Below is a list of all graduate courses offered by the Psychology Department for matriculated students. A full list of courses offered by the Psychology Department can also be found in the course catalog.
PSYC 504 – Cognitive Psychology (3 credits)
This course provides students with in-depth exposure to classic and contemporary theories and research in cognition. Specific topics covered include neuroscience, attention, perception, memory, knowledge representation, language, reasoning and decision-making, and natural and artificial intelligence. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 506 – Multicultural Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course is designed to expose students to multicultural issues which are central to theory, practice and research. The course focuses on awareness, knowledge, and skills. Awareness is centered on understanding multiple value systems and worldviews and gaining insight into one’s own cultural socialization and inherent biases. Knowledge focuses on acquiring accurate understanding of various cultural groups. Skills relate to specific culturally appropriate and tailored interventions. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 510 – Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Psychology, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc, Industrial Organizational Psychology, or School Psychologist programs. This course addresses skills needed to read, understand and critically evaluate research reports. Students also learn how to carry out the entire research process, beginning with identifying the research problem and ending with a thesis or research report. Factorial analysis of variance and the major multiple correlational designs are explained. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 520 – Human Experimental Psychology (4 credits)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 510. Students survey methods and topics in human experimental psychology by conducting, analyzing, and reporting on experiments on topics to be drawn from cognition, memory, language, perception, learning, sensation, and neuropsychology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab.
PSYC 546 – Data Science for Social Scientists (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 550 (or comparable course) with a B or higher and a minimum GPA of 3.0 or by Department/Instructor approval. Exceptions will be made for students demonstrating exemplary talent (e.g., honors, involvement, challenging coursework). Proficiency with introductory statistics recommended (e.g., ANOVA, regression). Preference for those pursuing advanced education, applied research, or working a faculty lab. This course is an intermediate introduction to data analytics for social scientists using open-source statistical and graphical programming language (e.g., R, Python) to capture, visualize, analyze, and, ultimately, create rich insights about human behavior. The course is broken into three sections: (i) fundamentals of programming (e.g., R, Python), including data types, functions, importing, manipulation, and database fundamentals; (ii) psychological statistics, including visualization, ANOVA, regression, conditional process modeling, and path analysis; and (iii) data science tools, including generating reports and web apps, web scraping, machine learning, and natural language processing. No programming experience required. Ideal for students pursuing advanced education, career in applied data analysis, or interested in statistical reasoning about human behavior.
PSYC 550 – Quantitative and Statistical Methods (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Psychology, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc ClinicalPsyc, Industrial Organizational Psychology, or School Psychologist programs. This course presents the theory and use of simple and factorial ANOVA, regression, and covariance to analyze representative psychological data. The use of computer packages for analysis is included. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 551 – Latina/o Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course examines the personal, familial, social, cultural and institutional forces that affect the psychology of Latina/os and explores how these factors impact assessment and treatment. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 552 – Social Psychology (3 credits)
This course surveys and analyzes the theoretical and empirical literature of modern social psychology. Among topics covered are the history of social psychology, attitude development and change, aggression, helping behavior, social perception, stereotyping and prejudice, social influence, and a number of other themes and issues focused on the individual’s relationship to the larger social structure. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 559 – Personnel Selection: Issues and Procedures (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course addresses statistical, conceptual, and legal issues in organizational selection processes. Students learn about the role of individual differences, job performance, and job analysis in formulating and validating predictive hypotheses of employee success. Other topics include the consideration of applicant attitudes, discrimination, and utility in judging the success of selection systems, as well as methods of employee assessment and how these assessments must be conducted in order to be fair and successful. Students complete applied projects that require statistical analyses and gaining access to an organization to collect information necessary to develop selection procedures for a particular position. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 560 – Advanced Educational Psychology (3 credits)
A comprehensive treatment of the cognitive and affective characteristics of the learner and the processes of learning and teaching provide the framework for this course. Behavioral, cognitive, and information-processing theory are presented and their applicability to instructional strategies and classroom dynamics is discussed. Other areas included are the origins of individual differences, including heredity and environment, early childhood education, cultural differences, student motivation, classroom management, measurement and evaluation, exceptional children, and other topics. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 561 – Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
Philosophical, conceptual, theoretical, and research issues pertinent to human development from prenatal life to adulthood are presented. Core conceptual issues of development, such as the nature-nurture controversy, the continuity-discontinuity issue, and the issue of stability-instability, are discussed, and their relationships to major theories in developmental psychology are examined. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 563 – Theories of Learning (3 credits)
