Faculty Contact Information:
Michelle Mentzer, Ed.D
Quadrelle di Mugnano, AV
Italy
Phone: 0039-081-825-7714
Cell: 340-406-1967
Alternate email: drmentzer@mac.com
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Consultation:
Please feel free to contact me by email at any time during this course if it is a confidential matter. If you have a question regarding the class or class materials, please bring it up in the CyberCafe online so that others can benefit from the discussion.
As a rule, I respond to emails within 24 hours max; however, if for some reason I don't respond to your email, feel free to call me at one of the number listed above.
If you have any special needs that will affect your ability to do your best during this class, please notify me no later than the first week of class.
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Required Texts and Readings:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR. (2000). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Zimmerman,M. (1994). Interview Guide for Evaluating DSM-IV Psychiatric Disorders & the Mental Status Examination. East Greenwich, RI: Psych Products Press. | |
Supplementary Readings:
All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.umuc.edu/library/. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students’ research and writing skills.
Students will be using the UMUC online library databases on a weekly basis. It is assumed the first day of class that the students are familiar with and able to use the online library easily and well. If you have not taken the library class online, please do do prior to the course start date then practice using those skills. | |
Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
| This courses integrates various assessment methodologies for a comprehensive process of assessment. The purposes, techniques, and process of clinical assessment will be explored. Techniques for understanding of non-verbal, verbal, and interpersonal transactions, including the recapitulation of the family structure and dynamics, are examined. Students are introduced to situational assessment, psychological inference, and report writing. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: PSYC 514 or EDCP 614. | |
Course Goals:
| This course is designed to enable students to become familiar with the DSM-IV diagnostic system as it applies to persons of diverse cultures and abilities. It will assist students in preparing for the comprehensive exam and will prepare them for professional practice. | |
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Understand and discuss information regarding psychopathology and mental disorders.
2. Discuss issues of diversity as they relate to mental disorders.
3. Demonstrate ability to use the DSM-IV-TR classification system of mental disorders.
4. Successfully diagnose cases using the case vignette method. | |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 92%
B 80 – 91%
C 70 – 79%
F Below 70%
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog. Hard copies of the catalog are available in your local Education Center. | |
Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, you are required to:
Participate in classroom discussions 40%
Two Research Papers (short!) 10%
Weekly Literature Reviews 30%
Complete one written examination(s) 20%
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Description of Course Requirements:
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Usually this requires two to three hours of additional for every hour of a face-to-face class and approximately ten hours of preparation per week for a DE class.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level deliverables.
Complete one written examination: The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used for this course will be written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.
Weekly Posting assignments
This will be one case study for student review and response. Each student will be expected to post a substantial post for each week, and comment/respond to at least two others. Responses are to be substantial, not superficial. They must add to the previous post, not simply reflect the author's content.
Literature Review Conference
Students will respond/converse on the Literature Review conference each week, and read the reviews posted by other students. Minimum of one response per week.
Professional dialogue is encouraged at all times, remembering that professional demeanor can enhance your grade while unprofessional demeanor can substantially lower your grade. Unprofessional conduct is seen in terms of lack of respect for others, lack of confidentiality for all online work, lack of timely posting so that others can respond appropriately, etc.
All initial student posts should be done before Thursday midnight of each week so that the rest of the week can be spent in conversation of the content. Everyone's effort toward this is highly appreciated by all.
Literature review:
This assignment begins once the class begins study of the DSM. Each week, each student will review and summarize 2 articles published in professional journals (e.g., Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Counseling, etc.) since 1990 relating to the diagnosis or treatment of a mental disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) that corresponds with the DSM section covered in class for the week. Each summary should include the author’s name (s) and affiliation(s), the journal’s name, results and significance or meaning of the results. The analysis should highlight the main points of the paper and raise discussion about its application to the etiology and/or treatment of the disorder. A copy of the article(s) should be attached to the student’s paper. (Maximum length = 2 pages, double-spaced, APA style) Please post to the conference for this assignment each week so that others can post comments, read and respond.
