Curriculum

• PSY 507 – Statistics and Research Design
• PSY 609 – Scientific Writing in Psychology
• PSY 625 – Advanced Personality

• PSY 564 – Advanced Developmental Psychology
• PSY 602 – Clinical Psychopathology
• PSY 630 – Graduate Research Capstone Or PSY 699 – Master’s Thesis

• PSY 528 - Human Sexuality
• PSY 646 - Social and Multicultural Foundations of Practice

• PSY 596 - Techniques of Therapy
• PSY 635 - Group Therapy
• PSY 610 – Clinical Assessment

• PSY 615 – Legal, Ethical & Professional Issues for Clinicians
• PSY 628 – Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning
• PSY 640 – Cognitive Behavioral Therapies

• PSY 643 – Vocational Psychology
• PSY 645 – Community Psychology

• PSY 594 – Physiology & Treatment of Substance Abuse
• PSY 675 – Clinical Psychology Internship

• PSY 621 Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy
• PSY 675 – Clinical Psychology Internship

Emphasis on theoretical and practical interpretation of psychological and educational research results. Prerequisite: PSY 320 or equivalent (Fall)

A survey of issues, theories and scientific findings with regard to physiological, developmental and emotional aspects of sexuality, as well as issues of sexual dysfunction and its treatment. (Summer Bi-Annually)

This course is intended or professionals in mental health related fields who are peripherally engaged in the direct diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders but require sufficient knowledge of such disorders to make appropriate referrals. Description of selected mental disorders from a DSM perspective and empirically based intervention options will be emphasized. Prerequisite: Introduction to Psychology. (Spring)

Physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development throughout the lifespan. Prerequisite: PSY 283 or equivalent (Spring)

Consideration of habituating and addicting drugs, including alcohol, and their effects upon society. Prerequisite: PSY 390 or equivalent (Fall)

Counseling theories and techniques of behavior change and psychotherapeutic intervention. Prerequisite: PSY 602. (Fall)

Detailed presentation and discussion of topical issues within the field of clinical psychology. (Occasional offering)

Detailed description and analysis of the DSM with an exploration of case history materials. Diagnostic and therapeutic issues are considered. Prerequisite: PSY 314 or equivalent and PSY 625 (Spring)

This course uses a scientist-practitioner model approach to train students in the process of scientific writing in psychology. More specifically, students will gain experience in the research process by finding, reading, critically evaluating, and analyzing peer reviewed literature, and subsequently integrating information and communicating findings for a clinical audience. Co-requisite: PSY 507. (Fall)

Rationale, administration, scoring, and interpretation and report writing of the most current editions of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the MMPI, and other personality measures. Prerequisites PSY 320 or equivalent. (Special fee)(Fall)

Consideration of issues of confidentiality, certification and licensing, ethical and legal codes, standards of preparation and practice, identity and roles of mental health professionals, psychologists, and counselors, and the goals and objectives of professional organizations of counselors and psychologists. (Spring)

Reviews psychology of learning, integrating applied behavior management techniques. Students are trained in functional behavior assessment. (Occasional Offering)

This course provides an in-depth examination of cognitive-behavioral family therapies. Students will critically analyze the psychological empirical evidence supporting the use of Cognitive-Behavioral psychotherapy techniques with families, children and adolescents. Students will examine the DSM-5 disorders that occur within the family setting. Students will develop the skills to provide evidence-based psychological interventions, such as Cognitive Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and Acceptance Therapies that attempt to change behavior by altering thoughts, interpretations, assumption and strategies of responding within the family environment. Prerequisite: PSY 596. (Spring)

Historical foundations, contemporary theory, and research in the area of personality. Prerequisite: PSY 325 or equivalent (Fall)

This course examines the intersection of law and forensic psychology. This course explores the legal history that forms the foundation of psycholegal research and the caselaw that underpins clinical forensic psychology practice. Students will critically analyze the role of psycholegal research in court rulings, policy setting, and the development of statutes within the judicial system. Further, students will examine the landmark legal cases that have informed the practice of forensic psychologists. The focus will be on cases pertaining to principles of clinical forensic practice, such as competency, confidentiality and privilege, expert testimony, as well as cases relevant to forensic psychologists practicing within the legal system, such as duty to warn, criminal dangerousness, criminal responsibility, and child abuse. (Occasional Offering)

The graduate research capstone is a supervised, independent research project the scope of which is to demonstrate master’s-level competence in the development, execution, write-up, and presentation of psychological research. It is offered with the credit/no-credit option only. Prerequisites: PSY 507 and PSY 609. (Spring)

