Course Descriptions

*Courses eligible for transfer of credit. A maximum of 2 elective courses may be eligible.
-Click on each course for full description.
640 A&B Clinical Practice Seminar

1 credit hour each, 2 credit hours total

Students are oriented to professional, ethical and clinical issues of practice, and are taught basic professional skills, including documentation, record keeping, mental status examinations, suicide assessment, initial intake procedures, treatment planning, and case presentation. Students must demonstrate competency in documentation and treatment planning.

650 Introduction to Cognitive Assessment

3 credit hours

Students are introduced to the major cognitive assessment instruments commonly used in clinical practice. Key issues in assessment such as reliability, validity, and cultural factors are given strong emphasis. Students must demonstrate competency in administration and scoring of several instruments and introductory report writing.

651 Introduction to Personality Assessment

3 credit hours

Students are instructed in the theories of personality assessment and the characteristics of several major assessment instruments. Students must demonstrate competency in the administration and scoring of projective and non-projective instruments and introductory report writing.

653* Introduction to Psychopathology

3 credit hours

An examination of systems used to classify mental disorders and research issues relevant to psychopathology. Students are introduced to the DSM and ICD systems which are used as an overview of both child and adult mental disorders.

654* Lifespan Developmental Psychology

3 credit hours

Developmental milestones and critical periods with emphasis on early development and its bearing on psychological well-being and psychological disorder over the entire life-span. Developmental problems in maturity will also be addressed.

655 Ethics and Professional Issues

3 credit hours

An overview of the history and current practice of clinical psychology with emphasis on professional issues. Students will be exposed to the composition and operation of professional organization, the relevant codes and standards of ethics for practice (e.g. APA), and the related research and theoretical literature. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of sound strategies for resolving ethical dilemmas. Considerable attention is given to cultural and gender issues in ethical decisions.

656* Introduction to History & Systems of Psychology

3 credit hours

Study of the historical development of psychology with emphasis on major theoretical schools, philosophies, and systems of thought of clinical psychology. Relevance to current theoretical perspectives and systems of professional practice is stressed.

657* Personality Theories

3 credit hours

Intensive study of psychodynamic, phenomenological, social, cognitive, and behavioral theories. Emphasis on individual differences and systematic application of personality theory to professional practice. Cultural factors are addressed with respect to the various theories.

658 Empirically Supported Procedures

3 credit hours

Overview of most common clinical interventions that have empirical support. The course examines the outcomes of therapeutic interventions and the conclusions drawn from this research. Students are exposed to the basics of each of the major intervention models. Cultural factors as a component in the understanding and application of the interventions are emphasized.

659* Research & Experimental Methods in Psychology

3 credit hours

Research principles, including the scientific method, the bases for reporting research and critical analysis of research are covered. Students are required to prepare a research proposal. Basic issues in experimental psychology including diversity and ethics will be discussed.

660 Introduction to Clinical Skills

3 credit hours

This course will introduce students to the practice of clinical psychology emphasizing the acquisition and application of basic counseling and treatment skills. Students will demonstrate competency in documentation, case conceptualization, and foundational treatment skills through role play with supervisory observation.

665 Diversity in Clinical Practice

3 credit hours

Students will be taught to understand and value contributions from diverse groups and to recognize cultural influences on their own beliefs, values, and behavior. Socio-economic, cultural, and political marginalization of disadvantaged groups will also be discussed in relation to clinical practice.

685* Social Psychology

3 credit hours

A comprehensive course involving intensive study of the major contributions of social psychology to knowledge of the individual in social settings. Contemporary as well as classical studies will be given serious attention. The relationship of social psychology with clinical psychology will be explored.

740 Community Psychology & Consultation

3 credit hours

The course examines the application of psychological theories and principles to community settings with emphasis on consultation and intervention. Includes mental health service delivery systems as well as other social systems and policies. Relevance to contemporary cultural and social factors, and economic problems is stressed.

752 Assessment: Integration and Interpretation

3 credit hours

3 credit hoursStudents will review a variety of adult and child assessment instruments. Testing correlates related to the DSM-5 diagnosis will be presented. Emphasis will be placed on analysis of test data using an integrated approach. Case studies will be discussed and students will interpret and write psychological reports from them. Ethics and cultural diversity will be discussed throughout the semester. #650 and #651 are prerequisites.

753 Adult Psychopathology

3 credit hours

An advanced examination of disorders of adulthood stressing classification systems, theoretical perspectives, research findings, differential diagnosis and application to clinical practice. Includes emphasis on psychodynamic, behavioral, and medical model approaches. #653 is a prerequisite.

754 Child Psychopathology

3 credit hours

An advanced examination of disorders of childhood and adolescence stressing classification systems, theoretical perspectives, research findings, differential diagnosis and application to clinical practice. Includes emphasis on psychodynamic, behavioral, and medical model approaches. #653 is a prerequisite.

760* Cognitive & Affective Bases of Behavior

3 credit hours

Students will review major findings in memory, attention, language, reasoning and emotion and the ways emotion and cognition interact. The application of this information to clinical practice is explored.

