Master of Arts in Psychology

This course orients and prepares students for entry into advanced level study of psychology. It provides an overview of the field and guides students in the development, honing and application of critical thinking, research and writing skills necessary for successful completion of the Master of Arts in Psychology graduate degree. This course must be taken during the student’s first term.

This course provides an overview of quantitative and qualitative methodology and design and examines ethical and legal considerations for research practices relevant to the field of psychology. Skills needed to evaluate published research reports are also emphasized.

This course serves to introduce students to the topic of psychological testing. In addition to describing the various types of psychological testing, it will also provide information about test design and construction, administration and scoring, and reliability and validity. Pre-requisite: PSYC 501 Research and Statistical Methods

Pre Reqs: Research and Statistical Methods(PSYC501)

This course reviews social, emotional, cultural, cognitive, biological, and learning theories and research related to human development. Emphasis is on both healthy development and challenges experienced by individuals and groups across the human life cycle. Cultural differences and commonality noted in the developmental process are examined.

This course guides students through advanced level, in-depth and detailed study of classic and contemporary models of human cognition and learning through the lenses of the principle schools of psychology. Specific theories addressed include: functionalistic, associationistic, and cognitive.

This course is a graduate level study of cultural issues and social influences on human functioning. Classic foundations combine with new research, recent methodological and up-to-date theoretical innovations to form the basis of a study that integrates scholarship and applied social psychology for everyday living.

This course explores the processes of normal and abnormal personality development and models of counseling and psychotherapy including psychoanalytic, behavioral, cognitive, and existential approaches.

This advanced level course focuses on the physiological processes underlying normal and pathological behavior. Neurological features of disorders such as schizophrenia and depression are examined.

This course guides graduate level learners in in-depth study of classic and contemporary theories and treatment of abnormal human functioning. Students will undertake extensive investigation of cultural factors related to the expression and effective assessment of pathology. Pre-requisite: PSYC 525 Physiological Psychology

Pre Reqs: Physiological Psychology(PSYC525)

This course is an advanced level study of the ethical, legal and professional issues relevant to the practice of professional psychology. Topics include APA ethical standards and codes related to confidentiality, competence, and duty to warn, ethical decision-making guidelines, as well as federal and state laws pertinent to psychology. Application of ethics to professional psychology activity is emphasized.

This course requires students to critically and creatively examine psychological topics that are currently relevant in the field of psychology within contemporary society. Some of the topics covered include: media influence and how the discipline of psychology is represented through media; the application of technology in treatment (e.g. online counseling), new issues in childhood/adolescence, the increasing incidence of specific disorders (i.e., autism spectrum disorders), and teen issues (e.g., eating disorders, pregnancy, self-injury), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and war and the emerging psychological needs of today’s military.

This graduate level course covers the historical, research and theoretical underpinnings of multicultural psychology. It guides students in a comprehensive examination of diverse cultural groups and in-depth analysis of contemporary multicultural trends and issues related to ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability, age and religion. Students will research issues in cultural psychology through the development and design of their own empirical study.

This course guides graduate learners in advanced level study of the history and most scientifically supported methods of diagnosing and treating substance use disorders and other addictive behavior problems with an emphasis on theory and practice. Course foci include in-patient and out-patient treatment; traditional and nontraditional approaches, self-help and peer support groups; science-supported therapeutic modalities; the use of individual, group, and family psychotherapy interventions; and co-occurring mental and addictive disorders.

This course offers an in-depth analysis of crisis and trauma events, survivor responses and needs, and competent strategic interventions. A theoretical approach draws on systems and developmental constructs to provide an assessment and intervention model that is both holistic and integrated within particular environments. Unique crisis events are addressed, including sexual assault, domestic violence, disasters (both natural and man-made), service provider stress, complicated bereavement, child abuse and neglect, and school crises.

This course is designed to guide students through a review of the content domains covered along the degree path of the Master of Arts in Psychology degree. It affords an opportunity to synthesize and articulate knowledge obtained during degree progression via the selection of multiple threads of inquiry and analysis of peer-reviewed, scholarly literature related to successfully completed coursework. The course requires informed library research and concise exposition. Students completing this phase of their degree will receive substantial guidance and support from their instructor and classmates throughout the course. Pre-requisite: Successful completion of all program coursework.