Course Title: Psychological Problems Across the Life Span
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Psychological Problems Across the Life Span
Credit Points: 12.00
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
BESC1110 |
Bundoora Campus |
Postgraduate |
150H Health Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2006 |
BESC1111 |
Bundoora Campus |
Undergraduate |
150H Health Sciences |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2006 |
Course Coordinator: Dr Sharynn Schuster
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7364
Course Coordinator Email: sharynn.schuster@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
All third year APS approved psychology courses
Course Description
The course will address the concepts of a range of psychological problems in the developmental context. Psychological problems will include those relating to childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and the elderly, and the impact of these problems will be examined across the lifespan. Major theoretical approaches to the explanation and management of selected psychological problems will be described, in the context of criteria for evaluating the scientific standing of such theories. Evidence for the effectiveness of the most prominent intervention approaches for the psychological problems will be evaluated.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
At the conclusion of this subject, students will be expected to be able to:
1. demonstrate an organised and coherent understanding of selected psychological problems informed by reading and discussion.
2. recognise signs and symptoms of selected psychological problems.
3. describe the presumed causes, assessment and management of selected psychological problems.
4. describe the impact of these psychological problems as they relate to lifespan issues.
5. demonstrate an ability to critically analyse research literature, form a persuasive and logical argument relating to a controversial topic in relation to lifespan issues, and communicate and disseminate this information.
Overview of Learning Activities
Lectures: Students will acquire a framework of relevant knowledge and underlying theoretical and conceptual bases of the subject through attending lectures (objectives 1, 2, 3, & 4).
Personal study: As part of the learning process and after being provided with frameworks through lectures, students will acquire a deeper and broader understanding of the subject by engaging in a program of recommended reading (objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5).
Class debate: Students will present and critically analyse independently researched material. Through class debates, students develop effective communication skills, and expose themselves to the experience of public speaking and conference presentation (objectives 4, 5).
Overview of Learning Resources
Students will be guided to the current journal publications.
Overview of Assessment
One two-hour exam
One class debate
One 2000 word debate paper