Syllabi for Dr. Hollister
ONLINE ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY - CLP 2140
3 credits CRN #
Instructor: Dr. Debra L. Hollister
Mailbox: 7-1
Phone: 407-582-7412
407-582-7412
E-mail: dhollister@valenciacollege.edu
TEXT & MATERIALS: Whitbourne/Halgin Abnormal Psychology: DSM -5 UPDATE 7th edition. With Connect Plus 1259-13338-9 or 9781-259-13338-1 or you can purchase the access code from McGraw-Hill. Log into McGraw-Hill and use this information to purchase the code:
http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/d_hollister_summer_2014_32753
PREREQUISITES: General Psychology. This is a course in psychology and the information that we cover in this course will provide you with a basic introduction to the discipline of abnormal psychology. Since this is an on line class, you should feel comfortable using a computer and navigating the Blackboard learning platform. If you are not familiar with Blackboard, there is a self-paced tutorial you can use to become familiar. To find this self-paced course go to the home page in Blackboard and the self-paced course will be listed at the bottom of the page.
FACE TO FACE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT HOURS: Please call my OFFICE: 315 Lake Nona campus (12350 Narcoossee road 32832)
VIRTUAL/E-MAIL HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:00AM – 12:00 PM – If you want to contact me through Atlas email, be sure to identify the CRN 32753 for your course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Psychological abnormality is discussed with reference to symptom patterns, causation and treatment approaches.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Identify different models of abnormality
2. Discuss treatment modalities and what is involved in treatment
3. Identify different types of mental illness
4. Understand the diagnostic process
Throughout the semester we will be demonstrating and working on critical thinking skills. It is inherent in the field of psychology as well as in everyday life to be able to think and reason critically.
It is expected that you will be building your knowledge base and vocabulary so that you will be able to converse intelligently with others concerning topics of abnormal psychology.
Tutoring: There is tutoring available for any Valencia College student taking any classes at Valencia whether you are taking classes on line, face to face; or hybrid classes. The academic support centers are available on every campus. If you need assistance – please go to the nearest academic support center – that is what they are there for!
Attendance/Withdrawal Policy: Attendance in an on-line course is mandatory and a crucial factor in your success in college. The college requires that I maintain accurate attendance records. Attendance will be taken based on your completion of discussions and tests. You may be withdrawn after three missed assignments. Attendance is verified through activity in the Blackboard course. There will be an opening discussion that you will need to respond to or I will withdraw you from class within the first week of class. All discussions will be conducted on the Discussion Tab of Blackboard. The rest of the content for the class will be under the Content tab.
The new Withdrawal Policy effective Fall 2010 states that students are only able to withdraw themselves up to the Withdrawal Deadline, which is June 27, 2014 for the Full Summer Term (Withdrawal Deadlines for other parts of term are published in the 2012-13 Important Dates Calendar or are listed in the College Calendar link on the Valencia home page (http://valenciacollege.edu). After the Withdrawal Deadline, you may withdraw students who are in violation of your course attendance policy up to the beginning of the final exam period.
Please be aware there were new rules for students on Bright Futures scholarship effective July 1, 2009. Students who withdraw or are withdrawn from a class must pay the college for the cost of the class (because the college must refund that cost to the State). While it is not your responsibility to monitor who in your class is on Bright Futures, it would be helpful if you could notify students who are at risk of being withdrawn of this consequence. To assist you with this notification, we have modified the “excessive absences” message in Atlas to include this information.
Technology Requirements:
Fast-Speed Computer. DSL or cable connection preferred.
Internet Access
Web Browser with graphics capability Mozilla Firefox. NO AOL as your ISP as it is not compatible with publisher's software. You may still sign on using AOL but then you must use Mozilla Firefox as your ISP.
Word Processing Software (MS Word) and know how to use it
Your Valencia E-Mail is for private communication. Each student enrolled must use their Valencia E-Mail address for this course. Messages from other email addresses are deleted. Students are responsible for any messages sent to their Valencia email account as this will be considered official college communication.
If you have questions about how to access Blackboard, please contact: oithelp@valenciacollege.edu or 407-582-5444407-582-5444.
MAKE-UP TESTS: All Exams and course work are administered through Blackboard. Be sure to keep up-to-date with information posted regarding the dates and times of exams. Make-up tests will be given at the professor’s discretion. If you miss a test as result of an emergency, you must contact me as soon as possible. DO NOT anticipate a make-up exam to be available to you unless you contact me first.
