COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION
VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING
FALL SEMESTER, 2007
PSYC4800
INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PRACTICES
3 HOURS
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK(S)
Nietzel, M.T., Bernstein, D.A., Kramer, G.P., & Milich, R. (2003). Introduction
to Clinical Psychology (6th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Publishing.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course serves as an overview of the clinical activities involved in the
provision of mental health services. Diagnostic and therapeutic practices are
presented along with current clinical issues.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the field of clinical
psychology, including career opportunities, and the history of the field.
2. Students will articulate the methodologies utilized by clinical psychologists
in assessment techniques, including interviews, observations, and tests.
3. Students will be able to distinguish interventions utilized by clinical
psychologists, including various underlying theories, forms of therapy, and
research on effectiveness.
4. Students will become familiar with fields of specialization within clinical
psychology, including healthy psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and forensic
psychology.
COURSE EVALUATION
Exams: There will be three unit exams (see calendar below for dates and
chapters to be covered) for this course. Each exam is worth 100 points (33% of
your grade). The third of these exams will be administered during the regularly
scheduled final exam period. If you should miss an exam (due to a documented
medical or family emergency), you will take it during the final exam period.
Assignments: You are responsible for completing four of the six
offered assignments this term. Each completed assignment will be worth 25
points. If you choose to complete more than four required assignments, the four
highest grades will be put toward the overall grade in the course. Keep in mind
that the greater depth and effort demonstrated in completing these assignments,
the better the grade.
Grading Criteria: Three exams worth 100 points each plus four assignments worth
25 points each for a total of 400 possible points.
A = 90% = 360-400 points B = 80% = 320-359 points
C = 70% = 280-319 points D = 60% = 240-279 points
F = 239 points or less
ATTENDANCE POLICY
VSU policy requires class attendance. Class roll will not be taken, so you are
on your honor to attend class. It will be very difficult to do well on exams
without class attendance. Changes to class calendar may be announced in class,
and you will be expected to be aware of them. In addition, quizzes for extra
credit may be given and will not be made up if you miss class.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
VSU policy requires class attendance. Class roll will not be taken, so you are on your honor to attend class. It will be very difficult to do well on exams without class attendance. Changes to class calendar may be announced in class, and you will be expected to be aware of them. In addition, quizzes for extra credit may be given and will not be made up if you miss class.
PLAGIARISM AND
CHEATING POLICY:
The full text of this
policy is available in the College of Education Dean’s Office, EC room 227. The
following penalties will be enforced, as stated in the Policy:
FIRST OFFENSE: The
student will earn a “0” on the assignment, test, project, etc.
SECOND OFFENSE: The
student will earn the letter grade “F” for the course.
THIRD OFFENSE: The
student will earn the letter grade “F” for the course, and further action
involving referral of the matter (with documentation) to the appropriate college
(university) officials within the administrative structure will be taken.
(Please see page 39 of the VSU Student Handbook.)
If you are unclear about what constitutes plagiarism, I
recommend you review the following web site:
http://www.valdosta.edu/~cbarnbau/personal/teaching_MISC/plagiarism.htm
INSTRUCTOR
David Wasieleski, Ph.D.
#306 Regional Center for Continuing Education
Office hours:
MWF
9:30-11:00 a.m.; MW 1-5:00pm
Phone: 333-5620
Email: dwasiele@valdosta.edu
(Available at other times by appointment)
SPECIAL NEEDS STATEMENT
Valdosta State University, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act, will make arrangements for students who require special assistance due to a
disability. If you require some assistance, do not hesitate to make me aware of
it. In addition, if you are not already registered with the Special Services
Program, you must contact the Special Services Office in Nevins Hall, Room
226-A, or call 245-2498.
