SW 952 (03) - Human Behavior and the Social Environment III

This course is designed to acquaint master?s degree students with the epidemiology, classification, and etiology of the major mental illnesses; with a primary objective to develop the student?s diagnostic skills in the field of psychopathology. Students will examine historical, structural, and systemic discriminatory and oppressive practices and policies, as well as examine personal bias toward marginalized populations to diagnose from a culturally sensitive standpoint more appropriately. At course conclusion students will have an effective working knowledge of the bio-psycho-social basis of the major mental disorders, the behavioral symptomatology that characterizes them, the use of psychotropic medication in treatment (brief overview), and their classification according to the current DSM system. Students will be able to evaluate symptomology through a critical, anti-oppressive lens.