SCWK 3743 - Mental Health
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42474,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
Log in to view more
Instructor
Patricia Sciaretta MSSA, LSW
Email: pasciaretta@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required |
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual, DSM 5-TR
Schwitzer, A.M., & Rubin, L.C. (2015). Diagnosis and treatment planning skills: A popular culture caseload approach (2nd ed.). Sage.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Week 1 Syllabus, Requirements and Expectations
Week 2 Ch 1 Critical Thinking Skills, Preface and Introduction
Week 3 Mental status exam, Ch 3 Case Conceptualization
Week 4 Ch 2 Diagnosis
Week 5 Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Week 6 Bipolar and related Disorders
Week 7 Depressive Disorders
Week 8 Anxiety Disorders Obsessive-Compulsive and related Disorders
Week 9 Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Dissociative Disorders
Week 10 Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders Neurocognitive Disorders
Week 11 Gender Dysphoria, Feeding and Eating Disorders
Week 12 Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
Week 13 Personality Disorders
Week 14 Case Conceptualization Presentations
Week 15 Case Conceptualization Presentations
Week 16 Finals Week
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
Log in to view more
Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Aug 25 & 27 | Introductions, Review of Syllabus,Requirement and Expections, Learning & Interests | Readings: Syllabus |
| 8/31 | Sept 1 & 3 | Students will be introduced to the topic of clinical social work and diagnosis | Readings: Ch 1 Critical Thinking Skills, Preface & Introduction |
| 9/7 | Sept 8 & 10 | Students will gain a basic understanding of the various elements involved in an MSE and case conceptualization | Mental status exam (MSE); understanding DSM criteria; Ch 3 Case Conceptualization |
| 9/14 | Sept 15 & 17 | Students will gain a basic understanding of the various elements involved in clinical mental health diagnosis | Readings: Ch 2 Diagnosis; NASW Code of Ethics |
| 9/21 | Sept 22 & 24 | Students will gain a basic understanding of concepts related to the diagnosis of Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders | Readings: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders |
| 9/28 | Sept 29 & Oct 1 | Students will learn about the concepts of the diagnosis of Bipolar and related Disorders | Readings: Bipolar and related Disorders |
| 10/5 | Oct 6 & 8 | Students will learn about clinical diagnosis of Depressive Disorders | Readings: Depressive Disorders |
| 10/12 | Oct 13 & 15 | Students will learn about the clinical diagnosis of Anxiety | Readings: Anxiety Disorder & Obsessive-Compulsive and related Disorders |
| 10/19 | Oct 20 & 22 | Students will gain a basic understanding of concepts related to the diagnosis of Trauma & Stressor Related Disorders & Dissociative Disorders | Readings: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders & Dissociative Disorders |
| 10/26 | Oct 27 & 29 | Students will gain a bisic understanding of concepts related to the diagnosis of Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders & Neurocognitive Disorders. Students will understand how to use the code of ethics with mental health clients | Readings: Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorder - pg 349 & Neurocognitive Disorders pg 667 NASW Code of Ethics |
| 11/2 | Nov 3 & 5 | Students will learn about the clinical diagnostic criteria of Gender Dysphoria, Feeding and Eating disorders | Readings: Gender Dysphoria pg511 & Feeding and Eating Disorders pg295 |
| 11/9 | Nov 10 & 12 | Students will learn about the many facets of social work with people who are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders & Conduct disorders | Readings: Neurodevelopmental Disorders pg35 & Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders pg521 |
| 11/16 | Nov 17 & 19 | Students will learn about the many facets of social work with people who are diagnosed with personality disorders | Readings: "Personality Disorders" pg733 (DSM-5-TR) |
| 11/23 | Nov 24 & 26 (NO CLASS ON 26 - FALL BREAK) | Students will develop an awareness of his or her perspective on specific case conceptualization diagnoses based on student's accounts | CASE CONCEPTUALIZATIONS |
| 11/30 | Dec 1 & 3 | Students will develop an awareness of his or her perspective on specific case conceptualization diagnoses based on student's accounts | CASE CONCEPTUALIZATIONS |
| 12/7 | Dec 8 & 10 | Final | FINAL EXAM ON BLACKBOARD |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.