COURSE SCHEDULE
8/13 Chapter 1: Clinical Psychology: Definitions and History
8/15 Chapter 1: Clinical Psychology: Definitions and History
8/17 Chapter 3: Assessment in Clinical Psychology
8/20 Chapter 3: Assessment in Clinical Psychology
8/22 Chapter 3: Assessment in Clinical Psychology
8/24 Chapter 4: Interviewing and Observation in Clinical Psychology
8/27 Chapter 4: Interviewing and Observation in Clinical Psychology
8/29 Chapter 5: Testing in Clinical Psychology
8/31 Chapter 5: Testing in Clinical Psychology
9/5 Chapter 5: Testing in Clinical Psychology; Assignment 1 due
9/7 Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5)
9/10 Chapter 2: Approaches to Clinical Psychology
9/12 Chapter 2: Approaches to Clinical Psychology
9/14 Chapter 2: Approaches to Clinical Psychology; Assignment 2 due
9/17 Chapter 6: Clinical Interventions: An Overview
9/19 Chapter 6: Clinical Interventions: An Overview
9/21 Chapter 6: Clinical Interventions: An Overview
9/24 Chapter 7: Clinical Interventions: Methods of Psychotherapy
9/26 Chapter 7: Clinical Interventions: Methods of Psychotherapy
10/1 Chapter 7: Clinical Interventions: Methods of Psychotherapy;
Assignment 3 due
10/3 Chapter 8: Alternative Models of Clinical Intervention
10/5 Chapter 8: Alternative Models of Clinical Intervention
10/8 Chapter 8: Alternative Models of Clinical Intervention
10/10 Chapter 9: Research on Clinical Intervention; Assignment 4 due
10/12 Chapter 9: Research on Clinical Intervention
10/17 Exam 2 (Chapters 2, 6, 7, 8, & 9)
10/19 Chapter 10: Clinical Child Psychology
10/22 Chapter 10: Clinical Child Psychology
10/24 Chapter 10: Clinical Child Psychology
10/26 Chapter 11: Health Psychology
10/29 Chapter 11: Health Psychology
10/31 Chapter 11: Health Psychology
11/2 Chapter 12: Clinical Neuropsychology
11/5 Chapter 12: Clinical Neuropsychology
11/7 Chapter 12: Clinical Neuropsychology
11/9 Chapter 12: Clinical Neuropsychology
11/12 Chapter 13: Forensic Psychology
11/14 Chapter 13: Forensic Psychology
11/16 Chapter 13: Forensic Psychology
11/19 Chapter 13: Forensic Psychology; Assignment 5 due
11/26 Chapter 14: Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
11/28 Chapter 14: Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
11/30 Appendix: Getting into Graduate School in Clinical Psychology
12/3 Appendix: Getting into Graduate School in Clinical Psychology;
Assignment 6 due
Friday, December 7, 2007, 12:30-2:30p.m.: Exam 3 (Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, & Appendix)
Assignments
Assignment 1: Use the text and online resources (such as:
http://www.psywww.com/careers/options.htm, http://www.bls.gov/oco/) to
distinguish between the following health care professions in terms of education
required (degree and type), licensing/certification required, population served
(children/adults, types of problems dealt with), activities engaged in (therapy,
including types; tests, including types; etc.).
Psychiatrist
Licensed clinical psychologist
Licensed clinical social worker
Licensed professional counselor
Pastoral/Christian counselor
School Psychologist
Assignment 2: Take one of the following online personality tests.
Write a 2-3 page (double-spaced) commentary on the results, including how
accurate they seem to you. Discuss what might have made the test accurate, or
what could increase its accuracy (that is, discuss issues of reliability and
validity).
http://www.personal.psu.edu/~j5j/IPIP/
http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/
Assignment 3: Think about the different approaches to therapy. Write a 2-3 page (double-spaced) commentary describing which approach (or approaches) might best suit you if you were a therapy client, as well as which one(s) might best suit you as a counselor. Be specific in addressing the reasons.
Assignment 4: A relevant current issue in the field of clinical psychology is whether psychologists should be allowed to prescribe medications. New Mexico is the first state to allow psychologists to do so (http://socialwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa031202a.htm). Write a 2-3 page (double-spaced) commentary stating your well-informed opinion on this issue, being sure to present both the pros and cons, but also making your opinion clear.
Assignment 5: Look up information on a prominent court case that
strongly involved a psychological issue or expert (you might want to speak with
me about finding one that you might find of interest; some suggestions are
below). Write a 2-3 page (double-spaced) description of the case and its
relevance to psychology, including your own opinion(s).
Larry P. v. Riles (1972) 343 F. Supp. 1306 (Test bias for educational placement)
Tarasoff v. The Regents of the University of California (1976) 17 Cal. 3d
425(confidentiality and duty to warn)
Aronson v. North Park College (1981) 94 Ill. App. 3d 211 (Educational dismissal
and mental condition)
Ford v. Wainwright (1986) 477 U.S. 399 (Competency for execution)
Montana v. Cowan (1993) 260 Mont. 510 (Constitutionality of Montana's abolition
of the insanity defense)