The aim of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of modern learning theory, its historical context, theoretical ideas, research, and applications. To this end, the theoretical ideas of the major schools of learning–behaviorism, gestalt, cognitivism, and information-processing–are reviewed. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 565 – Developmental Psychopathology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Psychology, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc ClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, or School Psychologist programs. This course covers the development and diagnosis of psychological disorders, including mood, anxiety, disruptive behavior, substance use, and autism spectrum disorders. Students learn the developmental psychopathology framework and explore the characteristics, course, and etiology of psychological disorders. Emphasis is placed on examining relationships between cognitive, biological, social, and other factors which influence the developmental origins and consequences of emotional and behavioral problems, particularly in childhood and adolescence. This course also addresses issues associated with assessment, classification, and diagnosis, and students are expected to learn diagnostic categories and criteria from the most recent edition of the DSM. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 566 – Interventions for Effective Organizations (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course examines interventions based on psychological principles that are used to enhance individual and organizational effectiveness. Common interventions covered include training and development programs, executive coaching, leader and leadership development, talent management, organizational design, and innovation processes. Knowledge and skills important to developing these interventions and facilitating them in applied settings are developed. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 568 – Psychology of Group Dynamics (3 credits)
This course presents theories of group dynamics and illustrative application to understand personal, marital, political, industrial, and professional life. Personal participation by the student in a group interactive process is required. The course is designed especially to help group leaders understand the complex underlying dynamic forces that influence our behavior in groups. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 569 – Group Theory and Development in Organizations (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course integrates theory and research on workgroups with more practical applications of development and assessment of these groups. Students learn about factors that can facilitate and inhibit the development and effectiveness of successful workgroups. Students learn various models of group development and team process, as well as different ways of assessing team effectiveness. Students are engaged in team projects throughout the semester to learn how working in groups and teams differs from working alone and working in a more traditionally hierarchical fashion. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 570 – Leadership: Theory and Development (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course integrates theories, research, and practice in leadership and leadership development. Students learn historical and contemporary psychological theories of leadership and how their own (and others) personal views about leadership influence what they perceive as leadership. Students also learn how to develop leaders and leadership in organizations as suggested by various theories. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 571 – Organizational Psychology (3 credits)
This course examines the psychological aspects of organizational behavior. Emphasis is placed on the organization affected by individual psychological processes and behavior. Areas covered include social norms, group and team processes, leadership and power, motivation, job attitudes and satisfaction, and organizational change. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 573 – Behavioral Neuroscience (3 credits)
This course addresses the physiological bases of normal and abnormal behavior, with emphasis on the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the human nervous system. Beginning with the nerve cell, the course progresses through the receptors, spinal cord, cortical and subcortical structures, psychosurgery, biofeedback and other topics. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 574 – Cognitive Assessment (3 credits) Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/AdolescClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, or School Psychologist programs. Special fee. Students learn how to administer, score and interpret individual intelligence tests, including the Wechsler Intelligence Scales. Intelligence tests for use with children and adolescents, such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, are covered. Theories of intelligence and the appropriateness of the tests to specific populations are discussed. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 575 – Clinical Assessment (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/AdolescClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, or School Psychologist programs. Special fee. This course addresses the theory and practice of clinical assessment. Students learn various methods for assessing social, emotional, and behavioral problems, including unstructured and structured interviews, surveys, and rating scales. Students gain knowledge and skills of interviewing and report writing needed to engage clients, with emphasis on strategies for interviewing children, adolescents, and families. Instruments are reviewed from the standpoints of basic research and the mechanics of administration and scoring. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 577 – Practicum in Psychoeducational Assessment I (1 credit)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc and School Psychologist programs. This course represents the first in a series of two one-credit semester supervised practicum experiences in psychoeducational assessment at the University’s on-campus assessment clinic. Students are involved in planning and administration of psychoeducational evaluations of clients, as well as scoring and interpretation. Students also participate in feedback sessions with clients and families.
