Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Abnormal Psychology (Face-to-Face)

PSY 2300-03

Course: PSY 2300-03
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Psychology
CRN: 33769

Course Description

This course examines human behavior typically classified as “abnormal.” Diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, current theories of etiology, and contemporary treatment strategies will be reviewed. The course usually includes field visits to programs which treat persons with these diagnoses. The goal of the course is to provide students the opportunity to develop an empathic understanding of individuals with mental illnesses. This is a designated Service-Learning course. (Fall, Spring, Summer (As Needed)) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): PSY 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Required Materials
  • Comer, R. J., & Comer, J. S. (Most Recent DSM-5-TR Edition). Abnormal Psychology. Macmillan Learning.  IBSN: 978-1319426927

You may purchase print or digital formats on your own, or you may also acquire the text from inclusive access. If you do not wish to use inclusive access, you may opt out in canvas.

  • Kesey, K. (1962). One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Any version of this book will do. Digital or hard copy is fine. 

  • I also recommend getting your hands on a copy of the most recent DSM (DSM-5-TR). It is an expensive book, so I am not requiring you to purchase it, and most of the information you’ll need for this course can be found online. Digital versions are also available and are often much more affordable, so a physical copy is certainly not necessary. That said, if you plan to pursue a career in psychology, the DSM will likely become a staple of your professional library, so you’ll probably want to invest in your own copy eventually. :)

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to: 
  1. Demonstrate knowledge, awareness and empathy of mental health conditions
    1. Explain and differentiate between the primary DSM categories of Mental Illnesses
    2. Identify, describe, and apply the research methods used to collect information in abnormal psychology
    3. Practice using clinical psychology terminology and jargon
    4. Identify and describe theories of abnormal behavior patterns
  2. Gather knowledge of assessment and treatments in psychology
    1. Describe differing modalities of psychological treatment
    2. Identify the best treatments for specific disorders
    3. Explain how to assess progress in treatment and how to know when to try something new
  3. Lifelong learning
    1. Increase understanding and compassion for those with mental health concerns
    2. Identify symptoms of mental health disorders and work to dispel assumptions about patterns of behavior
    3. Assess how information covered in the scope of this course has altered your beliefs on human psychology and behavior 
More specifically:
  1. You should be able to describe key psychological concepts across multiple theoretical perspectives within the field of psychology. 
  2. By the end of this course, you should be able to explain how psychology as a field connects with and complements other disciplines.  
  3. You will be asked to recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of your own, and others’, behavioral and mental processes.
  4. You will be asked to apply psychological concepts to develop yourself and improve society in a professional and constructive manner.  
  5. You will use scientific reasoning and critical thinking to interpret psychological phenomena and identify credible sources of psychological research. 
  6. Digital Literacy: Students strategically and responsibly employ appropriate technologies to explore, create, collaborate, and organize in a digital context. 
  7. Information Literacy: Students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute and share information effectively and ethically. 
  8. Integrative learning: Students make connections among ideas and experiences and can synthesize and transfer their learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus. 

Course Requirements

(Fall, Spring, Summer (As Needed)) [Graded (Standard Letter)] 
Prerequisite(s): PSY 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- 
Registration Restriction(s): None
For more information about General Education

Course Outline

Course Format
This is an in-person course. Classes will not be recorded and there will not be a zoom link for you to access. Attendance is required as you will be graded on in-class participation. There will be material covered in class that isn’t in your textbook. Additionally, there is information in your textbook that we will not be going over in class. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you attend class and keep up with the readings if you want to do well in this class.  

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

No late work will be accepted.

Grade Disputes
If you disagree with your grade on an exam or assignment, you may submit a written dispute by email to the instructor within one week of receiving your grade. Grade disputes will not be considered after this one-week window or if submitted to anyone other than the instructor via Canvas message or email. If applicable, include in your written dispute a reference to a page in the textbook that pertains to your rationale. 

Attendance Policy

In-class Participation
As an expectation of this course, your participation will be about 15% of your grade. You will be asked to participate in in-class discussions and experiential activities. Participation will not be graded on frequency of participation alone, but also the quality of engagement, questions, and insight on the topics discussed in class. Thus, active participation in small and large group settings is expected. Grading “Rubric” and more details can be found HERE

Course Fees

No Fees

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.