Weekly Distribution:
- Lecture/Seminar: 4 hrs. per week / semester
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:
- Lecture
- Audio-visual materials
- Small group discussion
- Problem-based learning
The general framework of an upper-level special topics course in psychology can be represented as below:
- Historical Context
- Theories
- Mechanisms and Processes
- Critical Analysis and Remaining Questions
A specific example of topics for a course on Self-management in Health Care as it relates to Mental Health Recovery:
- Self-management in theory and practice
- Application to chronic clinical domains such as diabetes, cancer, pain, mental health, substance use
- Technology, goal setting and self-management
- Failures and best practices
A specific example of topics for a course on Controversies in Clinical and Counselling Psychology:
- Evidence-based versus eminence-based approaches to clinical/counselling psychology
- Clinical/counselling psychologists and Medicare coverage
- Clinical/counselling psychologists and prescription privileges
- Psychologists, the CIA, and “enhanced interrogations”
- Ethics and the Goldwater Rule
- Accreditation of clinical programs, internships, and CE programs: Has APA lost its credibility?
- For-profit professional schools versus university training programs
- Problems with DSM
- DSM and Big Pharma
- Alternatives to DSM
- What is wrong with the Rorschach?
- Meta-analysis in outcome research - A promise unfulfilled?
- Pseudoscience in clinical psychology
- Mindless neuroscience
- Transdiagnostic assessment and treatment of emotional disorders
- The biomedical model in clinical psychology
- The role for cannabis and psychedelic drugs in the treatment of anxiety and depression
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
- Identify and describe relevant theoretical influences on current scholarship relating to select areas of controversy or innovation in clinical/counselling psychology.
- Define and apply key terms and concepts relating to the specific topic of the course.
- Analyze, synthesize, and critically evaluate scholarly research relating to the specific topic of the course.
The course evaluation will be in accordance with Douglas College and Psychology Department policies. Evaluations will be based on the course objectives. The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
- Small group assignments 10%
- Term project paper 20%
- Term project presentation 10%
- Midterm exams 40%
- Final exam 20%
Example text (for topic Self-management in Health Care as it relates to Mental Health Recovery):
Vohs, K. D., & Baumeister, R. F. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications. Guilford Publications.
Whitehead, L., & Seaton, P. (2016). The effectiveness of self-management mobile phone and tablet apps in long-term condition management: a systematic review. Journal of medical Internet research, 18(5).
Dwarswaard, J., Bakker, E. J., van Staa, A., & Boeije, H. R. (2016). Self-management support from the perspective of patients with a chronic condition: a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. Health Expectations, 19(2), 194-208.
Additional readings may also be curated by the instructor and students.
Courses listed here must be completed prior to this course:
-
PSYC 1200
-
PSYC 2341
Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:
- No corequisite courses
Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:
- No equivalency courses