This course examines the role of psychological principles and research in contemporary issues within the legal and law enforcement systems. The focus of this course will be the application of experimental areas of psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, developmental) to evaluating various aspects of the criminal justice system, which will serve as a foundation for research and practical work in the field of forensic psychology. Students will gain an appreciation for the application of psychological principles in and out of the courtroom, critically analyzing empirical research on topics such as police investigations, interrogations and false confessions, deception detection, eyewitness memory and identification procedures, juries, and legal decision making. (Occasional Offering)

Introduction to theories, practice, and research findings of group psychotherapy. Issues are explored through readings and participation in an ongoing group. Leader interventions are analyzed in terms of integrating group process and interpersonal phenomena. Prerequisite: PSY 602. (Fall)

This course is designed to develop critical skills in, and applied knowledge of, the field of forensic psychology. The rationale of the course is to provide advanced training for students in the application of forensic based assessment and treatment modalities commonly used by the forensic psychologist in legal, civil, and correctional settings. Students will critically analyze forensic assessment techniques and apply them to the treatment and management of mentally disordered offenders. This course will also focus on the role of the forensic psychologist in the daily operation of correctional facilities, including typical duties. Also discussed will be how the forensic psychologist provides aid to law enforcement (local, state, and federal) in profiling, interrogation, and providing psychological evaluations used in the hiring and selection of officers. Prerequisites: PSY 596 (or equivalent), PSY 602 (or equivalent), PSY 610 (or equivalent). (Occasional Offering) 

This course provides an in-depth examination of cognitive behavioral therapies, including a critical analysis of treatments, such as cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, problem solving therapy, and mindfulness and acceptance therapies that attempt to change behavior by altering thoughts, interpretations, assumptions, and strategies of responding. Prerequisite: PSY 596. (Spring)

Exploration of issues surrounding the role of the psychologist in career counseling, including theoretical approaches and research related to vocational development and adjustment. Also addressed are the relationship between career choice and personality style; personal development within diverse populations in a variety of settings; and work as a social issue. Students explore the use and administration of appraisals of interest and aptitude in conjunction with personality assessments. They examine methods used in obtaining, organizing, integrating and utilizing educational and occupational information for psychological reports. (Summer Bi-Annually)

Overview of community psychology as it applies to needs assessment, program planning, development, delivery and evaluation. The role of the psychologist as change agent and consultant is explored with emphasis on an ecological perspective, focusing on the individual in the social environment and the influences that shape and change behavior and mental health. Federal, state and local programs, including location, classification and utilization for referral purposes, are addressed. (Summer Bi-Annually)

Students apply their understanding of clients’ cultural, historical, and sociopolitical context to develop and inform accurate assessment, interpretation, and treatment interventions. Culturally based interventions for working with diverse clients who present with a range of clinical issues are reviewed, with a special emphasis on crisis intervention and the influence of culture in the therapeutic context. Treatment approaches developed from a cultural frame of reference with attention to the intersections of the client’s race, ethnicity, gender, class, acculturation level, and presenting problem are explored and applied to a variety of social settings, including assessments and interventions with children, parents, faculty within schools and human-service agencies. Materials are presented in an interactive seminar format using problem-based learning techniques and role playing. (Summer biannually)

This 700-hour internship provides the opportunity for the student to perform, under supervision in a mental health facility, a variety of clinically-related activities that a licensed professional with a master's degree in clinical psychology would be expected to perform. The clinical experience includes a minimum of 280 hours of direct client contact hours. Weekly meetings with both faculty supervisors and field supervisors are required. Prerequisites: successful completion of all prerequisites, approval by the faculty, and acceptance by the placement site. (Fall, Spring)

The master’s thesis is a supervised, independent research project the scope of which is to demonstrate master’s-level mastery in the development, execution, write-up, and presentation of psychological research. It is offered with the credit/no credit option only. Prerequisites: PSY 507 and PSY 609. (Spring)

Research in residence or continuous registration for all departments/schools offering graduate programs. Offered with credit/no credit option only.

Capstone course which integrates knowledge of assessment, personality, human behavior, and DSM diagnostic criteria into a diagnostic model of case conceptualization, including theoretical frameworks for underlying causes and manifestations of disorders in treatment planning. This course will focus on the use of specific empirically based treatment methods using case history materials and the application of behavioral assessments to assess treatment outcomes. Prerequisites: PSY 596 and PSY 610. (Spring)