PSYC 578 – Psychometrics (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Psychology, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc ClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, Industrial Organizational Psychology, or School Psychologist programs. This course surveys the theory, construction, and application of psychological tests. Topics include the statistical concepts underlying measurement, reliability and validity, critical analyses of selected tests, and evaluation and interpretation of test data in practical situations. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 579 – Practicum in Psychoeducational Assessment II (1 credit)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc and School Psychologist programs. This course is the second in a series of two one-credit semester supervised practicum experiences in psychoeducational assessment at the University’s on-campus assessment clinic. Students are involved in planning and administration of psychoeducational evaluations of clients, as well as scoring and interpretation. Students also participate in feedback sessions with clients and families.
PSYC 582 – Behavior Modification (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc and School Psychologist. This course reviews applications of conditioning principles to changing human behavior in clinical, educational, occupational, and community settings. Selected topics include operant and classical conditioning, social learning theory, token economies, experimental design, cognitive behavior modification, aversive control, cognitive restructuring, biofeedback, and ethical issues in behavior modification. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 583 – Sensation and Perception (3 credits)
This course addresses a range of visual processing phenomena, from sensory processing to memory and thinking. Topics covered include psychophysics, the physiological bases of vision, involvement of cognitive processes in perception, perceptual development, and psychoaesthetics. The course also examines hearing, the skin senses, smell and taste. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 584 – Performance Management (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course addresses how we motivate and manage individual and group performance in organizations through performance management systems. Students learn about how performance is managed, methods of collecting performance feedback, using performance management for evaluation and development purposes, and biases and consistency issues in performance appraisals. This course also covers criterion measurement and development, the use of motivational theory in performance management, sources of performance feedback, and communicating performance feedback. Students are responsible for gaining entrance into an organization and collecting the information necessary to develop a performance management system for that organization. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 585 – Work Attitudes and Motivation: Theory and Application (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course integrates theory on work attitudes and motivation with more practical applications of developing strategies to help today’s diverse population of employees become satisfied and motivated in their work settings. Students learn historical and contemporary theories of job satisfaction, stress, and motivation, assessment of these constructs, and strategies for improving satisfaction and motivation, such as goal setting, job design, incentive systems and participation in decision making. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 592 – Health Psychology (3 credits)
This course explores the theoretical, empirical, and clinical aspects of health psychology. Discussion focuses on the relation of health psychology to other areas of psychology and various scientific disciplines. Students learn about the field’s historical development, research methodologies, theoretical models and evidence-based interventions. Three hours seminar.
PSYC 593 – Clinical Interviewing (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course integrates the theory and practice of clinical interviewing. The goals of this course are to facilitate the development of the student’s listening, diagnostic and therapeutic interviewing skills. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 594 – School-Based Interventions (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course focuses on theory, research, and implementation of school-based psychosocial interventions for children, adolescents, and their families. Students learn interviewing and treatment strategies to address various childhood problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, trauma, bullying) in the context of school and classroom settings. Issues and challenges involved in implementing interventions in schools are discussed. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 601 – Behavioral Assessment and Intervention (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course provides training in techniques of behavioral assessment, including direct observation, interviews, checklists, and rating scales. Assessment is considered from an empirically-based, problem-solving model, in which students learn to select assessment tools appropriate to referral questions. Students complete a functional behavioral assessment and develop a behavior intervention plan through a supervised experience in a school setting. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 602 – Introduction to Forensic Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. The objective of this course is to broadly expose students to the discipline of forensic psychology and provide an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the psychologist working within the justice system. This course introduces students to major topics and issues in forensic psychology and is divided into two sections. The first section examines forensic psychology as it relates to clinical prediction, assessment, and treatment in the civil and criminal justice systems. The second section focuses on experimental forensic psychology, orienting students to non-clinical issues faced by psychologists operating in these arenas. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 611 – Internship in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course serves as a capstone experience where students work in an applied setting and receive close and ongoing supervision by both a faculty member and a practitioner with a graduate I/O (or related) degree working in industry. Students are expected to review theory and research relevant to the field of I/O, develop individual project proposals for the investigation of a problem in their applied setting, implement their proposals after approval by their faculty member, and report their completed work in both a written and an oral report for the MA degree. Must be taken twice in consecutive semesters for a total of 6.0 credits.
