ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (ISC 236)

KU INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CAMPUS

Mon-Thu 10:50AM-12:30PM (Lecture room: TBD)
Summer, 2016
I. Instructor
Professor: Matthew Kurtz, Ph.D. (Wesleyan University)
Office address: TBD
Office hours: 3-4PM Wednesdays or by appointment
Email: mkurtz@wesleyan.edu
Teaching Assistant: TBD
II. Course Description and Objectives: This course is designed to investigate the scientific study of
abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in human beings that cause distress and impairment. We will
begin the course by considering the history of the field and ways of defining and diagnosing, assessing,
and treating human abnormality in a general sense. We then move on to study a variety of specific mental
disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mood disorders and schizophrenia) with
an emphasis on the new DSM-5 criteria and some etiological theories (theories of cause) for each disorder
studied.
III. Grading:
Four exams each covering a different portion of the course materials (i.e., non-cumulative). Tests will be
multiple-choice and will be based on material from the book and class. They will make up 90% of your
grade.
Attendance and participation: 10%
IV. Course Policy:
Attendance: Attendance at lectures is required and there will be material on exams covered in
class but not in your textbook. If you have a valid reason to miss the class, send me an email
BEFORE the class. No post-event excuses will be accepted except for a case of unavoidable
accident. Please be on time.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Failing grade (F) for the entire course. Cheating includes looking at
your own or others handwritten or electronic notes during an exam, looking at others exam
responses, or opening a textbook during an exam.
All mobile phones must be off or on mute during class time.
All laptops, tablets and mobile phones must be shut down during exams.
V. Required Textbook: Comer, R.J. (2014). Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7th edition, Worth
Publishing: NY. ISBN-13: 978-1-4292-9563-5.

VI. Class outline

Class

Date

Lecture content

Reading

June 28

Chapter 1

2
3

June 29
June 30

July 4

5
6
7

July 5
July 6
July 7

Course Overview, Defining

Abnormal Psychology, History of
Study of Abnormal Psychology
Models of Abnormality
Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis
and Treatment
Anxiety Disorders and
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Trauma and Stress
Exam I
Disorders of Mood I

8
9

July 11
July 12

Chapter 7
Chapter 8

10
11
12

July 13
July 14
July 18

13

July 19

14
15
16

July 20
July 21
July 25

Disorders of Mood II/Suicide

Disorders Featuring Somatic
Symptoms
Eating Disorders
Exam II
Substance Use and Addictive
Disorders I
Substance Abuse and Addictive
Disorders II
Schizophrenia I
Schizophrenia II
Exam III

17
18
19

July 26
July 27
July 28

Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Chapter 14

20
21
22

August 1
August 2
August 3

Personality Disorders I
Personality Disorders II
Disorders of Childhood and
Adolescence
Disorders of Aging and Cognition
Wrap-Up/Review
Exam IV

Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 12
Chapter 12

Chapter 15

Grading scale:
100 to 95
A+
94 to 90
A
89 to 85
B+
84 to 80
B
79 to 75
C+
74 to 70
C
69 to 65
D+
64 to 60
D
59 to 0
F
Exams will be administered during lecture periods July 6, 14, 25 and August 3rd. I will drop the
lowest of your four exam grades in computing your class grade. Make-up exams will not be offered
under any circumstances. If you miss an exam you will receive a 0 for the exam and your grade will
be based on your three remaining exam scores.
2