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PSY4343, Section 001, Abnormal Psychology, Fall 2007
Course Description
"Do not pattern your discipline after a medicine that is not there anymore...Misdirection and triviality at the level of
assessing, diagnosing, and conceptualizing the problems patients present will inevitably produce both compromised
treatment options, and over the longer term, compromised scientific advance." Carson (1996)
This course examines patterns of abnormal human behavior, approaches to psychotherapy, and related
research. We will work for a sophisticated understanding of psychological disorders, their causes, and their
treatments, while acknowledging what remains to be known.
Exams Exams will assess your understanding of material presented in the lectures and in the textbooks. There will
be three exams throughout the semester, during class on the following dates: September 19, October 22, November
19. A comprehensive final exam will be given during our designated slot during final exams period (Monday,
December 3, 11 -12:15). Exams must be taken on the scheduled date. You may drop one of your four exam grades.
There will be no makeup exams and no extra credit – if you must miss an exam for any reason that will count as the
one you drop.
One final word The intellectual excitement of this course depends on your active participation. I look forward to
each of your questions, and I welcome your feedback and suggestions.
Grading Policy
Grades Your grade will be determined by the average of your three highest exam scores. Grades
will be assigned on the basis of the final distribution of the sums of all students’ top three exam scores.
Criteria for each letter grade will be determined on the basis of this distribution, but sums in the range of
90-100% will always earn A range grades, sums in the range of 80 – 89% will always earn at least B range
grades, sums in the range of 70-79% will always earn at least C range grades. YOU WILL ONLY
RECEIVE A GRADE IN THIS COURSE IF YOU COMPLETE THE RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
CREDITS REQUIRED BY THE SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES.
10/8 Depression NH 9
10/10 Bipolar Disorder
10/15 Schizophrenia NH 11
10/17 Schizophrenia, cont.
10/22 EXAM #2
10/24 Schizophrenia, cont.
11/29 EXAM #3
11/21 NO CLASS – HAPPY THANKSGIVING