Main Content
Syllabus
PSYCH 476: Child Psychopathology
(3 credits): Etiology, diagnosis, and facilitation of adjustment for children with intellectual, neurodevelopmental, mood, and anxiety disorders, and other categories of mental illness.
Overview
This course will focus on psychological disorders as they affect children and adolescents. Our review of these disorders will include a developmental perspective so that “abnormal” behaviors can be determined given appropriate developmental norms. Emphasis will be placed on historical views of child psychopathology, diagnosis and assessment, and how one’s environment interacts with biology and developmental stages to produce various disorders. Specific disorders to be reviewed include: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct problems, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders of childhood, affective (mood) disorders, intellectual disability, learning disorders, health-related disorders, eating disorders, and child maltreatment.
Objectives
On completion of this course students should be able to
- explain the unique challenges involved in understanding and defining abnormality in children and adolescents.
- describe the defining features of psychological and developmental disorders commonly seen in children and adolescents.
- explain biopsychosocial factors that contribute to mental disorders.
- describe treatment and prevention strategies for specific mental disorders.
- utilize scientific knowledge and current research to explore the etiology and treatment of various psychological and developmental disorders in children and adolescents.
Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
For this course, we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
IT Service Desk
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Activities
Quizzes: There are a total of six quizzes at 30 points each (180 points total) that will evaluate your mastery of course material. Quizzes will be comprised of short answer/essay questions and will often cover material from multiple lessons. You will have one attempt to complete the quiz, so before opening it, ensure you have a reliable Internet connection and 50 minutes of uninterrupted time. You must complete the quiz once you begin (the timer does not stop if you leave the quiz). You may save the quiz as you progress so that you do not accidently lose your work. The quiz is open book/notes, but there will not be sufficient time to look up all of the answers, so please be prepared by having read and reviewed the readings. All of the quizzes have a hand-graded component, so I should have those graded and ready for review within three days of the quiz end date. Once all parts of the quiz have been graded, you will be able to review them until the end of the following week. After the designated review period, the quizzes will no longer be viewable.
Discussions: During the course of this semester, you will participate in five discussions (varied point values; 70 points total) related to the lesson content during the lesson the discussion is assigned. These discussions will allow you to explore issues related to the lesson content, develop your own thoughts and ideas, and review and provide feedback on the thoughts of others. For each discussion, you will be asked to provide an initial post that summarizes your own work and thoughts and to respond to others' posts. Specific guidelines for each discussion are provided in the lesson materials.
Case Reports: There are a total of five case reports at 30 points each (150 points total) that will provide the opportunity to review and evaluate clinical cases. Case reports are designed to help you to better understand the development, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. For each case report, you will review the assigned case and respond to questions related to the case and other course materials. For example, you may be asked to review the case of a child with intellectual disability and describe how he/she meets the DSM diagostic criteria for this disorder and provide a treatment plan that would meet the individual needs of the child. Each case report will require you to integrate information from your text, the DSM-5, and lesson materials.
Group Activity: There is one group activity (50 points) that will be completed during the semester. The activity will follow from the lesson material and allow students to explore the type of work completed by child clinical psychologists. The activity will be a summary activity completed during Lesson 13. For this assignment, students will work in groups to develop an original case study for a selected disorder, research causes for the disorder, and develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Specific guidelines for the group activity is provided in the lesson materials.
Summary Activity: The summary activity (20 points), completed during Lesson 14, will require you to provide a personal reflection that integrates the class material in a meaningful way with your personal and professional experiences. Emphasis will be placed on the welfare of children and the best ways to meet the mental health needs of children and adolescents in our society.
Grading
Grades will be established based on your performance on course assignments. See Table 1 below for the point distribution by assignment type. To calculate your grade at any point during the course, divide your points earned by the points possible at that time.
| Assignment Type | Quantity | Total Points | Percent of Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 6 | 180 | 36% |
| Discussion Forums | 5 | 70 | 14% |
| Case Reports | 6 | 180 | 36% |
| Group Activities | 1 | 50 | 10% |
| Summary Activity | 1 | 20 | 4% |
| Total | 19 | 500 | 100% |
Grading Scale
Final grades will be determined by the percentage of total points earned for the course. See Table 2 for the grading scale. You can calculate your grade at any point in the semester by dividing your points earned by total points possible at that point in the course.
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Percentage Of Total Points
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Letter Grade
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93.0–100%
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A
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90.0–92.9%
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A-
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87.0–89.9%
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B+
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83.0–86.9%
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B
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80.0–82.9%
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B-
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77.0–79.9%
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C+
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70.0–76.9%
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C
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60.0–69.9%
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D
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below 60.0%
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F
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Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Deferred Grades
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Submission of Assignments
This is a semester-based course with deadlines. Students are expected to complete work by posted deadlines. Please check the Course Schedule for the times and dates that assignments are due in this course (times are listed in North American eastern time). Please contact your instructor to discuss legitimate and unavoidable situations that may cause lateness (such as illness, injury, or family emergency). If you know that you are going to miss a deadline, please contact your instructor in advance of that deadline to discuss an extension (or if you are not able to contact the instructor before the deadline, as soon as you are able to). Decisions regarding extensions will be made at the discretion of the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
In the absence of a legitimate and unavoidable situation, late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and will be penalized up to 10% of the total assignment points for each day of lateness. Unless there is a legitimate and unavoidable situation that causes prolonged lateness, work more than one week late will not be accepted.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
- Course length: 16 weeks
| Lesson 02 | Theories and Causes of Abnormal Behavior in Children and Adolescents |
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| Lesson 03 | Research Methods in Child Psychopathology |
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| Lesson 04 | Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment |
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| Lesson 05 | Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) |
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| Lesson 06 | Conduct Problems |
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| Lesson 07 | Anxiety and Related Disorders |
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| Lesson 08 | Mood Disorders |
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| Lesson 09 | Intellectual Disability and Learning Disorders |
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| Lesson 10 | Autism Spectrum Disorders |
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| Lesson 11 | Feeding and Eating Disorders |
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| Lesson 13 | Putting Everything Together |
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| Lesson 14 | Child Maltreatment and Course Wrap-up |
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Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Graduation
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Course Policies
The purpose of course communication tools is to provide students with a quick method for contacting faculty, teaching assistants, and other students of the class, in regards to course related questions, comments, and concerns. Please note that, according to University policy AD95/AD96, course communication tools may not be used as a method for emailing unauthorized content including but not limited to: solicitation for businesses, advertisements, selling or distributing personal or class materials, transmitting offensive, obscene, or harassing materials, chain letters, news posts, or other forms of “spam” email. Doing so will be considered a violation of course and/or University policies, and might also violate the student code of conduct and the expectations expressed in the Penn State Principles. Resulting penalties might include the suspension or termination of system access, as well as disciplinary or academic sanctions. When appropriate, information about violators will be passed on to University Police Services. If you have any questions in regards to whether or not a particular email you wish to send would violate University policies, please check with your instructor before sending messages to others through the University system.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.