PSYC 613 – Research Methods in Forensic Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. This course introduces students to methods and techniques used to generate empirical research within the discipline of forensic psychology. Emphasis is placed on experimental and quasi-experimental designs. Students are introduced to the major data analytic strategies used in psychology research, as well as the ethical and legal challenges inherent in forensic psychology research. This course enables students to be educated consumers of the forensic psychological literature and to evaluate the merits of such research for its integration into forensic practice. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 615 – Crisis Intervention and Response for Schools Psychologists (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 574 and PSYC 575; and PSYC 594 may be taken as prerequisite or corequisite. Restriction(s): Matriculation in graduate program in the Psychology department. This course provides an overview of comprehensive safety initiatives that focus on family-school community collaboration and preventive/responsive services through school psychology service delivery. Students learn evidence-based strategies in preventing and preparing for school crises and addressing/responding to crisis situations in schools and communities. The course includes elements of the NASP PREPaRE curriculum, an evidence based approach to crisis prevention, intervention and response in schools and communities.
PSYC 620 – Forensic Psychology in Criminal Proceedings (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. An examination of substantive criminal law in the United States, with emphasis on analysis of the justification of punishment, definition of offenses, Constitutional limits, significance of resulting harm, group criminality, and methods of exculpation or defense that impact the practice of clinical forensic psychology. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 622 – Forensic Psychology in Family Proceedings (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. Children in the last few decades have been given special recognition and increased protection under state, federal, and international law. However, doctrines and beliefs developed in periods when the social value of children was low, as well as when the legal duties of parents and the state were minimal, continue to influence the way the law views children. This course surveys various areas of the law concerning children and examines their sources and influences. Topics covered include responsibilities of the state and family in the care of the child, including education, legal treatment of abused and neglected children, rules concerning the medical treatment of children, adoption, surrogacy and parentage, treatment of children accused of crimes in the juvenile justice system, children’s disabilities, and government entitlement programs for children. This course also examines the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that seeks to render universal certain rules respecting the treatment of children. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 626 – Expert Testimony (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. A study of the law and rules (with particular attention given to the Federal Rules of Evidence) governing the proof of disputed issues of fact in criminal and civil trials, including the functions of judge and jury; relevancy; real and demonstrative evidence; authentication and production of writings; the examination, competency, and privileges of witnesses; hearsay; impeachment; and burden of proof, presumptions, and judicial notice in the practice of clinical forensic psychology. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 650 – Theories of Interpersonal and Familial Violence (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. This course examines the psychological, criminological, and sociobiological theories of interpersonal and familial violence, as well as the psychological disorders commonly encountered in the context of individuals who may be perpetrators or victims of violence. This course spans topics related to both criminal and family court evaluations and involves review, critical evaluation, and integration of current scientific literature regarding diagnoses, phenomenology, and etiology of behavior. Topics include, but are not limited to, sexual violence, homicide, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect. This course also explores relevant state and federal statute and case law regulating mental health professional practice. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 658 – Seminar in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Industrial Organizational Psychology program. This course covers the most recent advances, issues, and problems in Industrial and Organizational Psychology through relevant professional journals, technical literature, legislation and judicial decisions, advanced research techniques, and consulting practice in order to prepare students for continued education or applied practice of the field. Students critique professional journals and review the development of topics in the field. Three hours seminar.
