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Course Outline

MHN701 Mental Health and Neuroscience: Translational Research

Course Coordinator:Sophie Andrews (sandrews1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2025Semester 1

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Across the lifespan mental disorders differ in their onset, type, and complexity. Current diagnostic approaches and treatments remain limited and (in some aspects) lacking. In this course you will focus on translational research to better understand disorders and optimal treatments, and how the latest scientific research findings are put into practice. You will explore recent and novel approaches to diagnosis, such as staging models, and treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and EEG neurofeedback.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Online – The online activities will include a variety of asynchronous, interactive learning materials, and options for lecturer and peer to peer collaborations, and lecturer and peer zoom drop-ins. 3hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • What is translational research
  • An overview of mental health disorders across the lifespan
  • Traditional classification systems for mental health disorders
  • Alternate and emerging classification systems for mental health disorders
  • An overview of current treatment approaches to mental health disorders
  • An introduction to novel treatment approaches to mental health disorders

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Interpret and communicate the neuroscientific evidence base surrounding mental health disorders, diagnosis, and treatment approaches. Knowledgeable
2 Critically appraise the current diagnostic approaches to mental health conditions and mental health and substance use disorders across the lifespan. Creative and critical thinker
3 Synthesise themes within mental health and substance use disorders to develop a different perspective. Creative and critical thinker
4 Provide meaningful and constructive feedback when undertaking peer review processes. Ethical
5 Communicate neuroscience to a broad audience incorporating appropriate skills relevant to presentation genre. Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

This course is only available to students enrolled in AR503, AR602, or AR706

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

You will be provided with multiple opportunities to gain early formative feedback relevant to your first assessment task by engaging with your learning materials. These include interactive self-check activities in the modules, posting responses to discussion forums and responding to your practice activities in the indicated manner.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Professional Individual 30% 
2000 words (1000 per pamphlet)
 Week 6 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Written Piece Individual 40% 
500 words peer review (MCQs and short answer responses) AND
1500 words perspectives piece.
 Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Oral and Written Piece Individual 30% 
20 minutes
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Information Pamphlets
Goal: 
The goal is to interpret and use neuroscientific evidence to inform and raise awareness of mental health disorders that are experienced at various stages of life.
Product: Artefact - Professional
Format: 
You will communicate the current neuroscience underpinning a range of different disorders, occurring at different stages in the lifespan. You will present your evidence in a set of information pamphlets according to the guidelines that will be provided, to inform the general public.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Interpretation of the neuroscientific evidence base for each chosen mental health disorders.
 1
2 
Communication of neuroscience to a broad audience.
 5
3 
Application of appropriate writing skills for relevant genre.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Perspectives Piece
Goal: 
The goal is to critically appraise and synthesise current literature in the context of mental health diagnosis, treatment and the classification systems utilised, to develop a new perspective on why alternative approaches to classification may be appropriate.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
Submit: Week 9 and 11. 
First you will review an example of a peer submission, and complete an online activity (MCQs and short answer), to critique and provide feedback. This will then help in your preparation of your perspective piece. You will submit this in week 9.
Then you will critically appraise and synthesise current literature to prepare a ‘Perspectives Piece’ style article, with a focus on one mental health disorder, in the context of an academic researcher pursuing journal publication. You will present your article in line with the relevant journal’s guidelines and format. This will be submitted in week 11.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Interpretation of neuroscientific evidence-base surrounding mental health disorders and diagnosis
 1
2 
Critical appraisal of current literature
 2
3 
Synthesis of themes within mental health disorders to develop a new perspective
 3
4 
Communication of neuroscience relevant to audience and presentation genre.
 5
5 
Provision of meaningful and constructive feedback via peer review
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Science Communication Presentation
Goal: 
The goal is to effectively communicate scientific evidence to a broad audience in the context of treating mental health disorders with a novel intervention.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Format: 
You will develop a recorded presentation (slides and spoken audio) according to the guidelines provided, with the general public as your target audience. Your presentation will synthesise the strengths, limitations and implications of utilising the novel intervention, to therefore promote transparency and inform decision making when considering its involvement in treatment.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Explanation of a novel treatment intervention.
 1
2 
Selection and interpretation of neuroscientific evidence base
 1
3 
Communication of neuroscience to a broad audience
 5
4 
Synthesis of themes within mental health disorders highlighting strengths, limitations and implications.
 3
5 
Application of appropriate communication skills relevant to presentation genre.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Applying technologies

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

All work submitted for assessment is to be word processed and submitted electronically. It is expected that students will have ready access to a computer with common productivity software and reliable Internet access.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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