761 A&B Research Seminar

1 credit each, 2 credit hours total

Students in the dissertation development process choose ideas and obtain feedback regarding their projects from peers and the instructor. Students gain experience with statistical resources and APA and WSPP writing formats. Research ideas are refined and students begin to develop a dissertation proposal. #659 is a prerequisite.

762 Psychological Measurement

3 credit hours

This course will present the central concepts of psychological measurement, concepts underlying the development and use of commonly employed measures of psychological functioning, such as intelligence, achievement, and personality. Reliability, validity, principles of test construction and prediction will be emphasized. Current issues in measurement theory, including ethics related to testing, diversity, test bias, clinical vs. statistical prediction, and computer interpreted testing will be discussed.

771 Psychotherapy: Process & Relationships

3 credit hours

This course focuses on putting knowledge and skills obtained in previous therapy courses into practice. Hands-on clinical experience along with close supervision provided. Students must demonstrate skills in case presentation. Students will role play intervention sessions and present recordings to class. #660 is a prerequisite.

783 Group Psychotherapy & Practicum

4 credit hours

Emphasizes the role of group processes in psychotherapeutic intervention. Focus on theory, research and clinical application of interactive variables in groups and social situations. Supervised clinical training is included. Student must have access to a group treatment experience during the course. #660 is a prerequisite.

790 Biopsychology

3 credit hours

Students learn the interface between biology and clinical psychology. The course covers anatomy and brain structure in addition to major physical systems. Introduces students to the fundamentals of psychopharmacology and covers issues such as the biological impact of substance abuse and the biological substrate of mental disorders. This course is a prerequisite for all of the Health Psychology electives.

791* Psychopharmacology

3 credit hours

Health Psychology Elective - The course provides students with practical knowledge of psychotropic medications often used with clients in outpatient care. Major classes of medications will be addressed with application to diagnostic classifications emphasized. Cultural and ethical issues are explored. #790 is a prerequisite. One HP elective is required.

792* Integrated Practice

3 credit hours

Health Psychology Elective - The course is an introduction to the integration of clinical psychology practice and medical service delivery in a primary care context. The competencies that enable a psychologist to perform in this environment are emphasized. #790 is a prerequisite. One HP elective is required.

795* Neuropsychology

3 credit hours

Health Psychology Elective. The course is a broad overview of human neuroanatomy, neuropsychological issues, and assessment pertaining to a general psychological practice. #790 is a prerequisite. One HP elective is required.

840 Adult Dynamic Psychotherapy & Practicum

4 credit hours

Individual techniques of intervention including supportive, insight-oriented, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. The student must be engaged in an active supervised clinical experience with an adult client. #771 is a prerequisite.

841 Child Dynamic Psychotherapy & Practicum

4 credit hours

Individual techniques of intervention including supportive, insight-oriented, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. The student must be engaged in an active supervised clinical experience with a child or adolescent client. #771 is a prerequisite.

845 Adult Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy & Practicum

4 credit hours

Application of learning principles and cognitive psychology to therapeutic intervention with adults in a variety of contexts including individual, marital, couples, family, and group settings. The student must be engaged in an active supervised clinical experience with an adult client. #771 is a prerequisite.

846 Child Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy & Practicum

4 credit hours

Application of learning principles and cognitive psychology to therapeutic intervention with children, adolescents and their families, with an emphasis on developmental factors impacting selection of appropriate treatment techniques. The student must be engaged in an active supervised clinical experience with a child or adolescent client. #771 is a prerequisite.

850 A&B Adult Assessment & Practicum

4 credit hours each

The student must demonstrate competency in interpretation, integration, diagnostic evaluation and report writing. Includes non-projective and projective techniques and assessment of cognitive abilities and personality. This is a two semester course sequence. Students must complete a comprehensive assessment report on an adult client. #752 is a prerequisite.

851 A&B Child Assessment & Practicum

4 credit hours each

The student must demonstrate competency in interpretation, integration, diagnostic evaluation and report writing. Includes non-projective and projective techniques and assessment of cognitive abilities and personality. This is a two semester course sequence. Students must complete a comprehensive assessment report on a child client. #752 is a prerequisite.

860 Advanced Statistics & Research

3 credit hours

Introduces the student to advanced statistical techniques with an emphasis on understanding statistics commonly used in clinical research. Also discusses research design issues to help students become more critical consumers of research and apply this knowledge to their dissertations. #761 A & B and #861 are prerequisites.

861 Research Seminar – Advanced

1 credit

Students in the dissertation development process choose ideas and obtain feedback regarding their projects from peers and the instructor. Students gain experience with statistical resources and APA and WSPP writing formats. Research ideas are refined and students begin to develop a dissertation proposal. #659 is a prerequisite.

865 Supervision in Clinical Psychology

3 credit hours

Students learn models of supervision in clinical psychology. Opportunity for the practice of clinical supervision is provided. The ethical and cultural issues and best practices in the field are reviewed.