Courses

Sample Course Listing ONLY
Below are courses typically offered at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it meant to be a list of required courses. Courses and course descriptions often change. Students are provided current course lists their student Handbook when they matriculate.Students may also incorporate coursework from other University departments with the approval of their advisor.

Health Psychology

This course offers a broad overview of the salient empirical and theoretical aspects of health psychology and behavioral medicine. The course will emphasize the role that psychological variables play in the development, exacerbation, treatment and prognosis of both acute and chronic illness. We will also highlight sociopolitical and cultural discourse surrounding end-of-life decision making, healthcare accessibility and the phenomenology of a disabled population.

Radical Behavioral/Functional Contextual Models

Designed to provide an historical, philosophical and conceptual background this course will help students to better understand and appreciate Behaviorist views of being-in-the world. The course lays the foundation for the sophisticated application of a science of behaviorits theories and methodsto the assessment of clinical problems and the art of doing psychotherapy. The course will invite a little discomfort, disturb some preconceptions, and compel students to address some difficult questions and thorny issues. Among the goals of this course are to see students commit to becoming more than a psychologist technician, to encourage them to develop a guiding philosophical core in their practice as a psychologist; to assist them in clarifying or deepening whatever philosophical worldview they may hold; and achieve an informed understanding of radical behaviorism/functional contextualism.

Cognitive Models

Philosophical bases of cognitive models of personality, psychopathology, and psychotherapy; nature of cognition and relationship to emotion, behavior, and physiology; uses of cognitive models to answer clinical quest ions.

Psychoanalytic Models

An overview of psychoanalytic theorizing, from Freud’s original work in the 1890s to present relational perspectives.

Systems Models

An introduction to the basic concepts of open systems theory and their application in psychology; focus on family systems, groups, and organizations.

Statistics for the Clinician

Uses of statistical principles and techniques to answer professionally relevant questions; evaluation of empirically based literature; development of skills for using computer statistical packages to analyze empirical observations of clinical information. Prerequisite: undergraduate or graduate course in statistics.

Clinical Research Design

Basic research design tools with which to critique both clinical psychology research reports and ones own clinical work (e.g. single case design).

Program Evaluation Techniques

Theory and techniques for developing management information and assessment systems for human service programs.

Clinical Inference

Explores the issues and problems involved in clinical inference and presents the process of clinical inference.

Issues in Measurement

Validity, reliability, and standardization issues in psychological testing; statistical properties of commonly used tests.

Life Cycle
Infancy and Early Childhood

Directed toward understanding normal development of children (0-6 years), seeks to integrate theory, research, and a phenomenological perspective.

Life Cycle
Late Childhood and Adolescence

Directed toward understanding normal development of children (718 years), seeks to integrate theory, research, and a phenomenological perspective.

Life Cycle
Early and Middle Adulthood

Examines major theories, life events, crisis, and stress in these life phases, with emphasis on the diversity of adult experience.

Life Cycle
Late Adulthood

Examines the theories of aging; social, psychological, and biological changes; assessment and intervention methods.

Group Dynamics

Focus on the dynamics of task-oriented, non-therapy groups, covering such issues as communication, group roles, norms, stages, decision making, sex role factors, and conflict management. Experiential format used in conjunction with mini-lectures and assigned readings.

Social Psychology

Theories of social phenomena important for the professional psychologist.

Humanistic-Existential Theory and Therapy

Examines historical roots and basic assumptions of existential and humanistic views. Students encouraged to integrate materials with their personal values and assumptions about human nature and their interaction with clients.

Physiological Psychology I, II

Introduction to the terminology, principles of, and research in physiological psychology. Where possible, application made to content and practice of clinical psychology. (3 qtr. hrs. each)

Ethical Issues in Psychology

In-depth consideration of ethical standards applicable to the science and practice of psychology; pertinent laws and legal standards governing the practice of psychology; areas in which legal and ethical standards suggest contradictory actions on the part of the clinical psychologist.

Professional Issues in Psychology

Origin and impact of the health care revolution, with particular attention to the challenges it presents to psychologists and other mental health service providers. Explores issues in managed care; HMOs, PPOs, and EAPs; guidelines for evaluating, contracting, and collaborating with managed care organizations; solo versus group practice options; time-efficient, brief, and outcome-oriented treatment; credentialing, capitation, professional liability, and risk management issues. Focuses on the future beyond managed care for the developing psychologist.

Ethnic Minority Issues in Psychology

Deals with the unique aspects of psychological assessment and treatment as applied to ethnic minority populations. For advanced students.

Professional Seminar

Varied Topics: Class sessions devoted to practical training in assessment, therapy, and other professional techniques. Enrollment for 4 quarters per year. Prerequisite: admission to PsyD program.

Learning Bases of Emotional Disorder I, II

Overview of learning theory principles and application of this knowledge to formulation of various behavior disorders. First quarter anxiety and psychophysiologic disorders; second quarter affective, addictive, appetitive, social behavior, and psychotic disorders.

Child Psychopathology

Introduces a framework within which to classify childhood behavior; examines the psychodynamics of the major psychoneurotic and psychotic disorders of childhood.

Adult Psychopathology I, II, III

Theoretical understanding and treatment of adults within a developmental, ego analytic framework. First quarter differences between the neuroses, borderline, and psychoses; second quarter the neuroses; third quarter personality disorders and the psychoses.