FINAL EXAMS: All professors are required to give final examinations to all credit students (except for those taking course work for audit) during the scheduled final examination period. The final examination for this course is noted on the course calendar on Blackboard. Students wishing to take the final examination on a date or at time different from the posted final examination schedule must receive approval from the professor and dean prior to the final examination period available at http://valenciacollege.edu/calendar/.
Valencia Student Core Competencies: Valencia faculty has defined four interrelation competencies (Think, Value, Communicate, and Act) that prepare students to succeed in the world community. These competencies are outlined in the College Catalog. In this course, through classroom lecture and discussion, group work, and other learning activities, you will further your mastery of those core competencies. Additional information is available in the College Catalog or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/catalog
Internet Research: Wikipedia is not an acceptable source for this course. For the purposes of this class, only scholarly journals are acceptable for research. Because of the variety of sources, ease of publication, lack of central control and proliferation of commercial information on the free Internet, it is often hard to tell if the information is reliable. Many sites contain research and information of high quality. However, unlike traditional print publications or library-based electronic resources, there is usually no process of peer review, nor is there an editor verifying the accuracy of information presented on the Internet. There are an increasing number of sites containing information that may be incomplete, anonymously written, out-of-date, biased, fraudulent, or whose content may not be factual. Students should, therefore, use caution in use of the free Internet for their research needs. For academic topics that are addressed in scholarly literature, use of electronic databases or visiting the library may better meet your needs. See the following tutorial for more information: http://faculty.valenciacollege.edu/infolit/evaluation/default.htm
Grading policy: Grades are noted in the Grade book that you can access through your Blackboard account under My Grades. This class will be conducted through Blackboard 9.1 and it will be your responsibility to respond to discussions, tests and activities through Blackboard 9.1 for your points for those assignments. An access code will be needed as well – this access code comes with the textbook or can be purchased separately from McGraw-Hill. There is a free trial for the access code available from McGraw-Hill.
Evaluations: There will be six tests this semester including the final with each test being worth 50 points. These tests will cover information presented in class as well as information in the textbook. The tests may be multiple choice, true - false, matching, essay and/or fill in the blank. The tests will be scheduled as follows:
Following Chapter 3 (chapters 1, 2, 15)
Following Chapter 16 (chapters 3, 4)
Following Chapter 7 (chapters 5, 6, 9)
Following Chapter 10 (chapters 7, 8, 10)
Following Chapter 12 (chapters 11, 12)
Following Chapter 15 (chapter 13, 14)
Test Grades: Each test will be worth 50 points. You may assess your test grades on the following scale:
A = 45-50
B = 40-44
C = 35-39
D = 30-34
F = less than or equal to 29
Discussions: There will be activities that will be conducted through Blackboard 9.1 and it will be your responsibility to respond to discussions through Blackboard 9.1 for your points for those classes. The discussions on Blackboard 9.1 will be worth a total of 40 points towards your final grade. You must respond with 250 words or more and respond to another student in your discussions and respond on two different days... and posting at least two different times. The discussion question will be open for a couple of days and will not be re-opened once it closes. Please pay close attention to the due dates! If you quote information, you must cite your sources. If you take your information from a particular website or journal – it must be cited according to APA format. All discussions will be conducted on the Discussion Tab of Blackboard. The rest of the content for the class will be under the Content tab.
| Rubric for discussions | Points |
| on topic | 2 |
| 250 words | 2 |
| sources cited in APA format | 2 |
| response to another student | 2 |
| posted on different days | 2 |
Announcements: Please make sure you read the announcements page. It is located on the left hand side of the page. Important information is delivered through this page and new information is often given here.
My Connect Exercises: There is a MyConnect exercise for each chapter. Your grade is based on you completing 10 chapters. Each chapter completed can count up to 5 points for completion. Please make sure you sign in to MyConnect using your Valencia College e mail address!
Final Grades: Final grades can be determined on the following scale: Six test grades (total 300 points), four Blackboard discussion assignments (80 points) and 10 MyConnect exercises (total 50 points) will constitute your final grade.
A = 387- 430
B = 344 - 386
C = 301 – 343
D = 258 - 300
F = Less than or equal to 257
Withdrawal policy College Catalog: It is your responsibility to file the proper paperwork if you decide to withdraw. The College has initiated withdrawal procedures and timelines in response to legislation/rules adopted by the state legislature and State Board of Community Colleges. The deadline to withdraw from this course is June 27, 2014 as stated in the current catalog, and is also available online at http://valenciacollege.edu. After that date, if you withdraw or are withdrawn from the course you will be assigned a “WP” (withdrawn passing) or a “WF” (withdrawn failing).
