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Canyon College

online Epidemiology of Deviant Behavior course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Epidemiology of Deviant Behavior


Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:
Telephone: 		PY557 - Epidemiology of Deviant Behavior
Social and Behavioral Sciences
George A. Wolford, Ph.D. E-Mail -- Vita
by appointment prowolford@gmail.com


Office Hourse

For office hours, I use MSN Messenger, my MSN name is Chief Skeptic.

Software Requirements NOTE: If you do not have MS Office or can not afford it, go to http://www.openoffice.org and download the FREE generic version that is fully compatible.

Instructor Bio

I salute you all as fellow students in this journey. My role as facilitator casts me as an open-minded learner as well as it does you. I have had some wonderful teachers, both formal and informal, and the finest of them have inspired me to continue to pass along best practices.

Let me offer you an overview of my background and some of my adventures that will be relevant to this class.

I am known as a candid speaker and teacher. Selected invitational presentations include groups as diverse as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, American Psychological Associations Annual Conference, Arkansas Prevention Institute, The Society for Community Action and Research, University of Arkansas Mid-South Summer School, and at the University of Hawaii (the last via satellite TV).

I have taught for 5 universities, one traditional, three online and one off shore. Additionally, I am the president of an online university that focuses on bringing state of the art American best practices to developing nations.

Some previous experience includes practicing psychology in a clinical setting as a resident, developing real estate in California and teaching widely. In the past 15 years, I founded and was Executive Director of three organizations: the San Diego Men's Center, Stability Training and Recovery (alcohol treatment facility), and Wolford Research Group, all in San Diego, California. I served on the Board of Directors of the Maui County Chapter of the National Mental Health Association, founded the Maui County Chapter of the National Counsel on Self-Esteem, and served as Regional Coordinator for the National Psychology Advisory Association for five years, authored two screening instruments for neurological damage in both children and adults and conducted innovative research in Community Based Asset Planning Groups, empowerment and community building. Currently we are developing multi-lingual, multi-point video conferencing formats to deliver education to developing nations.

All of that said, I live in a very rural part of the Missouri Ozark Mountain region at the intersection of two large creeks, refurbish museum vehicles and build nostalgia hot rods. My wife Sharon teaches English at a local high school and our only child, Jenny, is happily married, and is also an English teacher. We have an Australian shepherd named Leah who is spoiled beyond redemption and five cats. I love music and love to sing. My newest passion for learning is Nanotechnology; for a peek take a look at http://www.smalltimes.com or http://www.foresight.org

Warm Regards,

George
profwolford@gmail.com

Course Description

This course is designed as an introduction to deviant behavior. Progression through this class will acquaint students with subjects like intelligence, motivation, development, abnormal psychology, trauma, brain damage, and various stressors as a part of interpreting deviant behavior. The relevance to diagnosis and treatment plans will be emphasized.

Required Text: Online Bookstore

Deviant Behavior (6th Edition)
by Alex Thio Course Objectives

Students will develop the following:
  1. An understanding of the development of deviant behavior from a psychological perspective including different schools of thought.
  2. An awareness of the relationship of physiological functions to emotional development.
  3. An introductory review of the scientific method and research techniques used by forensic psychologists.
  4. A familiarity with reliable sources of psychological testing information.
  5. The ability to apply scientific principles of investigation and epidemiology to everyday questions and problems.
  6. A better understanding of self and others.
  7. An understanding of terminology used in forensic psychology.
  8. An awareness of vocational opportunities in psychology.
  9. Abstract recognition of qualities which patients’ project.
  10. Insights which enhance understanding of the relevance of psychology to other social sciences.
Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and assignment submissions are essential to maximum learning and academic success. This means staying in touch by email as required. The records and registration office at the University are informed of excessive silences. Excused absences such as illness or emergency must be reported to the instructor. If you can not be in touch by email, please notify Dr. Wolford from someone else's computer.

Reading the Text

All students are expected to read the assigned chapters. An evaluation of reading and comprehension will be reflected in scores. All students are expected to be prepared to participate in email conversations demonstrating thoughtful preparation.

Zero Tolerance Plagiarism and Cheating Policy

Plagiarism and other forms of cheating may result in failure of the assignment and/or the failure of the course.

An Explanation of the Course Work and Examinations

Examinations are administered during the semester to measure student progress. All examinations are drawn from the required text. During the course of grading, an exam will not be dropped from the total points possible. I do not write ‘trick question’. All material is straight forward and clear. Please use Masters level writing skills. If you have trouble writing, use a proof reader. All assignments are submitted by email as attachments.

Class work will consist of one essay report on the on each of the first nine chapters as the topic relates to your career choice. Wait until you have all of the chapter for the first half of the course and submit them as one document.

Midterm exam. A 3 page essay on the following essay question requiring critical thinking skills, in essay format, with at least 3 citations. “What I see as the role of positive deviation in human development.”

Class work for the second half of the course will consist of one essay question on each of the remaining chapters as the topics relate to your career choice. Wait until you have all of the chapter for the second half of the course and submit them as one document.
Final Exam Paper

Write a 5 page (or more as you wish) paper in APA format, not including the cover or bibliography on the increase of violence in the domestic, national or global theaters using the text book as a resource. You may focus on a specific type of violence if you choose. Concluding your paper, please suggest one or more solutions to the problem that you have identified. Be scholarly and use citations to defend your position. Additional resources as needed can be found on the Internet. You must cite at least five different sources.

Total Points:

Chapter write ups
Midterm paper
Chapter write ups
Final paper
Total possible points 		250
200
250
300
1,000


Grading Scale

92-100
82-91
70-81
60-69
0-59 		=
=
=
=
= 		A
B
C
D
F


Disabilities Statement

Students with special needs due to disabilities should inform the instructor prior to the second class meeting. If I do not hear from you, I will assume that you do not require special accommodations.

Please be professional and on time. I am usually available by email seven days a week if you need help. Please don't hesitate to ask.

APA FORMAT REQUIRED CORRECT FORMAT IS A PART OF YOUR GRADE
For all writing assignments in this class you are required to use the American Psychological Association (APA) 5th Edition style of format and source citation. An example of this can be found at the OWL site. Below the OWL site is a link for citing e-sources.. Use the link below to resolve any questions you may have about APA format. You may also request a model APA paper from me by email. Here is a web link for additional information.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html#General%20Format

http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html for electronic citations.

Plagiarism:

Main Entry: pla•gia•rize
Function: verb
Etymology: plagiary
transitive senses : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source
intransitive senses : to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source

Do not plagiarize ! I use an Internet service to scan all papers. If I find a plagiarized paper, you will receive an F for that paper. A second offense results summary expulsion with an F.



Link to previous syllabus