PS 420

Syllabus

Winter 2009-2010

 

Instructor:   L.  W.  McCallum

Office:  Evald 15; phone 7373;home phone 355-3474

Office hours:  by appointment

Texts: Mash, E. J. and Wolfe, D.A. (2008) Abnormal child psychology, 4th Ed., Thomson, Belmont, CA.

            Kearney, C.A. (2008) Case book in child behavior disorders, 4th Ed., Thomson, Belmont, CA.

Instructor Website: www.augustana.edu/users/psmccallum;

Text Website: http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=9780495506270&discipline_number=24

 

Date            Topic                                                Reading Assignment                          In-Class Assignment Due

11/16     Introduction and Group Sign-up                                                                      Definition

 

11/18     Defining Abnormality                         Chapter 1 (M&W)                              

                                                                               

11/20     Theories and Etiology                         Chapter 2 (M&W)                               DSMIV

11/23                                                                                                                                     Axis I

                                                                                                                                Axis II

                                                                                                                                Axis III

                                                                                                                                Axis IV

                                                                                                                                Axis V Decision

                                                                                                                                GAF

                                                                                                                                Mood Disorders Decision Tree         

                                                                                                                                Multiaxial Report Form                    

 

11/25     Research Issues                                   Chapter 3 (M&W)

                Assessment                                           Chapter 4 (M&W)        

 

Happy Thanksgiving

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                                                Discussion of Assessment

                                                                                                                                                Measurement Questions

11/30     Assessment                                           Chapter 4 (M&W)

12/2        No Class                                                               

12/4                                                                                                                                        Mixed Case 1 (K)               

 

 

12/7        Exam 1                                                 Chapters 1,2,3,4 (M&W), Case 1 (K) and class readings

 

12/9        Intellectual Disability                          Chapter 9 (M&W)                               Case 11 (K)

12/11

 

12/14     Learning Disorders                              pp. 346-361 (M&W)                           Case 7 (k)

12/16     LD Case files

12/18

 

Merry Christmas

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

1/11        Autism Spectrum Disorders               Chapter 10 (M&W)                             Case 11 (K)

1/13

 

1/15        AD/HD                                                  Chapter 5 (M&W)                               Case 6 (K)

1/18

1/20        Exam 2                                                                 Chapters 5, 9, 10 and pp. 328-344 (M&W) Cases 6,7,11 (K)

 

1/22        Conduct Problems                               Chapter 6 (M&W)                               Case 8 (K)

 

1/25        Substance Use Disorders                    pp. 389-395 (M&W)                           Case 9 (K)

 

1/27        Elimination Disorders                         pp. 372-376 (M&K)                           

1/29        Eating Disorders                                   Chapter 13 (M&W)                             Case 5 (K)

 

2/1          Exam 3                                                 Chapters 6, 13 and pp. 372-376 and 389-395 (M&W) Cases 5,8,9  (K)

 

2/3          Anxiety Disorders                                Chapter 7 (M&W)                               Case 2 (K)

 

2/5          Mood Disorders                                   Chapter 8 (M&K)                                Case 3 (K)

2/8

 

2/10        Child Abuse                                          Chapter 14 (M&W)                            

2/12        Catch-up

 

2/17        Final Exam 9:00-11:00                    Chapters 7,8,14 (M&W) Cases 2,3 (K)

 

Notes:

 

  1. Exams:

There will be 4 exams including the final on the dates indicated. The final exam will be a unit exam like the previous three and will not be comprehensive. The exams will be:

    1. 50 multiple choice questions taken from reading and lecture. Each item will be worth one point.
    2. For exams 2 and 4, one case history. The case history will be a description of a fictional child but will be based on one or more of the cases covered in class for each unit. Your task on each case history will be to produce a DSMIV diagnosis of the child. Each case history is worth 25 points.
  1. In class cases:
    1. Each of the cases listed will be discussed in class with your group members. You will sign up for groups on the first day of class and remain with that group for the duration of the term.
    2. For each case it will be the responsibility of the group to diagnose the child using DSMIV criteria. As a group you will need to answer the questions and turn in your responses at the end of the discussion. Since you will have 20 minutes to complete the analysis and the paper, you will obviously need to prepare in advance. Each case will be worth 10 points. I will consider the first case done in class as a practice one and will not count the score. Because there are 9 remaining cases, I will discard your lowest grade and count only the best 8.
    3. There is, on the first day, an assignment to define abnormality.  This counts like a case and is worth 10 points.
  2. Class attendance:
    1. Attendance is not mandatory.
    2. Since most of the classes involve group activities on which a portion of your grade depends, obviously it would be to your benefit to attend. If you are unable to attend to you will allowed to answer the questions on your own, assuming that either:

                                                               i.      You notified the instructor prior to class of your inability to attend and were excused; or

                                                              ii.      You had an emergency for which the instructor later excused you.

    1. Of course, since only 11 cases are counted you may choose to skip any one, but then that one will automatically become your lowest score (I hope). My intent here is not to be punitive, but since these are group projects, the other members of the group have the right to expect attendance and participation. Additionally, historical evidence suggests that considerable exam benefit is gained from participation in the discussions about the cases.
  1. I assume you will be responsible for your own work in the course (group activities excepted). Please refer to Inside Augustana for discussion of the consequences for failing to adhere to these policies.
  2. You must complete all assignments to receive a passing grade in the course.

 

Grading:

 

4 Multiple Choice Exams @ 50 points            =200

2 Case Histories @ 25 points                            = 50

Definition exercise 10 points                             =10

8 Class cases @ 10 points                                  =80

Total points possible                                          =340

 

A=90%=                                                          306-340

B=80%=                                                          272-305

C=70%=                                                          238-271

D=60%=                                                          204-237

F                                                                        below 204

 

I will assign + and – grading at my discretion but usually encompassing a range of about +/- 2%.

 

All activities must be completed to pass the course. I will provide make-up opportunities for legitimate reasons but assume you will notify me ahead of time for planned events.

 

Any academic dishonesty will be reported and may result is assignment or course failure depending on the nature of the infraction.