Course Overview and Descriptions | PSYC | Psychology Department

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The program is designed to be completed in 15 months over the course of 5 terms. Students will be expected to complete two courses per term. Each class requires approximately three hours of in class instruction each week and additional work outside of traditional instruction.

Courses.

PSYC622 Research Methods in Clinical Psychology (3 credits)

Examines issues and strategies in conceptual systems, designs and methodologies of current research in clinical and community psychology. Readings include critical analyses of published research.

PSYC623 Child Psychopathology (3 credits)

Examines the scientific and clinical literature relevant to normal and pathological behavior in children and adolescents. Issues in developmental psychopathology and consideration of processes initiated in childhood which manifest as pathology in adulthood are also considered.

PSYC624 Adult Psychopathology (3 credits)

Examines the scientific and clinical literature relevant to normal and pathological behavior in adults and associated nosological systems for categorizing psychopathology. Issues relevant to etiology, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning are also considered.

PSYC625 Clinical Assessment: Psychometric Principles, Testing, and Behavior (3 credits)

An examination of fundamental principles of psychological assessment, application of these principles to the development of evidence-based assessments of clinical conditions and associated behaviors, and application of evidence-based assessments to the evaluation and understanding of clinical conditions evaluated and treated in therapeutic settings.

PSYC630 Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Adults (3 credits)

Introduces students to the process of therapy with particular focus on behavioral focus on behavioral and cognitive behavioral interventions. Course content focuses on theory, research, client diversity, ethics, and practical aspects of conducting therapy.

PSYC632 Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Children and Adolescents (3 credits)

Introduces students to the process of therapy with particular focus on behavioral and cognitive behavioral interventions in children and adolescents. Syllabus focuses on theory, research, client diversity, ethics and practical aspects of conducting therapy.

PSYC643 Ethical and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology (3 credits)

An overview of the ethical and professional issues involved in psychological research, instruction, and practice, with special attention to advocacy and ethical decision making regarding a variety of primary, secondary, and tertiary clinical/community interventions.

PSYC644 Basic Foundations of Clinical Interventions (3 credits)

This course provides a general introduction to the theory and basic principles that underlie behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Provides an introduction to the philosophical, theoretical and empirical contributions of basic behavior analysis as they relate to therapy.

PSYC 650 Culture and Diversity in Mental Health (3 credits)

This course examines the literature regarding the role of culture and diversity in mental health. It will cover how culture and diversity are integrated into research and are related to mental health and utilization of mental health services. Principles and concepts of multicultural and cross-cultural psychology will be examined to acquire an increased understanding of diverse underrepresented groups. The course will facilitate learning about effective clinical work and research with individuals with diverse backgrounds including different cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic status.

PSYC 651 Writing and Critical Thinking (3 credits)

In this course, students will produce a research paper that reviews the literature on an instructor-approved topic in Clinical Psychological Science. The goal is to allow for immersion and depth of understanding in a clinical topic most relevant to the student’s interests or current employment while developing critical thinking and professional writing skills. Students will have the opportunity to submit several drafts of their paper for review and feedback in order to maximize the quality of scientific writing. The course will further emphasize how to critically evaluate clinical research.