Course Syllabus
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Fall 2019 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Psychology, Child Development |
| Faculty Members: |
Veronika Leonova |
| Program Director: |
Lars Rossen |
| Program Assistant: |
Jennifer Finkelstein- jfi@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Tuesday & Friday, 10.05 - 11.25, V23-201 |
Description of Course
This is a course about child development gone awry, whose aim is to introduce students to different developmental disorders. The biopsychosocial model to maladaptive behaviors, cognitions, and emotions will be presented as a theoretical framework for understanding normal and abnormal development. The multilayered and hierarchical contexts of the child’s life are influential aspects of mental health during development and will be considered. Within the developmental psychopathology framework, some major developmental disorders are selectively illustrated through theory and case material, and you are encouraged to think critically about diagnostic issues as well as various factors that have implications for developmental trajectories both in relation to research, prevention, amelioration, and treatment.
The focus of the course will be the developmental psychopathology framework as a means to understanding disorders in childhood and youth. The biopsychosocial model as a scientific approach has ensured that disorders of childhood and adolescence receive appropriate and specialized attention in order to attempt early prevention and treatment.
The conceptualization of diagnoses and how to utilize and apply DSM-V to children and adolescents who exhibit symptoms of selected disorders will be accomplished primarily through short lectures, case study and in class group work. Beyond diagnostics, this course will examine current scientific research trends to explore maladaptive cognition, behaviour and emotions associated with each disorder and compare and contrast these to other disorders relevant to the course.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course students will be familiar with the theoretical foundations of developmental psychopathology in children and adolescents. Students will be able to distinguish developmental disorders from one another and to describe the multiple pathways to each, and its possible prevention and treatment, as well as refer to research in the area.
Faculty
Veronika Leonova
M.A. in Clinical Psychology (Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2011). Jungian Analytical Psychotherapy education (Moscow Association for Analytical Psychology, 2012). Worked as a clinical psychologist in various institutions and taught as an external lecturer at “The Higher School of Psychology” in Psychoanalysis and Developmental Psychology. In Denmark since 2015. I work with children, adolescents and adults, conducting individual and group therapy in private practice and as a volunteer in NEFOS. With DIS since 2017.
Readings
Required Textbook (Provided to students by DIS Library):
- Kerig, P., Ludlow, A., Wenar, C. (2012). Developmental Psychopathology (6th ed). McGraw-Hill Education (UK) Limited
- Wilmshurst, L. (2015). Child and adolescent psychopathology: A casebook (3rd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc.
Students will also be introduced to peer-reviewed articles when relevant. These will be available on Canvas.
Approach to Teaching:
I focus on creating an open and challenging learning environment, where there’s room for questions, discussions, group work, and case studies. It is important for me to motivate and inspire my students to develop their own critical thinking skills by engaging them in the learning process as active collaborators. In class I expect you to be present, ask questions and participate in discussions. All opinions and points of view are welcome within the context of constructive discussion. I also believe that in studying psychology personal growth and change is as important, as learning theory and strive to create a safe room for everyone to express their personal response to our material.
You can always ask me additional questions before and after class or via e-mail, which I ‘ll do my best to answer within 24 hours.
Expectations of the students
As a student, you are expected to participate actively during class and field studies. It is also highly important that you read the articles and other material given to you before every class.
Apart from asking questions, participating in discussions and offering critical reflections on the topics, students are expected to consider how their contributions affect the overall work climate in class.
Be punctual for class and field studies.
Show respect for and attempt to understand other people’s viewpoints and experiences, whether this be other students or guest lecturers and people encountered on field studies.
Evaluation
The evaluation of the course is an ongoing process.
A midterm exam based on material covered in class, readings, and discussions up to the date for the exam.
A written assignment, which is a paper based on a case and the theoretical and diagnostic aspects of this. The case essay will be an academic paper as per DIS requirements.
There will also be a final exam, which will be based primarily on material covered after the midterm exam.
For the midterm and final exams you are expected to formulate your understanding of the topics covered, there will be short essay-type questions, and the papers will require some critical thinking and are not based on rote learning.
Grading:
|
Assignment
|
Percent
|
|
Class participation |
15%
|
|
Term paper/essay |
25%
|
|
Midterm exam – in class |
30%
|
|
Final exam
|
30%
|
|
Total
|
100% |
Disability and Resource Statement
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.
Policies
Attendance
You are expected to attend all classes, guest lectures, workshops and field studies. If you must miss a class for religious holidays, medical reasons, or other valid reasons, you must let us know as far in advance as possible of the absence and obtain information about the work you must do to keep up in class. If you miss a class for any other reason (sudden illness, family emergency, etc.), you should get in touch with us as soon as possible and arrange to make up the work missed.
Late papers
It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down.
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.
Policy for students who arrive late to class
Students arriving over 15 minutes after the beginning of class will not be allowed to participate. One exception throughout the course will be allowed for students arriving within 15 minutes after beginning of class.
Use of laptops or phones in class
To establish a positive learning environment, it is important that everyone is present in body and mind, and not distracted by technology or other disruptive behaviors. Therefore, students are not allowed to use laptops/Tablets/iPads in the classroom unless agreed upon for specified tasks such as article reading and/or for discussion purposes and/or note-taking. Cellular phones must be switched off during class. Disregard of these rule will have a very negative impact on the student participation grade.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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