Department of Counselling and Psychology Course Outline
Course Title Application in Psychopathologies
Course Code COUN470
Number of Credits 3
Duration of Weeks 15
Contact Hours Per Week 2 hours Lecture; 1 hour Tutorial
Pre-requisite Course(s)
COUN200 Theories & Systems in Counseling and Psychotherapy
PSY300 Abnormal Psychology
Course Aims
This course is one of the advanced elective courses in semi-seminar format aiming to facilitate students to have a more in-depth understanding of psychopathologies and various psychological disorders. Students will have an opportunity to apply the learned knowledge from pre-requisite courses via numerous real clinical cases discussion in class. They will also be assigned to read some articles relating to contemporary issues regarding psychopathologies. The materials will allow students to integrate other counseling skills and psychology theories into their practice as well as research. Students are highly required to exercise their critical thinking skills in relation to mental health context within Hong Kong culture. Along the course structure, students are also encouraged to read and re-exam the various criteria of selective psychological disorders on the DSM-5. The lecturer will assist students to identify different etiological aspects relating to psychopathologies as well as to form a rather practical resolution plan. Hence students will have to think about management issues in related to conceptualization.
Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOS)

After completing the course, students should be able to:

1. differentiate mental disorders sharing similar clinical descriptions based on the foundation of DSM-5 with cultural consideration;
 
2. describe basic and commonly used psychotropic medication and their primary side effect;
 
3. evaluate the strengths and limitations of different psychological remedial, preventive, or educative-developmental works according to the mental health system in Hong Kong;
 
4. integrate psychotherapeutic theories to make an informed judgement to clinical cases; and
 
5. design practical intervention plan utilizing resources based on a multidisciplinary model.
Assessment
 
Assessment Tasks
Weighting
1.
Group Case Vignette Presentation
25%
2.
Individual Critique on Selective Articles
15%
3.
Quizzes
20% 
4.
Attendance
5%
5
Case Discussion
10%
6
Final Report
25%
 
 
100%
For Reference Only
© 2020 Department of Counselling & Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University