Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Course Descriptions

PSYC-711 Colloquia (1)   Professionals in the mental health field will conduct presentations on a wide range of issues that are relevant to careers in psychology.  By drawing on local resources, the colloquia series addresses issues that are particularly applicable to our neighboring communities.  The colloquia also include formal clinical case presentations from students, faculty and invited guests.  

PSYC- 712 Colloquia 2 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-711.

PSYC-713 Colloquia 3 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-712.

PSYC-714 Colloquia 4 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-713.

PSYC-721 Practicum 1 (2)   The Practicum is structured to provide clinical experience in conducting psychotherapy.  Students provide psychotherapy services to clients at the Community Counseling and Parent Child Study Center under the close supervision of licensed clinicians who are part of the Psy.D. Program’s clinical faculty. In addition to direct face-to-face contact and supervision, the practicum also provides supervised training in assessment, using standard test batteries that include intelligence tests, projective tests and self-report inventories.  In practicum, students acquire the skills to present test findings to their clients and integrate assessment into their clinical practice. 

PSYC-722 Practicum 2 (2)   A continuation of PSYC-721.

PSYC-723 Practicum 3 (2)   A continuation of PSYC-722.

PSYC-724 Practicum 4 (2)   A continuation of PSYC-723.

PSYC-725 Practicum 5 (2)   A continuation of PSYC-724.

PSYC-726 Practicum 6 (2)   A continuation of PSYC-725.

PSYC-728 Case Conference  1 (1)   As part of this year-long seminar, students present information from clinical intakes that they are conducting as part of their practicum, as well as information on ongoing treatments, to a small group of peers and supervisors.  The case conference gives each student the opportunity to develop skills in discussing presenting problems, diagnostic impressions, psychodynamic case formulation and treatment planning.

PSYC-729 Case Conference 2 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-728.

PSYC-740 Diagnostic Interviewing (3)   Diagnostic and therapeutic interviewing skills are essential for a clinician.  In this course, students will develop techniques for conducting diagnostic interviews of clients with a range of symptoms and psychological disorders. The course involves hands-on interviewing exercises and a review of etiological and treatment issues specific to psychological disorders, such as anxiety, depression and eating disorder.  Includes interviewing strategies that focus on symptoms, behaviors and dynamics that are specific to each disorder. 

PSYC-741 Basic Attending Skills (2)   This course examines one of the basic skills necessary for effective psychotherapy – the development of listening skills.  The course explores concepts such as empathy, sympathy, reassurance, the importance of process versus content, and the importance of examining obstacles that interfere with a therapist’s basic listening skills, including countertransference. 

PSYC-742 Frame (2)   Frame refers to the establishing and maintaining of a therapeutic structure of protocols, guidelines, boundaries and any other technical parameters. The handling of frame constitutes a critically important skill for the treatment of character pathology, serious mental disorders and other complex treatments. Students will learn and have the opportunity to practice these skills in role play and simulated therapy sessions. They will also be presented with videos of therapy sessions where they can critique other clinician’s attempts to manage frames.

PSYC-743 Child & Adolescent Interventions (2)   This course will examine specific treatment strategies for psychotherapy from the approaches of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and family systems theories. Students will learn how to organize their clinical interventions according to these psychotherapeutic models and how to direct their treatment goals accordingly.

PSYC-744 Principles of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (2)   The course surveys some of the basic treatment modalities that fall under the rubric of psychodynamic psychotherapies, including perspectives from object relations, self psychology, ego psychology and interpersonal psychology. Students develop the capacity for distinguishing and finding points of convergence between the different theoretical perspectives and their application in clinical practice.  Traditional concepts such as transference, countertransference, resistance, neutrality and compromise formation are discussed. This course also addresses the role of enactments, self-disclosure and insight in effecting therapeutic change.

PSYC-745 ABA and CBT Interventions (3) This course examines the conceptual foundations underlying behavioral and cognitive approaches to assessment and treatment. The principles and techniques of applied behavioral analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy will be reviewed. In addition, relevant outcome research will be presented to support the use of these therapies with specific populations.

PSYC-746 Couples and Family Therapy (2) This is an advanced course on the study of conjoint therapy with couples and families. A number of theoretical perspectives and related clinical techniques will be studied including cognitive-behavioral, system theory and psychodynamic approaches. The intervention techniques can be applied with pre-marital couples for couple enrichment and as part of psychotherapy with distressed couples. Interventions will be taught for dealing with a variety of marital and divorce issues, e.g. dual-career, multicultural/multinational, domestic violence, alcoholism and remarriage. Instruction is through lecture, discussions, role playing and video. Students will complete a course project either through a practicum experience or some other applied experience developed with the instructor.

PSYC-747 Group Psychotherapy (2)   This course is designed to help students learn about group theory and the practice of group psychotherapy.  Students acquire information and skills on different types of psychotherapy groups, including inpatient and outpatient groups, as well as psycho-educational groups, symptom-focused groups (e.g., eating disorder group), and others.  The course examines the value, as well as the potential for iatrogenic effects, of group work, as it is impacted by diagnostic categories, age populations and other relevant factors. 

