Course Outline
PSY305 Psychological Disorders
Course Coordinator:Mathew Summers (msummers@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology
2026Trimester 2
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.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
This course offers a systematic approach to examining psychological disorders. You will learn about various categories of psychological dysfunction, how classification occurs, the aetiology and symptoms associated with disorders, assessment, and clinical formulations. Therapeutic interventions frequently used to treat psychological disorders are also introduced.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Online learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-campus tutorial | 2hrs | Week 1 | 11 times |
| Seminar – On-campus seminar with entire cohort | 2hrs | Week 12 | Once Only |
Course Topics
- History and philosophy of psychological disorders.
- Adult and child psychopathology.
- Classifications, symptoms and assessment of psychological disorders.
- Aetiology and clinical formulation.
- Evidence-based interventions for psychological disorders.
What level is this course?
300 Level (Graduate)
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 Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Psychology Accreditation Council | |
| 1 | Demonstrate in depth understanding of the history and philosophy of psychological disorders. | Knowledgeable |
1.1.1, 1.1.4 |
| 2 | Demonstrate in depth understanding of core concepts in the field of psychological disorders, including (1) symptoms, (2) aetiology, (3) assessment and clinical formulations, and (4) evidence-based treatments. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Ethical |
1.1.1, 1.1.4, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 |
| 3 | Transfer and adapt knowledge to applied contexts. |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered Ethical Engaged |
1.1.1, 1.1.4, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 |
| 4 | Critically evaluate relevant psychological research. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Ethical |
1.1.4, 1.3, 1.6 |
| 5 | Critically apply knowledge of diversity and the impact of social, cultural, historical and professional influences on practice related to psychological disorders. |
Empowered Ethical Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
1.1.1, 1.1.11, 1.1.4, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 |
| 6 | Present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
1.1.4, 1.3, 1.6 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Australian Psychology Accreditation Council | |
| 1.1.1 | Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, cultural, historical and professional influences on the practice of psychology |
| 1.1.4 | Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including psychological disorders and evidence-based interventions |
| 1.1.11 | Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including culturally appropriate psychological assessment and measurement |
| 1.2 | Graduates will be able to apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals. |
| 1.3 | Graduates will be able to analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats. |
| 1.4 | Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology. |
| 1.6 | Graduates will be able to demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology. |
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
PSY200 and PSY201 or PSY207
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
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
During tutorials from Week 2 onward, you will be provided feedback on applied activities that directly align to requirements for the 'Report' assessment.
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 | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 30% | 60 minutes |
Week 8 | In Class |
| All | 2 | Report | Individual | 35% | 2500 words |
Week 11 | Online Submission |
| All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 35% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Online Submission |
| All - Assessment Task 1:In class exam | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The in class exam will test your knowledge and understanding of the content covered in online learning materials, workshops/tutorials and other course materials (i.e. prescribed readings). |
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| Product: | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | The in class exam will cover content covered in Weeks 1 to 7. It will be completed in person during the scheduled class that week. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Problem solving, Organisation |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Diagnostic considerations, clinical formulation and treatment plan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Based on a given case, you will explore potential differential diagnoses and justify how you arrive at a DSM diagnosis. You will then devise a clinical formulation and an evidence-based treatment plan to assist the client's recovery. You will be required to reflect on and describe key professional, cultural, ethical, and social/or considerations when working with this client. |
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| Product: | Report | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | The report is to be 2500 words and must conform to APA Style Guide. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:End of trimester exam | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The end of trimester exam will test your knowledge of all content delivered within the course. |
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| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | The end of trimester exam will comprise multiple-choice and short answer questions. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy |
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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
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | Rieger, E | 2017 | Abnormal Psychology: Leading Researcher Perspectives. 4th ed | n/a | McGraw-Hill Education |
Specific requirements
Not applicable
How are risks managed in this course?
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
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
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: