PSYCH 708A/B : Clinical Neuropsychology
Science
2025 Semester One (1253) / Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Capabilities Developed in this Course
Capability 1: | People and Place |
Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
Capability 6: | Communication |
Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a good working knowledge of neuroanatomy and common types of neuropathology. (Capability 3)
- Develop proficiency in the administration and scoring of specific neuropsychological tests (i.e., WAIS-IV, WMS-IV, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, Oral Word Fluency, California Verbal Learning Test), as well as a basic familiarity with additional test protocols (e.g., NART, Token test, Wisconsin Card Sort). (Capability 3 and 7)
- Demonstrate an understanding of and critically evaluate the general principles and approaches in neuropsychology, including strengths, weaknesses and its limitations with respect to Aotearoa, Māori and other cultures. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 8)
- Demonstrate an understanding of neuropsychological profiles and issues involved in working with different areas of neuropsychological dysfunction (e.g., aphasia, spatial disorders, dementia, head injury), as well as specific client groups (e.g., children, different cultural groups). (Capability 1, 3 and 8)
- Analyse and interpret neuropsychological profiles, utilizing clinical, health, social, educational and cultural history and information. (Capability 1, 4 and 5)
- Develop neuropsychological formulations and make clinical recommendations related to individual client data and history. (Capability 4, 5 and 6)
- Critically evaluate an issue in the literature related to their seminar topic in depth, to demonstrate their ability to synthesise and critically evaluate research. (Capability 4)
Assessments
Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
---|---|---|
Practical | 5% | Group & Individual Coursework |
Test | 10% | Individual Test |
Case Studies | 35% | Individual Coursework |
Presentation | 5% | Group Coursework |
Essay | 15% | Individual Coursework |
Final Exam | 30% | Individual Examination |
6 types | 100% |
Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
Practical | ||||||||||
Test | ||||||||||
Case Studies | ||||||||||
Presentation | ||||||||||
Essay | ||||||||||
Final Exam |
Special Requirements
- Practical work (test protocols) will be conducted out of scheduled class times in groups and may be off-campus if preferred by the students.
- There will be one test conducted outside of scheduled class hours.
Tuākana
Workload Expectations
Following University guidelines, a 30 point course represents about 300 hours of study. As a standard 30-point course students are expected to spend 10-12 hours per week on the course. For this course, you can expect a total of 54 hours of lectures/class discussions, 6 hours of tutorial, 24 hours of practical, 50 hours of reading and 142 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
This is a double semester course (708 A & B). During Semester 1, in a typical teaching week there will be 3 contact hours per week, comprising 30 hours of lectures or seminars and 6 hours of tutorials. That leaves a total of 90 hour across the semester for independent study (approximately 24 hours for practical work and 66 hours for reading and thinking about the content, working on assignments and test preparation).
During Semester 2, in a typical teaching week there will be 2 hours of contact per week (lectures, seminars, case study discussions), leaving 102 hours across the whole semester for coursework and independent study (reading and thinking about the content and case studies, working on case studies and the assignment and exam preparation).
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
- Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including lectures, to complete components of the course.
- The course will not include live online events, including group discussions.
- Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
- The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
- Lezak, M. D., Howieson D.B., Bigler, E.D. Tranel, D. (2012). Neuropsychological Assessment (5th ed) (minimum Chpt 1 – 8; 20), OUP, New York. This may be read in the library.
- Ogden, J. A. (2005). Fractured Minds: A case study approach to clinical neuropsychology (2nd Ed), OUP, New York.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.