PSYC-750 Child & Adolescent Disorders (3) This course will integrate psychological and neuroscientific research on child and adolescent development with issues of learning disabilities, behavioral and impulse disorders, addictions and other psychopathologies. The student will understand how psychological, social, cultural and biological factors influence the problems and disorders experienced by children and adolescents.

PSYC-751 Personality & Dissociative Disorders (3) This course is designed to review the major theories of personality and dissociative disorders, addressing psychoanalytic, behavioral and humanistic schools of thought, as well as biological approaches that include the study of genetics and heritability.  The course takes a developmental approach to the study of these disorders and examines points of convergence and divergence between the different theories.

PSYC-752 Mood and Anxiety Disorders (3)   This course provides an in-depth examination of Mood Disorders (e.g., Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymia) and Anxiety Disorders (e.g., Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Phobia, Panic Disorders). The course examines the etiology and course of the disorders from multiple perspectives. In addition, the course requires a critical review of psychotherapeutic interventions that have been proven effective from a variety of theoretical and treatment modalities. The most current approaches to assessment are reviewed.

PSYC-753 Gender & Sexual Disorders (2)   This course will explore gender and sexual disorders from multiple perspectives including historical, object relational, attachment, cognitive, behavioral, systems, biological and social. Diagnostic criteria and etiology will be examined while considering the influence of culture and societal values.  Multiple treatment approaches and interventions will be examined as found in relevant research. Students will explore their own sexual attitudes and develop an awareness of and comfort with the complexities of human sexuality.

PSYC-754 Eating Disorders/Substance Abuse/Somatoform Disorders (2) The course examines the major theories addressing somatoform disorders (body dysmorphia, conversion, hypochondriasis, pain disorder and somatization), as well as substance abuse and eating disorders.   Students will explore possible overlap between these disorders as understood from a variety of theoretical frameworks (including psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic and social learning theory), as well as findings from neuroscience.  The course emphasizes a developmental perspective in the understanding of these issues.  

PSYC-755 Schizophrenia and Other Cognitive Disorders (3) This course examines major theories on the etiology of schizophrenia and other cognitive disorders and their symptomatic manifestations.  The course includes a historical overview of the disorders as well as recent findings from the fields of biology and neuroscience.  The course also includes a review of medications and the neural pathways by which pychotropic medications are thought to affect thought disorders. 

PSYC-705 Research Methods 1 (3)   This course examines qualitative and correlational research designs including case studies, survey research, focus groups, conducting interviews and collecting data to support hypotheses regarding possible relationships and associations. In addition, students will learn the appropriate statistical analyses to use with qualitative and correlational research. Issues involving validity, bias and cultural diversity in research will be addressed.

PSYC-706 Research Methods 2 (3)   This course examines quantitative research designs including experimental, quasi-experimental, multivariate, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. In addition, students will gain experience using SPSS for analysis of variance and covariance, simple effects analysis, factorial designs and multivariate analysis of variance.

PSYC-701 Research Seminar 1 (1)   Throughout the first two years of the program, five to seven students work with a faculty who mentors student research. The class will introduce various research methodologies used in clinical psychology and assist students in exploring their research interests.

PSYC-702 Research Seminar 2 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-701, this course will focus on introducing students to various research tools and strategies as students develop their research projects. Specific attention will be given to developing the literature review. It is expected that students will complete their literature reviews over the summer.

PSYC-703 Research Seminar 3 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-702, this course assists students in becoming familiar with completing IRB forms, developing the methodology sections of their research projects, and examining the ethics of research and data collection. By the completion of this course, students are expected to have a completed proposal and be ready for data collection.

PSYC-704 Research Seminar 4 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-703, this course examines data analysis and writing results. By the completion of this course, students are expected to have completed their second year projects, which may function as pilot studies for the dissertation project.

PSYC-716 Biological Aspects of Behavior (3) This course examines brain-behavior relationships. An emphasis is placed on understanding neuropsychological functions, physiological mechanisms and biochemical processes.

PSYC-717 Human Development (3) This course examines theory and research related tolifespan development. Clinical application of course material will be emphasized.

PSYC-718 Cognitive-Affective Aspects of Behavior (3) This course examines current theory and research in human cognitive and affective. The impact of cognitive and affective processes on the individual are studied and applied to clinical material.

PSYC-719 Social Psychology (3) This course examines the social and cultural bases of human behavior by examining relevant theory and research. Consideration is given to the ethnic/cultural issues that impact clinical practice.

PSYC-731 Dissertation Research Seminar 1 (1)   This course is designed for five to seven students led by a faculty member who will mentor students through the dissertation project process.  Students will support one another by acting as peer mentors in the course as dissertation proposals are explored.

PSYC-732 Dissertations Research Seminar 2 (1) A continuation of PSYC-732, this course continues to provide support for students as they actively develop their dissertations projects.  At the conclusion of this course, students are expected to have completed their proposals, chosen a dissertation committee, and successfully defended their proposals. They should be ready for data collection and analysis over the summer.

