Course Title: Assessment and Intervention 2

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Assessment and Intervention 2

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BESC1460	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2015
BESC1472	Bundoora Campus	Research	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012

Course Coordinator: Dr Karen Hallam

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7414

Course Coordinator Email: karen.hallam@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.13.14E

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

To be eligible to enrol in this course you must have successfully completed the following courses:

• BESC1461: Foundations in Psychological Practice 1
• BESC1462: foundations in Psychological Practice 2
• BESC1242: Internal Psychology  Practicum 1

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. For further information go to:

www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit/he

Course Description

Psychological Assessment and Intervention 2 is designed to extend your theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in clinical intervention and in research design and evaluation. More specifically, the course aims to develop your generalist skills and knowledge in both psychopharmacological and psychological interventions for psychological disorders as well as extend your knowledge and skills in understanding research design and evaluation. This course will focus on the following aspects of Psychological Assessment and Intervention

• Advanced Research Methods
• Adult Clinical Intervention

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Course Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course you should be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the standard nomenclature and classification systems of drugs and basic principles of drug action including the effects and side-effects of psychotropic drugs used commonly in the treatment of psychopathology
• undertake effective communication to potential clients as it relates to their clinical condition and treatment modalities.
• critically evaluate the empirical research literature pertaining to clinical interventions used in the treatment of high prevalence adult psychological disorders and interpret and justify the implementation of empirically validated treatment interventions for high prevalence psychological disorders.
• evaluate, in the context of day to day clinical practice, the effectiveness of interventions used in the treatment of high prevalence adult psychological disorders.
• conceptualise  important methodological and design issues underlying applied human research and undertake independent research using a range of research designs and methods
• describe the essential features of a range of advanced statistical and methodological techniques  and interpret the results of data using SPSS for Windows

Program Learning Outcomes
This course contributes to the development of the Program Learning Outcomes:

• PLO 1:  demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the theories, models and scientific underpinning of professional psychological practice and its application across behavioural and organisational systems
• PLO2: develop a comprehensive and critical understanding  of the legislative frameworks and ethical codes and guidelines that guide professional psychological practice at a personal and professional level.
• PLO 3: design, analyse, synthesise and communicate information from a wide variety of psychological assessments and techniques appropriate to the developmental stage, cognitive level and cultural background of the client, and appropriate to the purpose of the assessment.
• PLO 4: demonstrated the ability to design, apply, and evaluate appropriate evidence based empirically validated interventions individualised to the client’s diagnosis, case formulation, and personal or organisational characteristics.
• PLO 6: demonstrated the ability to undertake effective communication across a range of individual and organisational contexts to engage clients and to convey, appraise, and interpret information relevant to professional practice and the client population.

Overview of Learning Activities

Your learning activities include a mixture of lectures/ seminars, tutorials and skill development activities. Lectures will build on your knowledge gained in your program and will provide a solid theoretical and practice driven basis to help you to achieve professional practice
Tutorials are used to explore your critical analysis and clinical thinking.
The skill development activities will support your entry into Professional Psychological practice.
You will be expected to read widely the academic literature related to your areas of study.

Overview of Learning Resources

The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources. Material chosen may be digitally available to you. Lecture material may utilise a variety of available technologies including Lectopia, Discussion Board interaction and Blackboard Collaborate workshops. Skill development activities will be provided in a variety of ways, including simulated learning activities. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment associated with this course will comprise a formative and summative assessment and incorporate a variety of assessment modes. Your diagnostic and formative assessments will take the form of tests, assignments and practice based exercises. Your summative assessment may include formal examinations and practical evaluations.

Assessments may also include use of online technology and are designed to require students to demonstrate a critical analysis of the core principles presented in the course.

For information on grades used in RMIT courses see: www.rmit.edu.au/students/grading/highered

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

This course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced, at: www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment