Faculty Contact Information:
bwazlavek@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
DSN 485-6442 (please call from 0800-0900 or 1200-1300) | |
Consultation:
| After class and by appointment. | |
Required Texts and Readings:
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American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR. Washington, DC: Author.
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Seligman, L. (1998). Selecting Effective Treatments: A Comprehensive, Systematic Guide to Treating Mental Disorders. New York: Jossey-Bass.
Sperry, L., Carlson, J., and Kjos, D. (2002). Becoming an Effective Therapist. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. [Chs. 4-6 of this text, which is also used in PSYC 502, PSYC 734 and GUCO 610, will be covered in this class.]
Zimmerman,M. (1994). Interview Guide for Evaluating DSM-IV Psychiatric Disorders & the Mental Status Examination. East Greenwich, RI: Psych Products Press. | |
Supplementary Readings:
| All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.umuc.edu/library/. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students’ research and writing skills. | |
Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
| Prerequisite: PSYC 502. This courses integrates various assessment methodologies for a comprehensive process of assessment. The purposes, techniques, and process of clinical assessment will be explored. Techniques for understanding of non-verbal, verbal, and interpersonal transactions, including the recapitulation of the family structure and dynamics, are examined. Students are introduced to situational assessment, psychological inference, and report writing. As this course replaces PSYC 514, students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: PSYC 714, PSYC 514 or EDCP 614. | |
Course Goals:
| This course is designed to enable students to become familiar with the DSM-IV diagnostic system as it applies to persons of diverse cultures and abilities. It will assist students in preparing for the comprehensive exam and will prepare them for professional practice. | |
Course Objectives:
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At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Understand and discuss information regarding psychopathology and mental disorders.
2. Discuss issues of diversity as they relate to mental disorders.
3. Demonstrate ability to use the DSM-IV-TR classification system of mental disorders.
4. Successfully diagnose cases using the case vignette method for individuals and families.
5. Conduct initial clinical interviews, formulate diagnoses, develop treatment plans as well as write process and progress notes from intake through termination.
6. Demonstrate an enhanced self-awareness of personal strengths, interests, and abilities. | |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90 - 100%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
F 69% and Below
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade "F" is used to designate academic failure. "FN" is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs. | |
Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:
Participate in classroom discussions..........20%
Write graduate level paper....................30%
Orally/visually present prepared material.....20%
Reaction papers...............................30% | |
Description of Course Requirements:
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Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the onsite classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an eight-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most fourteen-week graduate distance education courses require at least ten hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Usually this requires two to three hours of additional for every hour of a face-to-face class. It is critical students attend all class sessions!
Write graduate level papers in APA-style. You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level deliverables. Papers which are turned in late will be severely penalized losing 5% points for each day the paper is late and papers will not be accpepted one week after the due date.
Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In a face-to-face course, this typically means an oral presentation that is organized, has been well-prepared, and includes discussion questions for the class.
Reaction papers: Students will be required to write a 3 page paper summarizing what they learned from each weekend which will be due Saturday of the next class. | |
Course Schedule:
This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
Initial meeting:
Introductions
Review of syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Orientation to subject
Sperry Ch. 4-6
Seligman Ch. 1
Second meeting:
Seligman Ch. 2-3
Third meeting:
Seligman Ch. 4-5
Fourth meeting:
Seligman Ch. 6-7
Fifth meeting:
Seligman Ch. 8-9
Sixth meeting:
role plays
Seventh meeting:
Seligman Ch. 10
Student Presentations
Eighth meeting:
Student presentations
Overview
Course evaluations | |
Academic Policies:
Note: Any written assignment in this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.Com. This statement constitutes prior notice.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center. | |
Faculty Bio:
| I received a B.A. in Psychology from Western Maryland College, M.A. in Experimental Psychology from Towson University and Ph.D. in Psychology from Utah State University. After becoming a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Wisconsin I spent most of my career there in private outpatient psychological practice. Additionally, I have worked with an international firm of psychologists who provide business, organizational and management consulting services. I have also worked as a visiting professor of psychology in the former Soviet Union. Currently, I am a civilian psychologist in Baumholder, Germany working with soldiers and family members of the 2nd Brigade 1st Armored division. I particularly enjoy working with military and graduate students. | |