SOWK 680A2 - Psychopathology and Social Work

This course is designed to provide social work students and practitioners with extensive knowledge of the major forms of emotional illness. Students will develop competence in diagnosis by mastering the currently accepted diagnostic code (DSM IV-TR soon to be DSM V). The methods of diagnosis will be examined through the perspective of social work theory, values and ethics.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Gather and analyze relevant information and make accurate diagnoses based upon that information
• Articulate positive and negative factors related to conferring a diagnosis on individuals from various racial, ethnic, religious, social class and sexual groups.
• Weigh ethical dilemmas within the diagnosis process.

Textbooks and Materials

Required

• DSM-IV-TR (2000)
  American Psychiatric Association
  Not available at the CSU Bookstore
• Psychopathology: A competency based assessment model for social workers, 2nd Ed. (2008)
  Gray, S.W. and Zide, M.
  Not available at the CSU Bookstore