Course Coordinator:Alexandra Metse (ametse@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology
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 usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
This course offers a systematic approach to examining adult and child psychopathology. You will learn about various categories of psychological dysfunction, how classification occurs, the aetiology and symptoms associated with disorders, and clinical formulations. Therapeutic interventions frequently used to treat psychological disorders are also introduced.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Online learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-campus tutorial | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
300 Level (Graduate)
12 units
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) 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 |
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. |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
PSY200 and PSY201 or PSY207
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
You will complete a quiz comprising multiple choice questions in Week 4. During tutorials from Week 2 onward, you will also be provided feedback on applied activities that directly align to requirements for the 'Report' assessment.
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 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 20% | 30 minutes |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | Exam Venue |
All | 2 | Report | Individual | 40% | 2500 words |
Week 11 | Online Submission |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
All - Assessment Task 1:Quizzes | |
Goal: | The quizzes will test your knowledge and understanding of the content covered in online learning materials, workshops/tutorials and other course materials (i.e. prescribed readings). |
Product: | Quiz/zes |
Format: | There will be 3 quizzes throughout the semester, with one due in Week 4, 6 and 9. Each quiz will comprise approximately 15 questions resulting in a cumulative grade. |
Criteria: |
|
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. |
Product: | Report |
Format: | The report is to be 2500 words and must conform to APA Style Guide. |
Criteria: |
|
All - Assessment Task 3:Exam | |
Goal: | The exam will test your knowledge of all content delivered within the course. |
Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled |
Format: | The exam will comprise multiple-choice and short answer questions. |
Criteria: |
|
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.
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.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
Required | Rieger, E | 2017 | Abnormal Psychology: Leading Researcher Perspectives. 4th ed | n/a | McGraw-Hill Education |
Not applicable
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.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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