PSY 700 Critical Thinking Proseminar
Students are expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the components of critical thinking and the ability to apply these skills. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to accurately evaluate claims, evidence, and conclusions and to develop coherent, well-articulated, convincing, formal arguments.

PSY 701 Research Design and Methodology
All students are expected to possess the ability to conduct scholarly inquiry and to understand complex research problems and issues. This KA provides an overview of research epistemology and ethics, as well as the assumptions that underlie scientific inquiry. Students are expected to be familiar with major research methodologies and designs and to be competent at critiquing existing research studies. Mastery of this KA is fundamental to dissertation research.

PSY 702 Development Bases of Behavior
Normal human development across the lifespan is examined in this KA. Included are the major theories and contributors to the understanding of emotions, cognition, language, social behavior, moral reasoning, intelligence, sex roles, and identity. Students analyze how different developmental approaches/models might conceptualize a given topic of interest.

PSY 703 History and Systems of Psychology
This KA offers a historical understanding of the field of psychology with attention to its major systems and the individuals who contributed to its evolution as an organized discipline. Students demonstrate independent and critical thinking and examine how psychological theory, methods of inquiry, and professional practice are historically and culturally embedded. This KA offers a historical understanding of the field of psychology with attention to its major systems and the individuals who contributed to its evolution as an organized discipline. Students demonstrate independent and critical thinking and examine how psychological theory, methods of inquiry, and professional practice are historically and culturally embedded.

PSY 704 Theories of Personality
This KA explores major personality theories, the status of knowledge regarding personality variables, and primary schools of psychotherapy and behavior change. Students evaluate emic (culture-specific) and etic (universal) hypotheses related to clients from identified groups and develop accurate clinical conceptualizations.

PSY 705 Social Bases of Behavior
The functioning of the individual within the context of the social environment is examined in this KA. It comprises an appraisal of current research and theory in the sub-areas of social psychology, including perception of self and others, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, attitudes and social behaviors, and cultural/sexual roles.

PSY 706 Cognitive and Affective Base of Behavior
Students investigate how human behavior is shaped and modulated by cognition, affect, and their interaction. Findings from the fields of perception, motivation, language, memory, and learning are covered. Topics include artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, metacognition, Gestalt theory, Gibson's ecological view, and Marr's computational approach.

PSY 707 Biological Bases of Behavior
This KA surveys the structural and functional relations of the central nervous system, physiology, sensory processes, and behavior. Study is divided into two subsections: (1) physiological psychology and (2) evolution, genetics, and behavior. Students become familiar with the biology of memory and the biological/genetic aspects of psychiatric disorders.

PSY 708 Psychopathology
This KA presents approaches to the systematic description of psychological disorders: historical, sociopolitical, medical, behavioral, and epidemiological. Topics include the nosological system (DSM-IV), the differential diagnoses among its subcategories, etiology, possible alternatives to the existing system, and research in this field.

PSY 709 Legal, Ethical and Professional Practice
This KA highlights legal and ethical problems that confront psy-chologists in professional practice and the vital issues facing the profession. Students gain knowledge of the APA code of ethics and standards regarding professional practice and demonstrate familiarity with the laws that establish qualifications, rights, and duties of psychologists in their local jurisdiction.

PSY 710 Psychological Assessment
Psychological assessment refers to the appraisal of individuals, groups, and other human systems. This KA examines the assumptions, uses, and limitations of diagnostic appraisal, including the relationship between diagnostic formulations and treatment planning. It also examines the construction, application, and evaluation of prominent personality, aptitude, and ability tests.

PSY 711 Psychotherapy Process and Research
This KA goes beyond an introduction to the primary models of psychotherapy and focuses on process and research. Students develop a conceptual understanding of how psychotherapy works. They become familiar with current issues in practice as well as the state of research, including studies, methods, and contemporary developments.

PSY 712 Multicultural Psychology
This KA addresses the implications of a multicultural perspective for developing improved approaches to social and individual problems and intergroup and international conflict. The aim of this KA is to progress toward intercultural competence in the theory and practice of clinical psychology.

PSY 715 Psychological Measurement
Tests and measurements refer to standardized instruments used in psychological or educational assessment. This KA involves a basic understanding of the purposes of assessment and their influence on assessment design. Students develop an appreciation of how tests are used in psychological research, including validity considerations in test construction and administration.

PSY 716 Basic Statistics
This non-credit prerequisite for Intermediate Statistics may be waived for students with a satisfactory background in introductory statistics. Course content covers basic concepts and measures in descriptive and inferential statistics, including the chi-square test, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and bivariate regression and correlation analysis. Students typically demonstrate competence in this KA by a written multiple-choice examination.