PSYC-733 Dissertation Research Seminar 3 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-732, this course supports students as they analyze data and begin to write the results chapter of their dissertation projects.

PSYC-734 Dissertation Research Seminar 4 (1)   A continuation of PSYC-733, this course provides support for students as they complete their dissertation projects. In addition, students explore various methods of presenting their research including journal articles, conferences and community forums. Students are expected to complete their final defense by the conclusion of this course and are encouraged to present and publish their work.

PSYC-761 Professional Seminar (2) The purpose of this course is to assist students in the development of a professional identity. Students will investigate the various roles of clinical psychologists. They will examine practice issues in light of relevant ethical and legal issues. Each student will develop a plan for transitioning from student to professional.

PSYC-762 Test and Measurement (2)   This course introduces students to test theory and the psychometric properties of tests. Controversies and ethical issues in assessment are explored from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Particular attention is given to potential test biases and the potential misuse of testing in clinical psychology.

PSYC-763 Ethics (2)   This course is designed to explore the advanced legal and ethical issues for professional psychology. Students will examine and discuss complex and controversial legal and ethical issues as they pertain to clinical practice and research. Students will be expected to demonstrate a good working knowledge of many legal and ethical concepts and to demonstrate their ability to offer a critical analysis of the professional literature. Classroom discussion is an essential part of this course and students are expected to come to each meeting prepared to ask questions and debate topics. Several take-home assignments and a Final Exam will also be used to assess grades.

PSYC-770 Assessment: Cognitive (3)  This course is designed to provide graduate level students with training in the administration, scoring and interpretation of the current editions of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV ), and the Woodcock-Johnson Achievement Test (WJ-III). In addition, other measures of cognitive assessment will be reviewed. Issues relating to the appropriate use of intelligence tests, theories of intelligence, ethical test use, testing culturally diverse populations, integration of data and effective report writing will be addressed.

PSYC-771 Assessment: Personality (3)   This course is designed to provide graduate level students with training in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of personality measures including projective drawings, sentence completion, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT, CAT, RAT),  Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2, MMPI-A), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III), California Personality Inventory-R (CPI-R), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). In addition, other measures of personality assessment will be reviewed. Issues relating to the appropriate use of personality measures, theories of personality, ethical test use, testing culturally diverse populations, integration of data and effective report writing will be addressed.

PSYC-781 Consultation/Supervision (3)   This course examines the role of psychologists as consultants and as supervisors. Theories of consulting and supervising will be presented, as well as experiential exercises. Students will consider the roles of consultant and supervisor from developmental perspectives.

PSYC-782 Cultural Theory and Research (3)   This is a course for interested students who want to learn about cultural perspectives in psychology at large, and particularly in the cases of human development within varied cultural contexts. Crucial philosophical, theoretical and methodological research issues that are central for developmentally focused cultural psychology will be covered in this course. This course is tailored toward students with philosophical and interdisciplinary interests, whose goals are to learn more about our basic scientific understanding of human psychology. The course is primarily based on an active learning approach founded on the principles of Accountable Talk, which dictates that all students must be held accountable to their learning community, to accurate and appropriate knowledge, and to rigorous thinking. In other words, this will not be a standard lecture course in which students passively absorb knowledge, rather the course format will take a partnership approach in which students help one another build knowledge (based on the course textbook and instructor guidance), in order to make sense of who we are and the culture in which we live.

PSYC-783 Intimate Partner Violence: Advanced Research, Theory and Technique (3 units)

This course will examine the history of intimate partner violence from multiple perspectives including psychological and psychosocial understandings. Current research will be presented and multiple theoretical frameworks will be explored. In addition, the course will review current approaches to treating clients who have been exposed to intimate partner violence including evidenced based practices. Cultural understandings and influences will also be studied.

PSYC 784 Intimate Partner Violence: Advanced Clinical Applications (3 units)

This course will provide an in-depth examination, analysis and evaluation of current practices utilized in working with clients who have been exposed to intimate partner violence. Students will examine research, view video of therapy sessions and present their own work with clients.

PSYC-790 Neuropsychoanalysis (3) This course will provide an interface between modern neuroscientific research and psychoanalytic theory and practice. Students will explore the relationships between brain structure and function as they relate to the phenomenological expression of the human condition. They will examine how brain development may underlie both psychosexual and psychosocial maturity and the implications of these changes for psychotherapy. By building from the neuroscience of understanding brain injuries and anomalies, we will consider how psychogenic processes may involve similar biological and anatomical systems. The student will also become versed in the modern scientific epistemologies of complex dynamic systems.  These epistemologies will also be integrated with psychoanalytic concepts in consideration of expanding our conventional understanding of depth psychology.

PSYC-791 Psychopharmacology (2)   This course will examine the principles of psychopharmacology and will review individual classes of drugs as well as their mechanisms. Special attention will be given to drug to drug interactions, particularly with the elderly. Students will become familiar with the FDA drug review process and will consider relevant legal and ethical issues.

PSYC-795 Internship 1 (1)

PSYC-796 Internship 2 (1)


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