Course Number:

Credit Hours:

4

Course Title:

Applied Mental Health Psychology

Course Description:

Introduces the etiology, development, and diagnosis of psychopathology. Lectures, discussions, readings, and assignments focus on various theoretical perspectives on psychopathology. Addresses individual, interpersonal, contextual, and cultural factors contributing to the development of psychopathology. Highlights and discusses specific psychological disorders. Students participate in a “service-learning track.” Students are placed in a facility for treating emotionally disturbed children or adolescents, and/or mentally ill adults. Students spend at least three hours each week participating in the milieu and/or treatment hospital of these clients/patients, working under the supervision of a volunteer coordinator and instructor. Weekly discussion groups help students process and learn from their experiences. Required papers focus on integrating practical (service-learning) experiences and assigned readings. Fulfills the CAS experiential education requirement for psychology majors.