| West
Valley College_ |
| Department
of Psychology___ |
| Michelle
D. Reed |
| (408)
741-4029 |
Psychology of Addiction
& Substance Abuse
| Classes will be held on Mondays and
Wednesdays from 10:55-12:20p.m. in Room SS58.
Students who fail to attend the first class
session will be dropped from the roster, unless
prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. After the first session, students who
stop attending, but fail to formally drop the
course with Admissions & Records, will
receive an F on their transcripts. |
| |
| Course
Description: |
| Psychology of Addiction & Substance Abuse
provides students with an understanding of the
biopsychosocial aspects of drug use and abuse.
Students will be expected to read a minimum
of 1 chapter per week from the primary
textbook, to participate in class discussions
(where applicable), and to actively study class
handouts, lecture material, and film notes.
Lecture Format: 3 units. Acceptable for credit:
California State University. Course Number 030. |
| Course Objectives: |
| Student will be required to demonstrate an
ability to analyze, synthesize, and critically
evaluate basic concepts in psychopharmacology
both in testing formats and practical
applications. By the completion of the course,
one must be able to explain the biopsychosocial
determinates of addiction and substance abuse, as
well as critically evaluate research findings in
selected topics of the field. |
| Office Hours: |
| Regular office hours will
be held in Social Sciences office 2b on Mondays
from 12:30-1:30 P.M., Tuesdays from 12:30-1:30
P.M., and Thursdays from 8:30-9:00 A.M.
Appointments may also be scheduled on an
individual basis. Students needing to schedule
individualized appointments should call my
voicemail a minimum of 24 hours in advance, in
order to ensure I have received the request in
time. Students are encouraged to discuss any
difficulties or questions they may have regarding
the course content. Prior to the beginning of the
semester, students may contact me via my e-mail
address: [email protected].
Once the term begins, all email communication
will occur from within Angel at: http://wvmccd.angellearning.com/frames.aspx |
| Disability
Statement: |
| West Valley College makes
reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities. College materials will
be available in alternate formats (Braille,
audio, electronic format, or large print) upon
request. Please contact the Disability and
Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010
(voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance. |
| Testing Format and
Policy: |
| Students will be given three exams during the
course, which will cover both lecture material
and reading assignments. The exam format will
consist of multiple choice, fill-in and short
answer questions, as well as essays. Exams will
be given at the beginning of the class period. Students
requiring a make-up exam will receive a 7.5% off
their exam score, if taken by the next class
session. For exams taken after that time,
additional deductions will be taken for every
calendar day. Makeup exams must be taken within
10 calendar days of the original test date;
otherwise, a zero will be recorded for the given
test. Students are allowed only one
makeup exam during the term. |
| Grading Policy: |
| Student exams and term papers will be graded
on a slight curve, which is very close to
a traditional percentage grading system. At the
end of the semester, student test scores and term
papers are totaled to formulate the overall grade
out of 675 possible points. Although attendance
and participation are not formally averaged into
the grading process, they may be taken into
consideration if the student's overall score
falls on the boarder between two grades. |
| Cheating Policy: |
| Students caught cheating
will receive an F for that exam or project. The
zero will be averaged into the student's final
grade. Additional repercussions from the college
may also occur under such circumstances. |
| Required Texts and
Materials: |
| Hanson, Glen, Peter Venturelli, and Annette
Fleckenstein (2006) Drugs and Society
(Ninth Edition). |
| Supplemental Reader: Sheff, David. Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction |
| A 16 page Blue Book (8 1/2
x 11"), Scantron (Form 882), No. 2 pencil,
and a non-erasable pen are all required for all
exams |
| |
| **Please Note: the
instructor reserves the right to change any
portion of the syllabus during the semester, in
order to meet the needs of the given class. |
|