PSYC 659 – Special Topics Seminar in Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Psychology, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc ClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, Industrial Organizational Psychology, or School Psychologist programs. This course provides an in-depth view of important theoretical and methodological issues in various areas of psychology. It is designed to permit faculty with particular interests and expertise to provide students with a comprehensive analysis of a selected contemporary issue (or issues) in psychology. May be repeated two times for a maximum of nine credits as long as each course topic is different. Three hours seminar.
PSYC 661 – Introduction to School Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course provides an introduction to the profession and practice of school psychology. Topics include the history and foundations of school psychology, roles and functions of school psychologists, professional issues and standards, and contemporary issues and anticipated future directions in the field. Students also participate in a practicum experience, in which they learn about the roles, skills, and credentials required of school psychologists by directly observing a school psychologist employed in a K-12 school setting.
PSYC 662 – Externship in School Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. Students serve as apprentice psychologists in cooperating school districts. A certified school psychologist, employed in the cooperating district, serves as the student’s on-site supervisor. Students meet weekly with the faculty instructor for additional supervision.
PSYC 663 – Independent Study (1-3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Departmental approval. The student conducts an individual project under the supervision of a professor in the department. May be taken only once for a maximum of 3.0 credits.
PSYC 664 – Criminal Forensic Assessment (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. This course examines issues related to conducting assessments for the criminal courts. Students review and critique case law and current psycho-legal research as they pertain to forensic assessment and are exposed to current, empirically supported practices in forensic assessment in several domains, including, but not limited to, violence risk, adjudicative competency, mitigation and criminal responsibility, and specific issues related to the assessment of youth charged in criminal court. Emphasis is placed on preparing written reports for the criminal courts and ethical issues often experienced in criminal forensic settings. Students learn how to administer commonly used Forensic Assessment Instruments (FAIs) and how to integrate FAI data and other testing data into assessment reports. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 665 – Child and Family Forensic Assessment (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. This course examines issues related to conducting assessments concerning children and families for the civil courts. Students review and critique current research in forensic psychology pertaining to child and family forensic assessment, as well as developing case law, such as family law in divorce and dissolution. Current assessment practices, including the use of objective and projective (including actuarial) measures, is taught. Emphasis is placed on constructing written reports and ethical issues often experienced in forensic settings related to children and families. This course also addresses forensic mental health areas involving children and families, such as child abuse and neglect (including medical neglect), risk and safety (including domestic violence), custody and parenting time, and termination of parental rights. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 667 – Lifespan Psychopathology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Psychology, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc ClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, Industrial Organizational, or School Psychologist programs. This course focuses on theoretical models and selected research in psychopathology across the lifespan. Students are expected to learn diagnostic categories and criteria from the most recent edition of the DSM, including anxiety and mood disorders, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and somatic symptom disorders. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 668 – Consultation Methods in Psychoeducational Settings (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course examines the theory and practice of consultation in psychoeducational settings. Students learn a collaborative, problem-solving model of consultation and about intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systemic factors associated with successful consultation. As part of the course, students serve as a consultant to a teacher under direct supervision and monitoring. Cross-listed with Curriculum and Teaching, SPED 668. Three hours lecture, one hour other.
PSYC 670 – Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions I (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/AdolescClinicalPsyc program. This course provides an overview of the theory, research, and practice of evidence-based psychotherapy. In addition to emphasizing the development of the student’s basic therapeutic and counseling skills, this course focuses largely on psychological interventions for anxiety, mood, and other emotional disorders, including intervention strategies for children and adolescents. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 671 – Interventions in Forensic Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc program. This course reviews treatment concepts, techniques, and programs for youths and adults involved with the legal system, in both criminal justice and family/child protection domains. In the criminal justice domain, the course addresses evidence‐based cognitive behavioral and multimodal treatments for justice-involved individuals, including those that target risk factors for reoffending, subtypes of justice‐involved persons, and common non‐criminogenic needs among correctional populations. Attention is also paid to assessment and multicultural issues in correctional psychology. In the family and child protection domain, topics include interventions that focus on issues concerning parents or caregivers, as well as interventions that emphasize the family. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. 3 hours lecture.