Cognitive Assessment

Introduction to issues involving intelligence and its measurement, assessment of cognitive functioning, and clinical interpretation of test results, focusing on the WAIS-R (and child equivalents).

Introduction to the Rorschach

Use of Exners Comprehensive System for administering, scoring, and developing basic interpretive hypotheses with the Rorschach Test.

Advanced Personality Assessment I, II

Interpretation of projective techniques including Rorschach, storytelling tasks, and projective drawings, with a focus both on test content and the patient-examiner relationship in the context of the role of the diagnostic consultant.

Integration of inferences drawn from projective and objective personality techniques, behavioral observations, and the patient-examiner relationship into a written report.

Objective Personality Assessment

Examination of the construction and application of objective instruments. Emphasis on the MMPI and MCMI. Students are required to submit test reports.

Behavioral Analysis and Therapy I, II

Overview of behavioral assessment and treatment assumptions, principles, and methods. First quarter application of this knowledge to the anxiety disorders; second quarter application of this knowledge to various behavior disorders.

Introduction to Neuropsychology

Introduces two basic frameworks by which to understand brain structure and function: 1) basic neuroanatomy and 2) Lurias theories of brain function. Introduction to syndrome analysis and process-oriented qualitative approach to neuropsychology.

Clinical Neuropsychology

Clinical application of neuroanatomy and Lurias theories of brain function; integration of neuropsychologically based models of personality and psychopathology with neuropsychological assessment. Introduction to the clinical application of a syndrome-analysis/process-oriented qualitative approach to neuropsychological assessment. Includes case presentations.

Treatment of Children

Psychotherapeutic treatment of children emphasizing a psychodynamic perspective; both theoretical and practical issues of case management.

Child and Family Behavior Therapy

Overview of behavioral assessment and treatment assumptions, principles, and methods, with application of this knowledge to child and family problems. Use of behavioral methodology in school, home, and other settings.

Adolescent Therapy

Theory and practice of treatment with adolescents from an ego psychoanalytic point of view.

Adolescent Therapy

Theory and practice of treatment with adolescents from an ego psychoanalytic point of view.

Object Relations Theory

Concepts of personality structure and ego functions. The writings of the British School (Klein, Fairbairn, Bion, and Winnicott) examined and evaluated.

Contemporary Psychoanalytic Thought

Examines issues in psychoanalytic theory and technique under current consideration in the literature. Explores such contemporary trends as self psychology and intersubjectivity theory.

Family Therapy

Introduction to the theory and practice of family therapy, including examination of demonstration cases. Perspectives covered include behavioral, structural, strategic, experiential, and psychodynamic family therapy.

Couples Therapy

Use of integrative systems theory in understanding and changing a family, focusing on learning and practicing specific intervention strategies.

Group Psychotherapy

This class will explore the process of group psychotherapy via an interpersonal model based on Yalom’s notion of group psychotherapy. We will also explore multicultural issues. The class will be experiential in nature. This class is a requirement for students who want to be lab leaders for the Multicutural Sequence.

Group Intervention

Review of approaches to group interventions other than formal group psycho- therapy, including 12-step programs, self-help, and support groups of all types. The role psychologists may play in such groups and which ones may be useful as adjuncts to therapy.

Hypnotherapy

Focus on the clinical application of hypnosis, including demonstrations and opportunity to practice beginning hypnotic techniques.

Substance Abuse

Overview of the classifications and behavioral effects of drugs of abuse, assessment techniques, diagnostic criteria (including differential and dual diagnosis), theoretical approaches to the treatment of substance abuse and current research issues in the area.

Cognitive Therapy

Discussion of clinical issues and techniques from the perspective of cognitive clinical theory. Topics might include use of the relationship, integration of contingency management, and when (and when not) to ask, how does that feel to you?

Trauma

Conceptual model for treating trauma; incidence and specific treatment techniques for various types of trauma (e.g., combat vets, survivors of natural disasters, and victims of childhood abuse); professional issues relating to trauma (e.g., secondary PTSD and ethical issues). Students exposed to a wide variety of reading and expected to integrate current research into clinical application. For advanced students who have both a clinical and conceptual background.

History and Systems in Psychology

Basic psychological concepts surveyed from a historical point of view, tracing development of psychological bases of professional practice.

Psychopharmacology

Beginning skills for assessing the need for and utility of psychoactive medications in helping diverse patient populations.

Issues in Forensic Psychology I, II

Overview of psychological concepts and methods used in forensic assessments. In addition to consideration of pertinent topic areas (forensic hypnosis, research on the reliability of eyewitness testimony, jury selection, etc.), course prepares students to assume the roles of expert witnesses in legal settings.

Provides students with the psychological, legal, historical, and practical skills to provide expert witness testimony in a variety of psycholegal settings and cases.

Psychology of Women

Overview of psychological issues that particularly affect women. Potential topics include domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse, empowerment issues, women and work, women in relationships, and mental health issues of women.

Philosophy of Science

Examines philosophical assumptions of science in general and of psychology in particular so students understand what science is and what it is not, the foundations of scientific psychology, and the role of science in contemporary professional psychology.

African American Studies

Explores issues relevant to African American history, culture, and experience. Topics include, but are not limited to, the role of psychology in the perpetuation of racism, critical issues in treatment, and the future of psychology in working with this population.