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HE Unit Template
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Psychopathology and Mental Health
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PSYCB3115 - Psychopathology and Mental Health
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20270200
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Course
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1.0
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Psychology
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Psychology
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Undergraduate
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15
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.125
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090701
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Psychology
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090701 - Psychology
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb3115">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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7
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Bachelor Degree
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1
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false
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<p>The unit will introduce students to current understanding and concepts in relation to some common adult and child psychological disorders. Theories, relevant research findings, aetiology, and therapies will be considered critically. Ethics of research, practice, and assessment in abnormal psychology will be covered.</p>
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<ul>
<li>Past and present models of psychopathology and mental health.</li>
<li>Diagnosis and clinical assessment.</li>
<li>Research methods in the study of abnormal behaviour.</li>
<li>Major psychological disorders in adults (e.g., anxiety disorders, mood disorders and suicide, substance-related disorders, disorders of gender and sexuality, disorders of personality and impulsive control, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders).</li>
<li>Major psychological disorders in adolescents and children (e.g. eating disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disorder, conduct disorder)</li>
<li>Developmental disorders (intellectual disability, autism)</li>
</ul>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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Semester
Semester
0200
Year
Year
2027
Current Year
2026
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PSYCB3115 - Psychopathology and Mental Health
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PSYCB3115 - Psychopathology and Mental Health
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Semester
Semester 1
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Summer Semester
Year
2027
2026
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>The unit will introduce students to current understanding and concepts in relation to some common adult and child psychological disorders. Theories, relevant research findings, aetiology, and therapies will be considered critically. Ethics of research, practice, and assessment in abnormal psychology will be covered.</p>
Unit content
<ul> <li>Past and present models of psychopathology and mental health.</li> <li>Diagnosis and clinical assessment.</li> <li>Research methods in the study of abnormal behaviour.</li> <li>Major psychological disorders in adults (e.g., anxiety disorders, mood disorders and suicide, substance-related disorders, disorders of gender and sexuality, disorders of personality and impulsive control, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders).</li> <li>Major psychological disorders in adolescents and children (e.g. eating disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disorder, conduct disorder)</li> <li>Developmental disorders (intellectual disability, autism)</li> </ul>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Psychology
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090701 - Psychology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 1</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 3</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb3115">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
<p>must have completed 2 of <a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2102" target="_blank">PSYCB2102</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2103" target="_blank">PSYCB2103</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2104" target="_blank">PSYCB2104</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2105" target="_blank">PSYCB2105</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2106" target="_blank">PSYCB2106</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2107" target="_blank">PSYCB2107</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2108" target="_blank">PSYCB2108</a>/<a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=PSYCB2109" target="_blank">PSYCB2109</a></p>
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
None
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Describe and critically appraise conceptualisations of psychopathology within biological, psychological, social, and cultural frameworks, reflecting on the importance of cultural responsiveness in understanding and addressing mental health across diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.</p>
K2
<p>Identify and assess research methodology in abnormal and clinical psychology research.</p>
K3
<p>Discuss, illustrate and analyse ethical issues in the practice of abnormal and clinical psychology.</p>
K4
<p>Describe and discuss legislative frameworks (including privacy, human rights) as they pertain to abnormal psychology.</p>
S1
<p>Describe and critically evaluate causes, competing theories and therapies, and current research of major psychological disorders.</p>
S2
<p>Classify, distinguish and interrelate some of the major psychological disorders.</p>
S3
<p>Design, at a theoretical level, treatment for major psychological disorders.</p>
A1
<p>Apply relevant knowledge and skills of the scientific method to evaluate problems related to behaviour and mental processes.</p>
A2
<p>Apply relevant knowledge and skills to construct links between abnormal psychology (terms, concepts, theory and research) and real world scenarios.</p>
A3
<p>Apply relevant knowledge and skills to write a report using American Psychological Association (APA) structure and formatting conventions</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Demonstration of understanding of fundamental concepts in abnormal psychology including theories, assessment, clinical symptoms, aetiology, and treatment.</p>
<p>Online Quizzes and/or Tests</p>
<p>40-60%</p>
K1, K2, K3, K4, A1, A2
2
<p>Students will produce an independent report in accordance with professional and APA requirements. Through the report, students will apply relevant knowledge of major psychological disorders, aetiology, and treatment. Students will also consider elements of ethics and assessment.</p>
<p>Case study report</p>
<p>40-60%</p>
K1, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
Level
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
The ability to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
The ability to work fluently across a range of tools and applications to achieve a range of skills.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
The ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Psychology
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
090701 - Psychology
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 1</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p> <p><strong>Teaching Period 3</strong><p>Federation University Online</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/psycb3115">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: PSYCB3115 - U1.0