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GRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM

GRADUATE COURSES FOR PSYCHOLOGY

501 Biological Basis of Behavior (3) F. Survey of basic neuroanatomy and physiology of the nervous system. Emphasis on ways in which the environment affects behavior via the nervous system. Current research relevant to biological basis of behavior is reviewed.

530 Interviewing and Case Formulation (3) F. Examination of fundamental skills used in the helping interview with emphasis on assessment and case conceptualization models, case report writing, and basic counseling strategies. Particular attention toward ethical and professional issues. Students must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

531 Psychological Assessment: Intelligence, Abilities, and Achievement (3) (Prerequisite for Clinical/Counseling Students, 530) F, S. Review of measurement statistics, psychometric theory and examination of frequently used intelligence, ability, adaptive behavior, and achievement tests. Skill development in test administration, scoring and interpretation of test results and psychological report writing and diagnostic skills. Examination of cultural diversity, ethical issues, and emerging technology in psychological assessment. Students must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600B, Psychological Assessment Practicum.

536 Behavioral Assessment and Intervention (3) S. Review of functional behavioral assessment procedures and behavioral intervention strategies, especially manipulation of antecedent conditions and contingency management; program evaluation using single case research designs; computerized expert systems and data analysis; statute, case law and ethical issues involved with behavioral intervention. Special emphasis on behavioral intervention with children and adolescents in the school setting. Coverage of direct intervention and indirect intervention through consultation with parents, teachers, and paraprofessionals. Students must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

545 Prevention of Substance Abuse (3) F. An overview of the prevention field emphasizing current models and community strategies. Included would be environmental, regulatory approaches as well as discussion of public policy issues.

599 Psychology of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (3) SU. Critical analysis of the current literature in assessment, diagnosis, learning characteristics, and social and emotional adjustment of individuals with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. Review of education and training, school and community programs, current legislation and regulations.

600A Professional Psychology Practicum (1) F, S, SU. This practicum serves two purposes. 1) All school psychology students must complete an Introduction to the Schools practicum during the Fall Semester of their first year of study. This practicum involves shadowing a practicing school psychologist and participating in various activities related to school psychology, school organization and operation. 2) Any master's degree student in psychology may work with a psychology faculty member to develop a field experience involving research or practice which is relevant to their program of study.

600B Psychological Assessment Practicum (1) F, S, SU. Students enrolled in PSY 531, PSY 631, PSY 637, 639 and PSY 641 must be enrolled concurrently in this practicum. This practicum involves administration, scoring, interpretation, and reporting of results of psychological testing instruments and other assessment procedures relevant to the specific course to which the practicum is attached. Students may be assigned to psychoeducational, counseling and/or mental health centers for this experience. A minimum of 50 clock hours is required per practicum.

600C Psychological Intervention Practicum (1) F, S, SU. Students enrolled in PSY 530, PSY 536, PSY 633, PSY 636, PSY 638, PSY 642, PSY 643, and PSY 644 must be enrolled concurrently in this practicum. This practicum involves interviewing, observation, clinical problem-solving, treatment planning and intervention development, individual therapy, group therapy, direct intervention, and indirect intervention/consultation experiences relevant to the specific course to which the practicum is attached. Students may be assigned to psychoeducational, counseling and/or mental health centers for this experience. A minimum of 50 clock hours is required per practicum.

600D Psychological Consultation Practicum (1) F, S, SU. Students enrolled in PSY 649 must be enrolled concurrently in this practicum. This practicum involves experience in assessment, intervention development, intervention implementation, and intervention evaluation when the intervention is implemented through others such as parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, agencies, and systems; implementation of the stages of consultation within the context of various consultation models. Organization development and evaluation activities also are emphasized. A minimum of 50 clock hours is required per practicum.

600E Pre-internship Practicum (1) (Prerequisite: This course must be taken during the spring prior to beginning internship in the fall.) S. This practicum will allow the student to integrate the consultation, assessment, intervention and counseling skills they have learned while working with a practicing school psychologist. The student will also be able to interact with other professionals in the various settings and roles in which a school psychologist practices. Among other activities, the student will follow a case from the initial concerns of the teacher through the pre-referral intervention team, the referral to special education, the psychoeducational evaluation (including the parts completed by other professionals), the eligibility meeting and the IEP meeting where the educational plan and placement is determined.

605 Personality and Social Psychology (3) F. Survey of the basic areas of personality and social psychology with coverage of contemporary research issues in social psychology as well as the classic theories of personality.

