PSY6005 - Psychobiology of Stress and Illness

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

Taking a uniquely biological perspective, this module will provide a broad overview of the concepts of stress and illness, and how biological processes are influenced by stressful events. It will consider the scenarios by which pathological conditions can emerge.

Topics to be considered include: stressors, stress appraisal, hormonal changes, neurotransmitter processes, the immune system, cardiovascular disease, affective disorders, addiction, epigenetics, coping strategies, and navigating stigma/seeking help.

As the module progresses, students will proceed towards submission in a structured, weekly fashion. At (two) milestones, groups will be invited to present (informally) on their progress thus far, and the conversation opened up for cohort-wide discussion and lecturer feedback in real time. Groups will also be provided with a personalised podcast (Panopto) revolving around their work thus far, enabling further clarification and points of discussion.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures
Hours: 10
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Seminars
Hours: 15
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 125

Further details relating to assessment
Seminar tasks will facilitate formative assessment. At (two) milestones, groups will be invited to present (informally) on their progress thus far, and the conversation opened up for cohort-wide discussion and lecturer feedback in real time.

Assessment:

001 Group grant proposal; 3,000 words; end of semester 1 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - James Jackson
Level - 6
Credit Value - 15
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6S1

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