PSYC 672 – Academic Assessment and Intervention (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc and School Psychologist programs. This course introduces students to evidence-based academic assessment and intervention practices. Students learn about a variety of formative and summative assessment tools as well as intervention techniques in the areas of reading, writing, and math. Course topics include the identification of specific learning disabilities, the implementation and evaluation of systems-level interventions, and multicultural issues in academic service delivery. 3 hours lecture.
PSYC 678 – Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc ClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, or School Psychologist programs. This course provides a survey of ethical and professional issues in psychology practice, teaching, and research. Through readings, discussions, and case analyses, this course aims to provide students familiarity with the Ethics Code of the American Psychological Association (APA) and skills for ethical decision making and resolution of ethical dilemmas in psychology. Three hours seminar.
PSYC 679 – Family Systems and Therapy (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc Clinical Psyc or School Psychologist programs. This course examines theoretical approaches to family systems and therapy. Students learn family-based approaches to common internalizing and externalizing disorders of childhood and adolescence, including anxiety, mood, substance use, and disruptive behavior disorders. This course also covers issues of family functioning that have special relevance for the development of emotional and behavioral problems, including trauma, maltreatment, domestic violence, divorce, and parental psychopathology. Three hours lecture.
PSYC 680 – Externship in Clinical Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Clinical Psyc w/conc:Child/Adolesc ClinicalPsyc, Clinical Psyc w/conc:Forensic Psyc, or School Psychologist programs. Students complete a supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting, such as a hospital, community mental health center, or school. Depending on their placements, students may provide supervised intake interviews, psychological assessments, and individual, group, and family therapy. On-site supervision takes place under the direction of a licensed mental health professional, in cooperation with the Director of Clinical Training and program directors at Montclair State. Students also meet with a Montclair State faculty supervisor on a weekly basis. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits.
PSYC 691 – I/O Research Seminar Readings (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 510, PSYC 550, and PSYC 578. The purpose of this capstone research course is to identify a current topic of interest in Psychology to serve as a basis for review of the literature and planning for an applied research project. Students will work together with a faculty member to research a general topic of interest in the literature and then plan multiple empirical projects to develop I/O PhD and MA student’s procedural skills in conceptualizing, designing, gathering, and analyzing original data. Students will develop in-depth knowledge about a current topic of interest in a field of psychology, as well as sets of testable hypotheses and expectations as a basis for an applied research project. 3 hours seminar.
PSYC 692 – I/O Research Seminar Defense (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 691. This course is a continuation of the research proposal developed in PSYC 691. Students will execute their research project under the direction of faculty member and research advisor, including successful IRB approval and empirical data collection for use in hypothesis testing and statistical analysis. This includes actively recruiting participants, programming experiments, managing data collection, analyzing results, and drafting a professional poster and presentation of findings. Students will defend their final applied research project to the entire I/O psychology program to complete this course. 3 hours seminar.
PSYC 698 – Master’s Thesis (4 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Departmental approval. Independent research project done under faculty advisement. Students must follow the Montclair State University Thesis Guidelines, which may be obtained from the Graduate School. Students should take PSYC 699 if they do not complete PSYC 698 within the semester.
PSYC 699 – Master’s Thesis Extension (1 credit)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 698. Continuation of Master’s Thesis Project. Thesis Extension will be graded as IP (in Progress) until thesis is completed, at which time a grade of Pass or Fail will be given.
