● If that discussion is unsatisfactory, or there is concern that direct discussion is inappropriate or threatening, discuss it with the Chair of the Department.
For additional advice or assistance regarding this policy you may contact the Office of the Student Ombuds . Information about the University of Alberta Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures is described in UAPPOL.
Learning in this class is intended to be an active and interactive process, a joint venture between student and professor and between student and student (i.e., learning is not just “downloading”
information from teacher to student). Students are encouraged to take an active role in the learning process. In specific, students are encouraged to do the following: (a) attend class regularly, (b) reading course material in advance of class, (c) showing up to class on time, and (d) be attentive and
proactively “present” during class (i.e., not on the internet, not texting, not conversing with the person beside you). This encouragement is done with the goal of enhancing the overall learning experience.
CELL PHONES: Cell phones are to be turned off during lectures. Any use of cell phones will not be permitted during exams.
Academic Honesty:
All students should consult the information provided by the Office of Judicial Affairs regarding avoiding cheating and plagiarism in particular and academic dishonesty in general (see the Academic
Integrity Undergraduate Handbook and Information for Students). If in doubt about what is permitted in this class, ask the instructor.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process .
Recording of Lectures:
Audio or video recording of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the content author(s) or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the instructor.
Attendance, Absences, and Missed Grade Components:
Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course. In cases of potentially excusable absences due to illness or domestic affliction, notify your instructor by e-mail within two days. Regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course components missed as a result, consult the Calendar regarding Attendance and Examinations sections of the University Calendar. Be aware that unexcused absences will result in partial or total loss of the grade for the “attendance and participation” component(s) of a course, as well as for any assignments that are not handed-in or completed as a result.
In this course, acceptable reasons for being absent from term work, including midterms, scheduled presentations or extension of deadlines to an assignment to be an incapacitating mental and/or physical illness, severe domestic affliction, or circumstances described in the University’s Discrimination, Harassment and Duty to Accommodate Policy (including religious conviction).
Examples of unacceptable reasons for missing an exam include (but are not limited to) personal events such as vacations, weddings, work, or family travel arrangements. Students are expected to read their syllabi and ensure that they will be able to attend those days when they will be graded. For an excused absence where the cause is religious conviction, a student must contact the instructor(s) within two weeks of the start of classes to request accommodation for the term (including the final exam, where relevant). Instructors may request documentation from a pastor or imam, etc. to substantiate the student request. Requests should be made to the instructor as far in advance as possible, but need to be made within 48 hours of the missed work or deadline. Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour. Students who wish to apply for a final exam deferral are to apply to their own faculty office within 48 hours of the missed examination timing for a deferral of a final exam.
Date of Deferred Final Examination
Should a student wish to apply for a deferred final exam, the student must complete a statutory declaration. Should a student wish to apply for a deferred mid-term exam, it is up to Dr. Haag if a statutory declaration will be required. However, students should know that Dr. Haag can insist that such a declaration be made. For cases requiring a statutory declaration, students must visit the Student Services Office in the Faculty of Science to complete the paperwork.
● The date of the deferred final, should it be required, will be January 16, 2019 at a time to be announced.
Should the deferral date for a mid-term not work for a student, Dr. Haag will redistribute the weighting of the student’s grade such that the other mid-term will be worth 45% of the student’s course grade, the papers with be worth 10%, and final exam will be worth 45% of the course grade.
EXAMS: Your student photo I.D. is required at exams to verify your identity. Students will not be allowed to begin an examination after it has been in progress for 30 minutes. Students must remain in the exam room until at least 30 minutes has elapsed. Electronic equipment cannot be brought into examination rooms and hats should not be worn.
Re-examinations are governed by the University Calendar and as per this policy there will be no possibility of re-examination.
Student Accessibility Services:
If you have special needs that could affect your performance in this class, please let me know during the first week of the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If you are not already registered with Student Accessibility Services, contact their office immediately (1-80 SUB; email:
[email protected]; phone: 780-492-3381).
ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTRE: Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Academic Support Centre (2-703 Students’ Union Building).
Grading System:
Marks for assignments, tests, and exams are given in percentages, to which letter grades are also assigned, according to the table below. The percentage mark resulting from the entire term work and examination then produces the final letter grade for the course.
Percentage Mark
Grade Letter Grade Descriptor
95-100% 4.0 A+ Excellent
89-94.9 4.0 A Excellent
85-88.9 3.7 A- Excellent
79-84.9 3.3 B+ Good
74-78.9 3.0 B Good
69-73.9 2,7 B- Good
64-68.9 2.3 C+ Satisfactory
60-63.9 2.0 C Satisfactory
56-59.9 1.7 C- Satisfactory
53-55.9 1.3 D+ Poor
50-52.9 1.0 D Minimal Pass
0-49.9 0.0 F or F(R) Failure
This grade translation is approximate; the instructor reserves the right to use expert judgment to adjust the grades as necessary.
Grades are unofficial until approved by the Department and/or Faculty offering the course.
Past/Representative Evaluative Material:
Dr. Haag will be posting sample exam questions on the class website (i.e., eclass) within the first two weeks of the course starting.
Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in class.
Copyright: Dr. Haag, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, 2018