620 Psychopathology (3) S. Survey of the history and classification of mental disorders with emphasis on models of psychopathology. Includes a review of contemporary diagnostic practices, and development of diagnostic skills using the DSM Classification System.

621 Child/Adolescent Psychopathology (3) (Prerequisite/Corequisite: 531 and 600B) F. Concentration on child/adolescent disorders as they relate to the school setting. Examination of current DSM and educational diagnostic criteria. Emphasis will be placed on linking assessment data to psychoeducational diagnosis and treatment.

631 Psychological Assessment: Personality and Psychopathology (3) (Prerequisite 530, 531) S. Examination of psychometric techniques applied to the assessment of personality and psychopathology. Includes skill development in the diagnostics of psychopathology. Students must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600B, Psychological Assessment Practicum.

632 Quantitative Psychology (3) (Prerequisite: 302 or equivalent) S. Basic course in data presentation and analysis. Includes descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression, as well as inferential statistics. Emphasis on matching appropriate statistics to experimental design and psychometric theory.

633 Group Counseling and Psychotherapy (3) (Prerequisite: 530) F. Explores the theory, process, and practice of group therapy/counseling. Includes the stages of group therapy, various group techniques, and how to deal with problem situations that can arise in group therapy. May also include how to conduct special groups such as pain management, stress management, and assertiveness groups. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

634 Developmental Psychology (3) SU. Survey of current topics and research methods in life span developmental psychology. Implications of research results to community-based interventions with children, adolescents, and the aged.

635 Learning and Cognition (3) SU. Review of traditional topics in learning as well as topics of current interest in cognition. Selection of topics from perception, attention, memory, thinking, and language. Functional disorders of memory and language.

636 Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy (3) (Prerequisite: 530, 531; Prerequisite/Corequisite: 631) S. Survey of theoretical foundations and techniques of counseling and psychotherapy beyond the contingency management model. The course will provide the student with the opportunity to develop skills in the techniques covered. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

637 Psychoeducational Assessment: Learning and Behavior Disorders (3) (Prerequisites: 531 and 621) S. Examination of traditional, behavioral and curriculum-based assessment techniques for classification and treatment planning in the areas of school-related learning and behavioral or social-emotional disabilities, developmental, attention deficits, and health-related problems. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600B, Psychological Assessment Practicum.

638 Child/Adolescent Counseling and Therapy (3) S. Child, parent and teacher interview techniques; Cognitive-behavioral case formulation and individual and group therapy strategies for common child and adolescent problems and disorders; crisis and suicide intervention and prevention strategies at the individual and systems level. Ethical and legal issues involved in counseling and therapy with children and adolescents. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

639 Career and Lifestyle Counseling: Theory and Practice (Prerequisite: 530, 531) (3) SU. An introduction to career development theory, psychological assessment for career planning and sources and uses of career and lifestyle information in counseling. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600B, Psychology Assessment Practicum.

640 Special Topics (3) F, SU. Selected areas in psychology, and related fields. Recent topics have included anxiety disorders and neuropsychology.

641 Advanced Topics in Child and Adolescent Assessment (3) (Prerequisite: 637) F. Developmental neuropsychology; issues and best practices in infant, preschool and family assessment; cultural influences in preschool and family assessment; assessment of low incidence handicapping conditions and syndromes, traumatic brain injury. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600B, Psychological Assessment Practicum.

642 Academic Assessment and Intervention (3) (Prerequisite: 536) SU. Linking of direct classroom behavioral and curriculum-based assessment results to academic interventions with exceptional learners and general education students. Designing and implementing academic interventions for use by the psychologist or by teachers or paraprofessionals within a consultation framework. Evaluation of student progress and data-based educational decision-making emphasized. Curriculum standards and frameworks, inclusion, and educational reform discussed. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

643 Marital and Family Therapy (3) (Prerequisite: 530) S. Overview of theoretical assumptions and concomitant assessment and treatment strategies associated with the major models of marital and family therapy including Bowenian, object relations/psychodynamic, structural, strategic, and behavioral. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

644 Substance Abuse Counseling (3) S. A seminar course that covers major content areas relevant to substance abuse counseling. These include the diagnostics and psychopathology of substance abuse and the clinical assessment of drug and alcohol dependency. The course also covers major models of substance abuse treatment, as well as specific counseling skills for this clinical population. Additional coverage includes the needs of special populations (e.g., women, adolescents, dual-diagnosed). Students must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600C, Psychological Intervention Practicum.