PSYC 701 – Trauma-Related Disorders and Treatments (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology. In this course, students learn about the nature and prevalence of exposure to potentially traumatic events and trauma-related disorders, including Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Reactive Attachment Disorder. Biological, developmental, psychological, and socio-cultural contributions to the onset and persistence of trauma-related symptoms are discussed. Finally, the course provides an overview of empirically supported treatments for trauma-related disorders, among them Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
PSYC 702 – Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions II (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology. This course provides an introduction to the theory, research, and practice of evidence-based psychotherapy. It is the second course in a two-course sequence, following Evidence-Based Interventions I. In addition to continued development of the student’s basic therapeutic and counseling skills, this course focuses largely on psychological interventions for disruptive behavior, impulse control, substance use, addictive and eating disorders.
PSYC 709 – Seminar in Clinical Child Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in PhD Program in Clinical Psychology. This course provides an in-depth survey of important theoretical and methodological issues within clinical child psychology. It is designed to allow faculty with particular interests and expertise in clinical child psychology to provide breadth and depth of exposure to a selected contemporary topic (or topics) in the field, such as pediatric psychology, early childhood mental health, and dissemination and implementation science.
PSYC 725 – Psychological Science and the Law (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology. This seminar is designed to expose the student to classic and contemporary issues in psychology and law. The course examines research in a variety of areas in which psychology intersects with the legal system, including areas such as procedural justice, eyewitness identifications, jury decision-making, plea bargains and interrogation. The focus is on both basic and applied issues raised by the readings. How has the research advanced relevant psychological theory and what are the implications for future research? To what extent does or should the research inform public policy? Students discuss basic psychological theory, relevant case law, and methodological issues associated with conducting research in psychology and law. Issues related to social science evidence, including expert testimony of clinical psychologists, are also addressed.
PSYC 739 – Multivariate Statistics (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Graduate Psychology Programs and PSYC 550, or departmental approval. This course provides a survey of multivariate statistical techniques that are typically used in psychological research. Topics covered include but are not limited to multiple regression, logistic regression, factor analysis, and methods for handling missing data. The course includes lecture and laboratory components.
PSYC 740 – Theory Building and Model Testing (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Graduate Psychology Programs and PSYC 550, or departmental approval. This course explores advanced and specialized topics in psychological research methods. It aims to familiarize students with the nature of psychological theory and causal claims, application of structural equation modeling, and methodological pitfalls in power, measurement and replication.
PSYC 741 – Hierarchical Linear Modeling (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 550 (or equivalent) and PSYC 739 or by departmental approval. Restriction(s): Matriculation in any Psychology PhD program. This course introduces the theory and application of multilevel statistical models. These models are used in studies where individuals are nested within groups (e.g., therapy dyads, families, teams, organizations, schools) and/or measured repeatedly over time. The course emphasizes application and introduces computer programming using software such as SPSS, R, and Mplus.
PSYC 745 – History and Systems of Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in Graduate Psychology Programs or departmental approval. This course provides students with foundational knowledge and skills in studying the history of modern psychology. Topics include the philosophical underpinnings of modern psychology, the emergence of theory and research in Europe and America, and the various innovations that led to the development of clinical, school, and forensic psychology, respectively. Students also explore psychology’s historical social agenda and consider its impact on contemporary social issues and practice.
PSYC 780 – Pre-Doctoral Practicum (1 credit)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; and Permission of Doctoral Program Director. Students in the Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology are required to complete a series of pre-doctoral practica, which are part-time, supervised placements in clinical settings. Students are expected to deliver assessment, intervention, consultation, and/or other psychological services. On-site supervision is typically provided by a licensed doctoral-level psychologist, in cooperation with the Associate Director of Clinical Training (DCT). Students are required to complete six credits of PSYC 780 and are eligible, with permission from the Associate DCT, to take an additional six credits over the course of their matriculation.
PSYC 855 – Consulting Skills in Organizations (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in I/O Psychology PhD program. Consulting skills for I/O psychologists are assessed and developed. Models for consulting for both external and internal consultants are used as the basis for developing skills and strategies for ethical practice in individual, team, and organizational change. Skills to deliver evidence-based interventions and their applications to enhancing organizational functioning are assessed and developed. 3 hours seminar.
