PSY412 Abnormal Psychology
PSY412 Abnormal Psychology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
Psychology
Selvira Draganović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The course is dedicated to the study of normal and abnormal behaviour. Beginning with short historical overview of mental disorders and abnormal behaviour, students will be thought current approaches and treatment methods of different psychological disorders. Understanding differential criteria helps students identify risk and protective factors in disease and health.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Kearney C. A.& Trull T. J. (2018). Abnormal Psychology. and Life (Cengage).
Additional Literature
Comer R.J (2014). Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. Worth Publishers.Teaching Methods
Class discussions with examples
Active tutorial sessions involving workshops on course related, in class covered topics for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction and chapter 1 Abnormal Psychology and Life | 1. chapter 1. |
| 2 | Perspectives on Abnormal Psychology Risk and Prevention of Mental Disorders | 1. chapter 2 and 3 |
| 3 | Diagnosis, Assessment, and Study of Mental Disorders | 1. chapter 4 |
| 4 | Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive disorders | 1. chapter 4 |
| 5 | Trauma-Related Disorders Quiz I | 1. chapter 5 and 6 |
| 6 | Disorders featuring Somatic symptoms | 1. chapter 6 |
| 7 | Depressive and Bipolar Disorders and Suicide | 1. chapter 7 |
| 8 | Eating Disorders | 1. chaper 8 |
| 9 | Mid-term exam | |
| 10 | Substance-Related Disorders | 1. chaper 9 |
| 11 | Personality Disorders | 1. chapter 10 |
| 12 | Sexual Dysfunctions, Paraphilic Disorders, and Gender Dysphoria | 1. chapter 11 |
| 13 | Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders Quiz II | 1. chapter 12 |
| 14 | Developmental and Disruptive Behavior Disorders | 1. chapter 13 |
| 15 | Consumer Guide to Abnormal Psychology | 1. chapter 14 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY412.1 | Course | Thursday 12:00 - 14:50 | A F1.26 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F2.3B | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.3B |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Quiz I
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quiz II
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 5 6
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
10 hours ⏳ (2 week × 5 h)
Tutorials
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Home Study
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
In-term Exam Study
9 hours ⏳ (1 week × 9 h)
Final Exam Study
40 hours ⏳ (2 week × 20 h)
Term Project/Presentation
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY412] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY412 | Abnormal Psychology | 2 | 1 | 6 | Thursday 12.00-14:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | PSY103 | It is a prerequisite to | PSY510, PSY511 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Selvira Draganović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-12:00 Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 Wednesday: 9:00-11:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| sdraganovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The course is dedicated to the study of normal and abnormal behaviour. Beginning with short historical overview of mental disorders and abnormal behaviour, students will be thought current approaches and treatment methods of different psychological disorders. Understanding differential criteria helps students identify risk and protective factors in disease and health. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Kearney C. A.& Trull T. J. (2018). Abnormal Psychology. and Life (Cengage). | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Class discussions with examples. Active tutorial sessions involving workshops on course related, in class covered topics for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction and chapter 1 Abnormal Psychology and Life | 1. chapter 1. | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Perspectives on Abnormal Psychology Risk and Prevention of Mental Disorders | 1. chapter 2 and 3 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Diagnosis, Assessment, and Study of Mental Disorders | 1. chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive disorders | 1. chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Trauma-Related Disorders Quiz I | 1. chapter 5 and 6 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Disorders featuring Somatic symptoms | 1. chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Depressive and Bipolar Disorders and Suicide | 1. chapter 7 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Eating Disorders | 1. chaper 8 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Mid-term exam | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Substance-Related Disorders | 1. chaper 9 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Personality Disorders | 1. chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Sexual Dysfunctions, Paraphilic Disorders, and Gender Dysphoria | 1. chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders Quiz II | 1. chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Developmental and Disruptive Behavior Disorders | 1. chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Consumer Guide to Abnormal Psychology | 1. chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quiz I | 1 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz II | 1 | 20 | 5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 5 | 2 | 10 | |||
| Tutorials | 1 | 15 | 15 | Home Study | 1 | 15 | 15 | |||
| In-term Exam Study | 9 | 1 | 9 | Final Exam Study | 20 | 2 | 40 | |||
| Term Project/Presentation | 8 | 2 | 16 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 20/02/2026 | |||||||||