Counseling Relationship Reaction Paper:
How is counseling depicted in modern American life? Choose a movie (e.g., "Good Will Hunting") that features a character in a helping relationship. How is the character and the relationship portrayed? What is your reaction? What do you think the public reaction is? (Maximum length = 2 pages, double-spaced, APA style) Due the end of week two, dates will be posted online. This will be posted in a conference for comments/responses.
Ethics and Values:
Ethics and professional conduct during one’s career are based on values. What are your three most salient values? Where did you learn them? How did they impact your decision to become a counselor? Find examples of these values on either an implicit or explicit level in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics? Be specific in citing specific sections of the code. (Maximum length = 2 pages, double-spaced, APA style) Due the end of week four, dates will be posted online. This will be posted in a conference for comments/responses.
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Course Schedule:
Week 1 24-30 JAN
- Be sure you have the correct textbooks.
- Post your introduction in the CyberCafe
- Read and familiarize oneself with the class content
- Know the rubrics that you are graded by (posted on the website)
- Post to the weekly questions
- Respond to at least two other posts
- Begin “Counseling Relationship Paper” that is due at the end of Week 2
Week 2 31 JAN – 06 FEB
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- “Counseling Relationship Paper” is due at midnight Sunday at the end of Week 2.
- Post it to the appropriate conference for responses, and then post it in your portfolio for grading.
- Check your posts against the rubric for the class to see if you are attaining the grade you desire!
Week 3 07-13 FEB
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- “Begin the Ethics and Values Paper” that is due at the end of Week 3.
- Post Literature Review article and respond to at least one other.
Week 4 14-20 FEB
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- “Ethics and Values Paper” is due at midnight Sunday at the end of Week 4.
- Post it to the appropriate conference for responses, and then post it in your portfolio for grading.
- Post Literature Review article.
- Respond to at least one other Lit Review article.
Week 5 21-27 FEB
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Post your “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 5.
- Respond to at least one other.
- Check your posts against the rubric for the class to see if you are attaining the grade you desire!
Week 6 28 FEB – 06 MAR
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 6.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 7 07-13 MAR
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 7.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 8 SPRING BREAK! HAVE FUN!
- If you have some time, check your posts against the rubric for the class to see if you are attaining the grade you desire!
Week 9 21-27 MAR
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 9.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 10 28 MAR – 03 APR
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 10.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 11 04-10 APR
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 11.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 12 11-17 APR
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 12.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 13 18-24 APR
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 13.
- Respond to at least one other.
- Check your posts against the rubric for the class to see if you are attaining the grade you desire!
Week 14 25 APR – 01 MAY
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 14.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 15 02 – 08 MAY
- Post to the weekly questions and respond to at least two other postings.
- Write and post the “Literature Review” assignment on the topic of this week. It is to be posted no later than Sunday midnight of the end of Week 15.
- Respond to at least one other.
Week 16 09 – 15 MAY
- Final Written Exam
This Final Exam will be posted online, and each student will post their answers in their portfolio for grading by the instructor. Answers will not be posted in a conference. Exam is due no later than Sunday night midnight at the end of Week 16. Exact dates will be posted online.
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Academic Policies:
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Faculty Bio:
| Dr. Mentzer is a family counselor and professional trainer for both military and civilian sectors. She is currently working in Napoli and teaching in the UMUC-Bowie Graduate Counseling program in Europe. Dr. Mentzer's undergraduate work was taken at the University of Kansas, in Education. Her M.A. in Counseling and Human Resources was completed at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. Dr. Mentzer completed a Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology at Argosy University. Her primary focus was on family communications and attachment theory. After her residency at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, she worked as the Group Manager at the Marine Corps Camp Pendleton Mental Health Clinic in Southern California and continued all her other interests that she had collected through the years. She currently resides in Italy with her husband and three children (21, 19, and 15) and her cats. Her hobbies include reading, used bookstore hunting, Macintosh computers, traveling across Europe in her VW Westy, and "being" in coffee shops around the world. | |