Required On-Campus Attendance: Students are not required to come to the campus during the semester.
Valencia College is interested in making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. Free face-to-face counseling is also available.
Online Classroom Behavior- In general, I like the classroom environment to be informal so all students can feel free to share thoughts, opinions, and questions. To achieve this, I ask that all students treat one another and me in a respectful manner, without the use of profanity.
Contribution to the class is an important part in every person’s experience. Contribution to discussion is not measured by volume and frequency, but by quality and that can be broken down into salience, responsiveness to what has been said, by quality of analysis, thoughtfulness, and tact.
Valencia College is dedicated to not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning, but also are concerned with the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia College, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules conduct. The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class whether in person or online may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class. Violation of any classroom or Valencia’s rules may lead to disciplinary action up to and excluding expulsion from Valencia. Disciplinary action could include being withdrawn from class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate and authorized actions. You will find the Student Code of Conduct (Policy 10-18) in the current Valencia Student Handbook or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/policies. In addition, we ask that you follow college policy relating to children on campus. Please make arrangements for childcare outside of classrooms or labs if you need to come to a campus. You will find the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook. Please familiarize yourself with the “Netiquette” standards on the Welcome page.
Assignments: All assignments must be received complete on the due date. Reading assignments are expected to be completed before you complete the discussions and exams. Plagiarism and intellectual dishonesty are unacceptable in this program and may result in withdrawal. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. It will be your responsibility to respond to information on Blackboard within the time frames given as part of the directions in class and/or on the course calendar. Once a test or a discussion closes, it will not reopen. Please note the opening and closing dates of all assignments. Those dates can be found at the end of this syllabus.
Because of the flexibility in an online course, you have the opportunity to work ahead if needed. (Instructor should be notified so that the chapter can be made available early.) You may turn in any assignment early, but the indicated due dates are the FINAL accepted date. NO LATE WORK will be accepted. All assignment due dates are given up front. Again, early assignments are expected and welcomed.
Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first week of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. Offices may be found at the following locations:
| East Campus
| West Campus | Osceola Campus | Winter Park Campus |
Academic Honesty: All forms of academic honesty are prohibited at Valencia. Including, but not limited to: plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, or misconduct during a testing situation. Violations can result in failure of an assignment or the entire course. Each student is expected to be familiar with the college policy on academic honesty as stated in the Valencia Student Handbook or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/policies/PDF/10-16.pdf.
For additional information:
- Valencia Community College Calendars are at http://valenciacollege.edu/calendar
- Attendance Policy is at http://valenciacollege.edu/policies
- Class Roll Policy is at http://valenciacollege.edu/policies
- Final Exam Policy is at http://valenciacollege.edu/policies
BUCKLEY AMENDMENT: Generally, Valencia faculty may not release information regarding the education of students to another person without the student’s written consent.
DISCLAIMER: Changes in the syllabus or Course Calendar may be made at the discretion of the professor. When absent, it is your responsibility to find out what, if any announcements or changes are made to the calendar or syllabus.
Summer B Term Online Abnormal Psychology Course Calendar
WEEK 1 Week beginning June 17
Complete Blackboard tutorial if needed – it can be found on the Blackboard homepage…Student Introductions by completing the ungraded MANDATORY discussion …Course introduction – be sure to read the announcements page as well as the welcome page! Review Chapter 1 and begin chapter 2, 15
WEEK 2 Week beginning June 24
Test 1 covering chapters 1, 2, 15
Study chapters 3, 4
WEEK 3 Week beginning July 1
Test 2 over chapters 3, 4
Discussion 1 opens
Study chapters 5, 6, 7
WEEK 4 Week beginning July 8
Study /review chapters 5, 6, 9
Test 3 covering chapters 5, 6, 9
Discussion 2 opens
Study chapters 7, 8, 10
WEEK 5 Week beginning July 15
Test 4 over chapters 7, 8, 10
Study chapters 11, 12
Discussion 3 opens
WEEK 6 Week beginning July 22
Test 5 covering chapter 11, 12
Discussion 4 opens
Study 13, 14
Test 6 opens on July 22
WEEK 7 Week beginning July 29
Study chapters 13, 14
Test 6 closes July 28