PSYC& 220 Abnormal Psychology

5 credits

This course covers the basic tenets of psychopathology. Students learn to identify symptoms of psychological disorders and describe diagnostic classifications, including various models of treatment. Emphasis is placed on social and cultural perceptions of mental health and their impacts on individuals, families, and societies.

This course meets the Social Science general education distribution requirement.

Prerequisites: ENGL 93 (or placement into ENGL 99 or higher)

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Describe the assessment, etiology, symptoms, and treatments of the major psychological disorders, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)
Compare, contrast, and integrate biological, psychological, and sociocultural explanations of behavior and describe the psychological theories and models for the field of psychopathology
Articulate how social and cultural factors impact the expression of psychological disorders
Analyze the role society plays in the way we perceive and treat different psychological disorders

College-Wide Learning Outcomes
This course teaches to the college-wide learning outcome of Cultural Humility, the ability to practice lifelong learning and critical self-reflection in order to understand one’s own cultural identity and its impact on being open to and supporting the cultures of others.

Total Hours: 50 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 50