PSYC 344: CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPATHOLODY~FALL 2009

THURSDAY 6:00-8:30; M^CEWEN 106

Professor Contact Information:  Daniel C. Biber, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology; Campus office – McEwen 11; off-campus address – 1717 Cleveland Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203; phone 704.334.4300; or biberd@queens.edu     

Faculty Office Hours If you need to contact me, I am available immediately before class from 5:30-6:00 PM.  The best way to contact me is by email, and we can schedule a time to meet.

Prerequisites: General Psychology AND Abnormal Psychology

Student Information Hotline Number and Cancelled Classes:   "Hotline Number"  Notification of delayed classes or university closings will be posted for commuters on the Information Hotline. In the rare occasion when it is necessary to close the university announcements will be made on TV and radio, and will be posted on the Queens web site (www.queens.edu).  Students who live on campus will be notified of a decision to cancel classes through their voice mail.  Commuter students should call the Queens Information Hotline (704-337-2567).   NOTE: If classes are meeting but you feel that you cannot find a safe way to get to class, you should notify me as soon as possible. 

Required Texts:  Developmental Psychopathology, Wenar and Kerig 5^th edition2006, McGraw Hill.  ISBN 72820195.

Course Goals: The purpose of this class is to introduce the student to the scientific psychological study of behavior disorders in childhood and adolescence.  Students will learn to identify the most common manifestations of these disorders and to understand the various current theories of etiology and dynamics.

Nature of Examinations:  The quizzes will be in multiple-choice and short-answer format and will cover only the lectures and text not previously tested.  The final will comprise two parts –half will be multiple-choice over the lectures and book chapters not already tested on and a comprehensive final for which there will be a study guide that will be distributed during the last class.

Term Paper: A research literature review of 10 research articles on a topic of your choice relevant to this course is required on December 10. 

Attendance and Class Participation Policy:  Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussion.     Absences can be excused, but remember that explanations or excuses for absences are covered by the Honor Code     .  I am required to report three or more consecutive unexplained absences to the dean of CAS.

“Make-Up Policy”:  "Make-Up Policy"  "Late-Work Policy"   If you know in advance that you cannot take a quiz when scheduled, notify me immediately.  If the reason is justified, I will afford you the opportunity to take the quiz early. Under exceptional circumstances, if a make-up test is required, a substitute quiz will be created.

Disability Accommodations Statement:   If you have a verified disability, please give me the Letter of Accommodation provided by Student Disability Services.  Students who have a disability, or think they have a disability (e.g. psychiatric, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, or systemic), are invited to contact Student Disability Services for a confidential discussion at 704-337-2508 or at rogelbes@queens.edu. 

Honor Code:   The Honor Code  "Honor Code", which permeates all phases of university life, is based on three fundamental principles.  It assumes that Queens students: a) are truthful at all times, b) respect the property of others, and c) are honest in tests, examinations, term papers, and all other academic assignments.  It is a violation of the Honor Code  "Honor Code" for a student to be untruthful concerning the reason for a class absence  "Responsibilities to Students\: Honor Code".  Please contact me if you believe a violation of the Honor Code has occurred.