PSY3032 Psychological disorders
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
PSY3032 Psychological disorders is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia. It needs PSY1011 and (PSY1022 or PSY1023).
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton, Malaysia
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 2 other tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before PSY3032
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After PSY3032
No unit lists PSY3032 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Must have passed 48 credit points.
Overview
This unit covers the important aspects of psychological disorders: theory, assessment, specific psychopathologies, treatment methods, and diagnostic paradigms. Contemporary issues related to the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders will also be critically discussed. Both the scientific and professional aspects of working with people with psychological disorders are presented, to give you the broadest possible view of these disorders, and the behaviours associated with them. By studying different theoretical perspectives and contexts in which you may encounter people with psychological disorders, you will gain a deeper understanding of the possible applications of this knowledge in the real world and how this may translate to your chosen career.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Blended |
| Second semester | Clayton | Online |
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- Group Case Study Presentation (20 minutes)Presentation30%
- Mini Empirical Review Research Paper (2,000 words)Written30%
- End of Semester Exam (100 minutes)Examination40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Apply foundational principles of personality, cognition, biological processes, and human development to explain psychological disorders and psychopathology.
- 2
Analyse how theoretical perspectives and values influence the conceptualisation of psychological disorders.
- 3
Appraise the major systems of classifying psychological disorders and their historical context.
- 4
Define the major types of psychological disorders and the major therapeutic approaches to psychopathology.
- 5
Formulate reports informed by current research on psychological disorders.
- 6
Demonstrate interpersonal collaboration and teamwork skills, and verbal communication skills.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials21 hours
- Seminars-
Two hours of lectures per week.
Two hours of tutorials ten times per semester plus a 1-hour orientation tutorial in Week 1 of semester
Preparation: Eight hours background reading/preparation for lectures, tutorials and assessment tasks per week.
Attendance at tutorials is recommended in order to successfully complete in-class activities and related assessment tasks.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Where it fits
PSY3032 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Cory Wasser
- Dr Sanjida Khan
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Nicole Rinehart
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for PSY3032?
You need PSY1011 and (PSY1022 or PSY1023) before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is PSY3032 offered?
In 2026, PSY3032 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia, with an online option.
Does PSY3032 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include PSY3032?
PSY3032 is part of Psychology.