Course Title:
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Required Texts and Readings:
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American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Preston, J., O'Neal, J., and Talaga, M. (2004). Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists. (4th ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Preston, J., and Johnson, J. (2004). Clinical Psychopharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple. (5th ed.). Miami, FL: Medmaster. | |
Supplementary Readings:
| All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/library/. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students’ research and writing skills. | |
Recommended Journals:
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A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are available from the UMUC Europe online library at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/library/
The American Journal of Psychiatry
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Journal of Essential Psychopharmacology
The Physician's Desk Reference (PDR). Medical Economics, Inc. annual publication. | |
Course Description:
| Prerequisite: 21 hours of graduate counseling courses and permission of the Counseling Program Director. An elective, this course is designed for non-medical psychotherapists and counselors. Students will be presented an overview of the current therapeutic use of psychotropic drugs. A brief history of psychopharmacology, and overview of neuroanatomy, a survey of current research on neurotransmitters, and a review of pharmacological terminology will be given. Specific drugs to be considered include the narcotic analgesics, the sedative hypnotics, stimulants, neuroleptics and atypical antipsychotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers, including lithium. | |
Course Goals:
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This course is designed to enable students to become an effective practitioner, having a knowledge of drug use and misuse, skills in identifying and assessing problems presented by the client and the ability to formulate treatment strategy appropriate to the client's needs and concerns, competence in knowledge of legal and ethical issues of counseling, and a knowledge of sources of information about psychopharmacologic interventions. (At present the course is an elective in the counseling degree program.) | |
Course Objectives:
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At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Describe the major classes of psychoactive medications.
2. Provide a rationale for prescribing specific classes of medications used for depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the indications and contraindications of using each of the classes of psychotropic medications.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the counselor’s responsibility in working with psychiatrists and physicians.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and ethical issues of counselors vis-a-vis their role in the client's medications.
6. Be able to describe how psychotropic medications interact with other medications and substances.
7. Be able to discuss the dangers of iatrogenic conditions and abuse of medications.
8. Be able to identify symptoms of adverse side effects of medications.
9. Be able to identify the proper use of psychotropic medications in at-risk populations such as children, the elderly and those who are in institutions.
10. Be able to describe the benefits and dangers associated with complementary and alternative substances, such as herbal remedies, for the treatment of mental disorders. | |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90 - 100%
B 80 – 89%
C 70 – 79%
F 69% and Below
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade "F" is used to designate academic failure. "FN" is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC Europe Graduate Catalog, available in your local Education Center or online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs. | |
Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:
Participate in classroom discussions 10%
Write graduate level papers or case studies 30%
Orally/visually present prepared material 20%
Complete one or more written examination(s) 40% | |
Description of Course Requirements:
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Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the onsite classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an eight-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most ten-week graduate distance education courses require at least ten hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participate in classroom discussions:You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
Write graduate level papers or case studies:You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of coursework from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment. APA style is mandatory for all graduate counseling course work. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level work.
Orally/visually present prepared material:You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In an onsite course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In an online class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Complete one or more written examination(s):The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary for successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used in this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam. | | |
Course Schedule:
This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
Initial meeting:
Introductions
Review of syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Orientation to subject
Second meeting:
Third meeting:
Fourth meeting:
Fifth meeting:
Sixth meeting:
Seventh meeting:
Eighth meeting:
Ninth meeting:
Tenth meeting:
Eleventh meeting:
Twelfth meeting:
Thirteenth meeting:
Fourteenth meeting:
Examination
Fifteenth meeting:
Student presentations
Sixteenth meeting:
Student presentations
Course evaluations | |
Academic Policies:
Note: Any written assignment in this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.Com. This statement constitutes prior notice.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: "Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi."
Course Withdrawal: The last day to withdraw from a DE course is Friday before the last full week of the course. The last day to withdraw from an on-site course is the last business day before the last class meeting.
Students with disabilities should contct:
Director of Student Services
UMUC Europe, UNIT 29216
APO AE 09102
Or: Im Bosseldorn 30, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
Phone: +49-6221-378-299
Email: edstudent_svc@ed.umuc.edu
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center.
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