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 in their application packets, as well as their student Handbook when they matriculate

Introduction to International Disaster Psychology

This is the first course in a two course sequence designed to provide the entering MA student with a fluent understanding of the area of International Disaster Psychology. The course will cover the evolution of IDP from its beginnings to its present status. It will review the different innovations in the area. Potential subject areas include: the treatment of refugees, torture victims, child soldiers, internally displaced persons and complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Psychopathology and Diagnosis

Causes, classification and treatment of behavioral disorders, including adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, behavioral disorders of childhood and adolescence, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, substance abuse disorders, sexual disorders and personality disorders.

Statistics

General statistical principles and techniques and their application to psychological and psycho-legal issues.

Cross Cultural Analysis I

The first course in a two-part series designed to provide students with an understanding of cross cultural analysis. The course will provide an understanding of diverse cultures. Students will review historical literature in the area of cross cultural understanding. Students will also be taught methodologies for conceptualizing and understanding diverse cultures and cross cultural practices in psychology.

Small Group Seminar

Small group seminar is a small group class designed to provide students a discussion forum to share and integrate their experiences in the program. Students are expected to address and share their field placement experiences with other students in the seminar. The seminar will also provide instruction on the implementation of theory in IDP to practice in multiple settings. Faculty will provide supervision for the student’s field placements.

International Disaster Psychology II

This is the second course in the two part introductory sequence. Students will continue to learn about the field of IDP and future trends for the field. The course will address specific subject areas within the field in order to provide students with the working knowledge needed to continue to pursue advanced training in the area. Potential subject areas will include treatment of refugees, torture victims, and working in post conflict areas across the globe.

Ethics

The course is designed to educate students about the ethical guidelines in psychology applicable to the field of IDP. Students will learn the APA Ethics Code as well as other more specialized IDP ethics guidelines. Students will be expected to identify, address, and resolve potential ethical conflicts. Potential future trends in the developments of ethics in the IDP field will be addressed.

Research Methods

The course provides a review and critique of psychological research, epistemology, design and method, with a focus on forensic and clinical populations.

Cross Cultural Analysis II

This is the second course in the two course sequence designed to provide students with a working knowledge of cross cultural issues as well as an understanding of the cultural cultural awareness necessary to work in diverse cultures. The theory and practice of cultural assessment will be addressed. The course will also address the strengths and weaknesses of various models of cultural analysis.

Psychology of Loss and Grief

The course provides a review of the present status of the psychology of loss and grief. The applicable literature will be reviewed. The model for dealing with grief and loss in individual and group settings will be discussed. Diverse cultural differences in addressing grief and loss will be covered as well as multicultural interventions to address the needs of those who have experienced grief and loss.

International public health

This course will provide an overview to the many issues concerning international public health today. Topics will include basic epidemiology, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal diseases, injury prevention, and environmental health. Specific attention will be given to examining the intersection between disease prevention and disaster mitigation.

Program Evaluation

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

Group Interventions

An overview of the dynamics of group process. The current literature and research in group dynamics will be covered. The course will address the interaction between culture and group dynamics. Psychosocial and organizational group interventions will be presented. The ethics of working in a group and organizational setting will also be addressed.

Issues in Measurement

Critical assessment of various psychological tests, with an emphasis on validity, reliability and issues of standardization.

Crisis Intervention

Clinical approaches to handling psychosocial crises.

Application of Multicultural Issues in International Disaster Psychology

Students will spend one quarter in various international locations working in full-time internships with international non-profit organizations applying the priniciples and knowledge obtained during study in the IDP program. Students will work under faculty and professional supervision.

Gender Based Violence

Gender based violence will cover issues as they relate cross-culturally. Special attention will be directed towards descriptions of programs approaching these issues and the challenges of designing and implementing such programs in various cultural environments.

Family Systems

A comprehensive review of family therapy concepts and treatment theories. A review of the applicable literature of family therapy is provided with an emphasis on cross-cultural models and interventions.

Psychodynamic Theory

Traditional and modern theories of psychodynamic concepts will be presented. Students are instructed on the use of such theories as a tool to structure interventions in their field work.

Trauma and Child Development

This courses reviews the literature regarding childhood trauma and its implications for child and adult development. Models for the conceptualization of trauma and for treatment of childhood trauma are discussed. Cross-cultural theories of childhood development and trauma are emphasized.

Clinical Interviewing

Theoretical and practical issues related to clinical interviewing in international and national disaster settings.

Psychotherapy Children & Families

This course will provide an understanding of various psychotherapeutic approaches to children and families.  The perspectives and techniques of play therapy, behavioral interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy and integrative work with parents and families will be explored.

Psychotherapy Interventions

This course will survey different theoretical models of psychotherapy with an emphasis on specific intervention approaches.