PSYC 857 – Occupational Health Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in I/O PhD program. This course focuses on multidisciplinary research on work, workers, and health. Employment experiences are central in adult life and understanding them in terms of physical and mental health is an important multidisciplinary issue. Occupational health psychology encompasses several interrelated areas, including 1) employee and occupational safety, 2) work, stress, and health, and the prevention of work-related illness, accidents, and other negative outcomes, 3) workplace attitudes and climate and culture of workplaces that promote health (e.g., work and family balance), 4) workplace deviance, including violence, aggression, and theft and other expressions of malfeasance, and 5) cross-cultural differences in the strain to health process. Students survey current literature in developing an in-depth understanding of these areas. 3 hours seminar.
PSYC 858 – Organizational Development and Change (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in I/O PhD program. This course provides students with different perspectives on organizational development at the individual, group, and organizational levels of analysis, along with emphasis on the organization’s external operation environment, strategy, and structure. Theoretical models on what causes, facilitates, and inhibits change are considered, along with real-world case analyses. In addition, this course covers the role of being a consultant, including how to enter a site, how to lead the implementation of an organizational change effort, how to effective facilitate change across complex systems, and how to help leaders minimize “losses” arising from inevitable disruption. Consequently, the course is structured to cover both the “process” and the “content” of organizational development. 3 hours seminar.
PSYC 859 – Advanced Seminar in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in I/O Psychology PhD program. This is an advanced-level doctoral seminar of a specialized I/O psychology topic rooted in a faculty member’s expertise. This course aims to promote in-depth mastery of a focused topic, help doctoral students formulate cutting-edge research questions, and promote high-level critical thinking around assumptions and evidence. Examples of possible topics include, but are not limited to, emotions and work, human learning, organizational decision-making, leadership development, and counterproductive work behavior. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours.
PSYC 894 – Seminar in Professional Practice (3 credits)
Restriction(s): Matriculation in the PhD in Clinical Psychology. This course focuses on professional areas of practice including teaching, supervision, consultation, and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills. Contemporary issues and controversies of interest to new professionals in the field are also explored.
PSYC 895 – Pre-Doctoral Internship I (1 credit)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Permission of Doctoral Program Director. Students in the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology are required to complete a pre-doctoral internship, which is comprised of an advanced, one-year full-time placement in a clinical setting determined by the Doctoral Program Director and the student. Students complete PSYC 895 in the Fall semester, followed by PSYC 896 in the Spring semester.
PSYC 896 – Pre-Doctoral Internship II (1 credit)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 895 and matriculation in the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Permission of Doctoral Program Director. Students in the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology are required to complete a pre-doctoral internship, which is comprised of an advanced, one-year full-time placement in a clinical setting determined by the Doctoral Program Director and the student. Students complete PSYC 895 in the Fall semester, followed by PSYC 896 in the Spring semester.
PSYC 900 – Dissertation Advisement (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Permission of Graduate Advisor required. This department requires 12 credits of PSYC 900. While enrolled in PSYC 900, students will work with their Dissertation Chair and their Dissertation Committee. Credits are reported as IP (In Progress) while the dissertation is being written. At the conclusion of the dissertation defense, a final grade of Pass or Fail will be recorded.
PSYC 901 – Dissertation Extension (1 credit)
Prerequisite(s): 12 credits of PSYC 900, Dissertation Advisement. Matriculation in the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Permission of Graduate Advisor required. Once students have acquired 12 credits of PSYC 900, Dissertation Advisement, they must enroll in 1 credit of PSYC 901 in every semester in which they intend to work on the dissertation, up to and including the semester of the defense. Credits are reported as IP (In Progress) while the dissertation is being written. At the conclusion of the dissertation defense, a final grade of Pass or Fail will be recorded. PSYC 901 may be repeated until the time limitation for completion of the doctoral program, as specified in the Doctoral Policy Manual, has been reached.