649 Psychological Consultation in Schools and Agencies (3) (Prerequisite/Corequisite: 636 or 638 and 600C) S. Major theoretical approaches to consultation, goals of consultation, the consultant-consultee relationship, stages of consultation, and best practices and ethical consideration in the use of consultation. Consideration is given to how consultation can be implemented in different service delivery models employed in schools and agencies. Role changes in school or agency psychological services required for the implementation of a consultation model. Must be concurrently enrolled in Psychology 600D, Psychological Consultation Practicum.

650 Professional and Ethical Issues in School Psychology (3) SU. Survey of the history of school psychology with emphasis on the development of the profession, the changing roles and alternative service delivery models of the field. In-depth review and analysis of current professional roles, the impact of state and federal legislation/regulation and professional standards, school organization and inter-professional relationships, best practices and ethical issues, educational reform issues, professional issues such as level of training, licensure, and the influence of technologies on practice.

651 Professional/Ethical Issues in Counseling Psychology (3) SU. This course might begin with a review of models or influences affecting the practice of counseling psychology along with professional organizations. Issues and ethical conflicts addressed would include client rights and confidentiality, dual relationships, proper use of assessment, ethical concerns that arise in various forms of counseling or with special populations, and professional competence and continuing education. Other professional topics to be addressed include supervision and professional relationships in the community, malpractice and legal issues, multicultural concerns, and personal values and awareness including the issue of distress and impairment. In addition to reading and discussion, students will analyze case dilemmas and research areas of professional interest.

660 Continuing Professional Development in School Psychology (1) F, S, SU. This course is designed for the practicing school psychologists. It may not be taken by degree seeking graduate students for credit toward the degree. The course is topical in nature and provides instruction on a specific, limited topic of clinical or professional importance to practicing school psychologists. This course may be offered during any term.

PSY 663 Learning Disabilities: Formal and Informal Assessment (3) (Prerequisites: Full acceptance to graduate program; EDUC 611 or permission of the instructor; EDUC 621 and 622; Prerequisites/Corequisites: EDUC 760 and 761). This course examines both formal (published, norm-referenced) and informal (criterion referenced, curriculum-based, observational) measures used to: 1) screen, identify, and classify students by disability category, 2) identify students' strengths and impediments to learning, 3) design and plan appropriate interventions, 4) continuously monitor students' progress, and 5) adapt instructional programs appropriately. The benefits and limitations of each type of measure for these purposes will be examined, along with techniques and procedures for developing, validating, and interpreting informal measures in conjunction with information provided from formal tests.

PSY 664 Practicum: Formal and Informal Assessment (1) (Prerequisite: EDUC 611 or permission of the instructor; Prerequisites/Corequisites: EDUC 761 and PSY 663). This practicum provides practical experience in the process of identifying and serving children with learning problems. Students will observe and participate in intervention team meetings and discussions regarding decision-making and service delivery for such children. Students will administer, interpret, and report the results of formal screening instruments normally administered by teachers. Students will develop, administer, and interpret results from classroom observations, criterion-referenced measures, and curriculum-based assessments. Assessment results will be used to develop intervention plans, monitor student progress, alter intervention plans through data-based decision-making, and evaluate plan success.

670 Graduate Research (1) F, S, SU. Directed psychological research under the supervision of a faculty member. Research content will vary depending upon faculty and student's research interests. NOTE: This course cannot be used towards fulfilling degree requirements nor can it be used as a substitute for any required course.

699-A Internship: Clinical/Counseling Psychology (3) (Prerequisite: Permission of department) F, S, SU. A practical experience utilizing applied skills with a diversity of problems in a clinical/counseling setting. The many roles of a psychologist are performed in accordance with accepted legal and ethical standards of the profession.

699-F Internship: School Psychology (3) (Prerequisite: Permission of department) F. A practical experience utilizing applied skills with a diversity of problems in a school setting. The many roles of a psychologist are performed in accordance with accepted legal and ethical standards of the profession. Internship: School Psychology may only be begun in the fall semester.

699-S Internship: School Psychology (3) (Prerequisite: Permission of department) S. A practical experience utilizing applied skills with a diversity of problems in a local school district or clinical setting. The many roles of a psychologist are performed in accordance with accepted legal and ethical standards of the profession.


 
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