PSY 717 Intermediate Statistics
All students are expected to have a solid understanding of common statistical procedures and choose appropriate procedures for analyzing research data. This KA develops familiarity with univariate and multivariate tests, including MANOVA and multiple regression, as well as critiques of/alternatives to null hypothesis significance testing. Students learn to manipulate data sets using appropriate statistical software.

PSY 718 Qualitative Data Analysis Software
Qualitative research usually involves analyzing text from transcribed interviews, focus groups, reports, field notes, and other sources. This KA focuses on computer software that extracts patterns and meaning from large amounts of text. Most students learn Nvivo, a further development of NUD*IST. Training sessions on Nvivo are available at research and national sessions. Students may learn other packages with the agreement of their assessor.

PSY 719 Quantitative Data Analysis Software
Quantitative data analysis software programs have simplified storing, processing, and analyzing large amounts of research data. This KA helps students become competent in the use of software such as SPSS. Training sessions on SPSS are available at research and national sessions. Students may learn other packages with the agreement of their assessor.

PSY 720 Advanced Topics in Research
This KA might include coursework in qualitative interviewing, qualitative data analysis, qualitative data presentation, construction of data collection instruments, and advanced research methodology. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 721 Advanced Statistics
This KA might include coursework in causal modeling, classification methods, multi-level modeling, etc. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 722 Content Analysis
This course is designed to understand and create media content that has educational, psychological, and social benefit with the use of new computer text analysis software. Students will learn to conduct, assemble, and synthesize research with narratives and media-based content. Student will analyze, design, test, and revise materials that are responsive to specific audiences and objectives as well as gauging short and long-term impact of an intervention.

PSY 725 Advanced Topics in Cognitive/Affective
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 706 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 726 Advanced Topics in Biological Bases of Behavior
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 707 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 727 Psychopharmacology
This KA extends the study of brain chemistry into the topic of drugs and the chemical treatment of emotional and behavior disorders. This course provides an overview of drugs and biological interventions commonly used in clinical practice, their underlying brain mechanisms, and the research to support their effectiveness.

PSY 728 Neuropsychology
This KA addresses the wide-ranging discipline of clinical neuro-psychology. This field is represented by four emerging areas: the classic analysis of behavioral sequelae to brain damage, including substance abuse; pathology from slow development of specific cognitive functions; neuropsychological deficits based on unusual learning histories which have no organic basis; and the developing and aging brain.

PSY 729 Advanced Topics in Neuropsychology
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 728 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 730 Neuroanatomy
This KA covers the structure and function of the various portions of the brain, what lies next to what, and what does what. Knowledge from this course will help students estimate the structures involved in a given trauma and the functions that are expected to be disrupted by it.

PSY 731 Health Psychology
This KA recognizes the broadening role of psychologists in health care settings. Students examine psychological principles and interventions to treat and prevent illness, promote health, and analyze and improve the health care system. Topics include research on the interaction of psychology, biology, sociology, anthropology, economics, and the environment, as well as controversies, current research, and interventions in the field.

PSY 732 Advanced Topics in Health Psychology
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 731 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 733 Language Development & Pathology
The development of language takes place from birth to adulthood and is directly linked to cognitive and cultural variables that can be understood from multiple perspectives. Language disorders, on the other hand, may involve central deficits in phonemics, semantics, syntax, morphology, and pragmatics. This course focuses on the basic concepts of language development in the early school age years and different forms of language and reading deficits and their remediation.

PSY 734 Neuropsychology of Neurological Disorders
This knowledge area addresses the underlying neurological and organic bases, psychological ramifications, and neuropsychological consequences of common neurological disorders.

PSY 735 Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 702 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 736 Advanced Topics in Social Psychology
Advanced Topics in Social Psychology This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 705 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 737 Advanced Topics in Personality Theories
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 704 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 738 Advanced Topics in Psychopathology
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 708 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 739 Advanced Topics in Psychological Assessment
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 710 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 740 Advanced Topics in Multicultural Psychology
This advanced KA builds on the knowledge gained in PSY 712 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 741 Advanced Topics in Legal, Ethical and Professional Practice
This advanced course builds on the knowledge gained in PSY-709 and goes beyond it. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 745 Consultation and Supervision
Students are expected to develop competence in supervising and consulting with trainees, laypeople, and other professionals. Topics include approaches to supervision, the theories involved, and the major contributors to this area; the supervisory process and predominant ways of supervising; and the structure of the supervisory process.

PSY 746 Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
This KA includes a consideration of the terminology, major figures, and theories of psychopathology and psychotherapy from psychoanalytic and neoanalytic.

PSY 747 Cognitive/Behavioral Psychotherapy
This KA examines the roots of contemporary behavior theory, as well as more recent developments in the behavioral and cognitive.

