Psychology Course Descriptions

PSY 5000 - Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (3)

Prerequisites: Acceptance in Psychology Graduate Program and Permission of Instructor
An introduction to research design and statistical methods in Psychology. Topics include experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational methods; measurement and sampling; descriptive statistics; inferential statistics for differences between sample means; correlation and regression; non-parametric statistics.

PSY 5010 - Death, Dying and Bereavement (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
An overview of death issues from a multicultural, developmental perspective. Topics covered include changing attitudes, the American death system, death across the lifespan, coping, supporting caregivers, ethical/legal issues, funeral and memorialization practices.

PSY 5020 - Human Development: Adult and Aging (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
The scientific study of human development in the adult years. Attention will be given to continuity and change in social, emotional, and intellectual functioning and how support systems influence growth and decline.

PSY 5030 - Introduction to Educational Psychology (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
Provides prospective teachers an understanding of basic behavioral, cognitive, developmental, and motivational processes as they apply in the context of education.

PSY 5040 - Behavior Modification: Theories and Practice (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
Emphasis is placed on the theories, principles and techniques of cognitive and behavioral management for use in schools, clinics, hospitals and agencies.

PSY 5060 - Group Dynamics (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
Analysis of the nature and origin of small groups and interaction processes. Emphasis on methodology, group development, conflict, group think, decision making, leadership and task performance.

PSY 5070 - Introduction to Educational Psychology (3)

Prerequisites: Acceptance in Psychology Graduate Program and Permission of Instructor
Provides prospective teachers an understanding of the way students learn and develop. The learning process, its determining conditions and its results will be emphasized. The course will also provide an overview of child and adolescent development as it relates to student behavior. Instructional strategies and assessment will also be covered. Individual research projects in a specific topic relevant to educational psychology is required.

PSY 5080 - Advanced Abnormal Psychology (3)

Prerequisites: Acceptance in Psychology Graduate Program and Permission of Instructor
Diagnostic issues relevant to current diagnostic typologies, DSM-IV, will be reviewed. Emphasis will be on etiology from various theoretical perspectives, differential diagnosis and treatment.

PSY 5090 - Social and Community Psychology (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
The mutual interaction of individuals with social institutions and the dynamics of behavior in a social context.

PSY 5100 - Advanced Physiological Psychology (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
An in-depth study of the structures of the brain and their relationship to and control of behavior. Emphasis is placed upon current research findings.

PSY 5110 - Life-span Development (3)

Prerequisites: PSY 3100 or PSY 3110 and/or Permission of Instructor
The scientific study of human development across the life-span through examination of theoretical and empirical materials. The emphasis is on continuity and change in the physical, cognitive and psychosocial domains.

PSY 5120 - Human Factors (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
An introduction to the basic topics in the field of Human Factors Engineering. The course addresses human functional limitations in areas such as sensation and perception, learning and memory, motor skills and ergonomics. How this knowledge is applied toward the optimal design of instruments, equipment and the workplace is emphasized.

PSY 5140 - Advanced Educational Psychology (3)

Prerequisite: PSY 3130 or equivalent and/or Permission of Instructor
Planned for all school personnel. Emphasis is on the application of research in the behavioral science to practical school situation, including assessment of student abilities, program planning, conditions of learning, evaluation of achievement and classroom interaction.

PSY 5190 - Psychological Assessment (3)

Prerequisites: PSY 2010 and PSY 3280 or PSY 3290 and Permission of Instructor
The distinction between psychometric testing and psychological assessment is emphasized. Attention is given to the role of the psychologist in a variety of work environments, methods of assessment and integration of data obtained through the assessment process.

PSY 5250 - History and Systems of Psychology (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
Development of psychology from the philosophical antecedents to its present status as a science and a profession. Each system of ideas, which has contributed to the development of psychology, will be studied and evaluated.

PSY 5270 - Foundations of Applied Psychology (3)

An overview of selected areas within the discipline of scientific psychology that forms a foundation for advanced study in specific areas of applied psychology. Topics to be emphasized include cognition, learning, social psychology, personality, intelligence, motivation, and emotion.

PSY 5300 - Learning and Cognition (3)

Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor
An advanced course which reviews current research and theory on cognitive processes and components of learning. Topics include: principles of learning, concept formation, reasoning, problem solving, attention and psycholinguistics.

PSY 5320 - Learning and Behavioral Disorders (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
Overview of theories, etiological factors, assessment and treatment of learning disabilities and behavior disorders. Educational and psychological treatment alternatives are emphasized.

PSY 5400 - Theories of Counseling (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
The philosophy and theories of counseling, the roles and responsibilities of counselors, ethical practices of counselors and current issues in counseling are covered as well as issues related to the therapeutic atmosphere.

PSY 5410 - Counseling Techniques (3)

Prerequisites: Admission to Community Counseling or School Counseling Programs, PSY 5400, or Permission of Instructor
Co-requisite: Must be taken concurrently with PSY 5411
Didactic and experimental methods to develop both counseling and consultation skills necessary in a multicultural society. Progress will be monitored by tape review, live supervision and weekly supervisory review.

PSY 5411 - Skill Development in Counseling (3)

Prerequisites: Admission to Community Counseling or School Counseling Programs, PSY 5400, or Permission of Instructor
Co-requisite: Must be taken concurrently with PSY 5410
The application of skills learned in PSY 5410 involving counseling sessions. Students receive weekly supervision of counseling sessions.

PSY 5420 - Advanced Counseling Techniques (3)

Prerequisites: PSY 5410 with a grade of "B" or better and Permission of Instructor
Co-requisite: Must be taken concurrently with PSY 5421
Refinement of counseling skills. Some emphasis on areas of special and multicultural concerns included in individual and group processes. Counseling sessions will be video taped. Supervision will take place weekly with some live supervision.

PSY 5421 - Advanced Skill Development in Counseling (3)

Prerequisites: PSY 5410 with a grade of "B" or better and Permission of Instructor
Co-requisite: Must be taken concurrently with PSY 5420
Further application of counseling skills learned in PSY 5410 and PSY 5420 involving practice counseling sessions and weekly supervision.

PSY 5430 - Group Theories and Techniques (3)

Prerequisites: PSY 5400, PSY 5410 and Permission of Instructor
Students will facilitate or co-facilitate a weekly personal growth group under the supervision of the instructor. Various techniques of group facilitation for both structured and unstructured groups will be taught and evaluated within supervision sessions. Supervision will occur each week prior to group counseling. Students are required to be a member of a group.

PSY 5440 - Diversity Issues in Counseling (3)

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
An understanding of counseling with diverse populations, counseling issues that pertain to race, gender, class, lifestyle, ethnicity, theoretical frameworks and research in cross-cultural counseling.