PSY 748 Humanistic/Existential Psychotherapy
This KA looks at the major concepts and issues of humanistic, existential, phenomenological, and organismic personality theories and their respective approaches to intervention.

PSY 749 Marriage and Family Therapy
This KA embraces historical and cross-cultural views of the complex and changing social unit known as the family, dealing with contemporary theories and current issues in marriage and family.

PSY 750 Group Psychotherapy
Theories of group psychotherapy, practice issues, and research are part of this KA. Major theoretical orientations to group psychotherapy theory are covered, including topics such as group formation and development, dynamics, and leadership. Current research on group interaction, gender issues, and group cohesion form additional areas of study.

PSY 751 Advanced Topics in Psychotherapy
This KA might include coursework in crisis intervention, brief psychotherapy, re-decision therapy, managed care, etc. The specific content of this course must be negotiated and approved with a faculty member using an assessment contract.

PSY 752 Positive Psychology
Positive psychology is an orientation to the field of psychology going beyond the emphasis on illness and pathology and instead examines areas such as happiness, well-being, optimism, and fulfillment. The course readings will examine topics including strength, virtue, and positive institutions; subjective well-being and happiness; the science of happiness; self-esteem; hope and optimism; resiliency; humor, flow, and emotional intelligence; creativity; and the role of religiosity.

PSY 755 Critical Thinking Skills
This KA helps students develop skills that form one of the cornerstones of scholarship as well as provide a thoughtful approach to every aspect of life. Students identify their existing critical thinking skills and learning needs and obtain an under-standing of metacognition, which forms the foundation for critical thinking skill development.

PSY 756 Writing Skills
This KA assists both new students who wish to develop their graduate-level writing skills and ongoing students who wish to polish their skills.

PSY 758 Philosophy of Science
The underpinnings of scientific psychology foster inquiry into the fundamental forces that shape human thought, emotion, and action. This knowledge area entails study of the philosophical and methodological contexts within which our science has developed and which guide psychological inquiry.

PSY 759 Special Topics
Special elective course number that may be designed and offered as appropriate in response to current issues, trends, and events. Each offering is a one-time course that may take advantage of a current issue, pilot a new course, or one-time colloquium. Title and content will vary.

PSY 760 Independent Study
Students may propose and develop an independent study contract in subject areas or sub-areas of psychology not encompassed by another KA.

PSY 761 Human Sexuality
The objective of this KA is the development of information and attitudes that enable psychologists to deal effectively with sexual problems and sex-related issues presented to them. Topics include the physiology of sexual behavior, sexual development, and treatment of psychologically based sexual disorders.

PSY 762 Organizational Psychology
This KA explores the role of the psychologist in organizational consultation. It includes the study of general systems theory and the study of organizational development and change.

PSY 763 Geropsychology
This KA considers a wide range of issues that affect the mental and social functioning of the aged. Topics include mental illnesses related to aging and other health issues that influence social, physical, and mental functioning, as well as social attitudes, stereotypes, and bias related to this stage of life.

PSY 764 Media Psychology
Media psychology addresses the theory and application of psychology as an art and science to media and technology issues, problems, and opportunities. Sensory and cognitive psychology, systems theory, human development, motivation and learning, and communications theory are all overlapping and synergistic specialties with implications for media psychology.

PSY 765 Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology applies psychological art and science to legal and quasi-legal problems. This KA addresses principles that underlie the use of psychologists in legal problem solving and the growth of forensic psychology. Topics include the role of forensic specialists in child psychology, neuropsychology, abnormal psychology, and psychological measurement.

PSY 766 Advanced Media Psychology
Includes an agreed project or paper where the student examines a particular area of interest in depth.

PSY 767 Media Studies
May include field study, research design and application, such as a publishable article or a special project, or other specific project design.

PSY 768 Ethics in Media Psychology
This course involves the nature of the media and problems and protections associated with the mass dissemination of news and information. The course reviews all media forms and applications such as public policy, commerce, family, marketing, and health care.

PSY 769 Advanced Topics in Media Psychology
Designed to allow for a diverse array of electives. Each assessment involves an individual special topic agreed between the student and the faculty member.

PSY 770 Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
This course allows for elective study in forensic psychology on advanced topics that go beyond the overview of the field covered in PSY-765.

PSY 771 Ethics in Media Psychology
This course involves a review of pertinent research literature from the study of media effects. Some sample topics include court cases and legal principles involving such issues as freedom of expression, protected and unprotected speech, libel, obscenity, privacy, commercial expression, copyright, intellectual property, and related issues. The course will assist participants in developing an understanding of psychological theories that pertain to culture, the law, and media.

Last Updated: 11/6/08