Courses

Typical Sequence of Classes

First Year
Second Year
Third Year

Psychological Statistics I

Descriptive Psychopathology

Ethical Issues & Professional Standards in Clinical Psych I

Theories of Personality, Psychotherapy and Counseling

Professional Seminar in Clinical Fundamentals

Psychological Statistics II

Cognitive Assessment

Experimental Design and Program Evaluation

Cognitive & Behavioral Interventions

Interprofessional Teams

Culture in Healthcare

Essentials of Physiology & Neuropsychology

Lifespan Development

Neuropsychological Assessment

Social Psychology

Personality Assessment

Theoretical Psychopathology

Health Psychology: Cognitive, Affective & Physiological Bases for Behavior

 

 

Minority Issues in Mental Health

Ethical Issues & Professional Standards in Clinical Psych II

History and Systems

Descriptions of Core Classes

HPSC 510 Psychological Statistics I
Introduction to the methods of modern statistical analysis and their use in drawing conclusions from data collected in surveys and in the laboratory. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, probabilities, confidence interval estimation of population parameters, tests of significance, correlation and regression, and analysis of variance. (5 credits)
HPSC 511 Psychological Statistics II
Topics to be covered include correlational techniques, partial correlation, regression analysis, analysis of variance, simple and complex experimental design, analysis of covariance, multivariate analysis. (4 credits)
HPSC 515 Experimental Design and Program Evaluation
This course provides an overview of research design in psychology with emphasis both on the implementation and the evaluation of psychological research studies. Specific topics include: the scientific process, external validity, construct validity, internal validity, experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental designs and conclusion validity. The goal is to establish a firm foundation in the fundamentals of research design that will allow students to both design their own research projects as well as critically evaluate studies in the psychological literature. (4 credits)
HPSC 520 Descriptive Psychopathology
In depth analysis of diagnostic criteria for major categories of psychopathology which covers the concept of illness, schizophrenia, affective disorders, anxiety disorders, organic brain disease and personality disorders. This course also introduces neurological evaluations. (4.5 credits)
HPSC 521 Theoretical Psychopathology
In depth analysis of contemporary, psychosocial, cognitive and biological theories concerning the major forms of psychopathology will be examined. Emphasis is placed on recent empirical findings regarding the etiology of mental disorders. (3 credits)
HPSC 541 History and Philosophy of Science
Historical antecedents through contemporary positions involving philosophy and clinical developments are analyzed and critiqued in the framework of current knowledge, problems and future directions. (2 credits)
HPSC 560 Cognitive Assessment and Lab
Theoretical and practical issues of test construction and measurement are considered in depth along with issues of development, standardization and validation of psychological tests. Theory of assessment of adult intellectual functioning and practical application of the WAIS-IV are included. (4 credits)
HPSC 567 Neuropsychological Assessment
Use of psychological tests in the evaluation of the relationship between brain and behavior will be discussed. The goal of this course is to acquaint students with modern neuropsychological approaches to normal and abnormal behavior along with methods of assessing the neurological basis of behavioral problems. (4 credits)
HPSC 572 Essentials of Physiology, Psychology and Neuropsychology
This course will cover fundamental issues of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurochemistry of brain systems and an overview of basic brain-behavior principles as the apply to current models of cognitive processes. (6 credits)
HPSC 575 Social Psychology
In depth discussion of theory and research contribution to social functioning, development, and organizational issues. The utilization of social psychological principles in applied settings will be examined. (4.5 credits)
HPSC 664 Personality Assessment
Theory and application of objective psychological tests for the assessment of personality and personality development. (4 credits)
HPSC 666 Theories of Personality, Psychotherapy, and Counseling
Introduction to the major theories of personality and the major systems of psychotherapy and counseling. Current research on the impact of personality traits on behavior and relationships between normal and abnormal personality traits are reviewed. The implications of psychotherapy systems for case formulation and the similarities and differences between different psychotherapy systems are reviewed. Research bearing on and based on these systems is considered. (6 credits)
HPSC 690 Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention
The course is structured to provide the student with a comprehensive overview of contemporary cognitive-behavioral clinical psychology, intervention models strongly connected to the empirically supported treatments for specific disorders. Learning theories as they apply to interventions promoting behavior change are studied. Behavioral principles, social learning models, and cognition and learning are overviewed as foundations for contemporary cognitive-behavioral models and newer integrative treatments (“third wave” interventions). The core phenomenology of specific disorders is reviewed, and the mechanisms posited to play a role in the etiology or maintenance of disorders discussed. The focus in the course is how multi-component interventions address etiologic processes and maintaining factors, and the effectiveness of current treatments. Emphasis in the course is placed on learning clinical intervention procedures with the best empirical support for treatment of specific disorders.
(5 credits)
HPSC 751 Health Psychology: Cognitive, Affective, and Physiological Bases for Behavior
An overview of representative content areas and conceptual approaches to behavioral genetics with reference to temperament and psychopathology; basic emotion theories and neural substrates of emotion regulation; psychophysiology of stress; impact of social support, appraisal and coping on incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity; concepts of pain from nervous system, immune and endocrine perspectives. (4 credits)
HPSC 754 Life Span Development
The course is a basic developmental course covering the entire life span from biological, social, and cognitive perspectives. Special emphasis will be placed on the unique methodological features of developmental research. The course will complement training in all three aspects of the program, namely clinical, health, and neuropsychology. (4.5 credits)
HPSC 755 Ethical Issues and Professional Standards in Clinical Psychology I
The course is designed to introduce the doctoral student to professional training in clinical psychology. A broad range of topics are reviewed including professional training, specialization within clinical psychology, professional ethics, and career development. Emphasis is placed on the student’s development of a comprehensive understanding of ethical principles and issues affecting the practice of contemporary clinical psychology. (1 credit)
HPSC 756 Ethical Issues and Professional Standards in Clinical Psychology II
The course examines practice guidelines including the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. It also examines ethical and legal guidelines for advertising, confidentiality, custody, malpractice and other forensic issues. (3 credits)
HPSC 759 Minority Issues in Mental Health
Assessment and therapeutic treatment of diverse populations with special emphasis on American ethnic/racial groups. Emphasis on specific problems associated with age, race, disability, religious preferences, etc., and how these affect the counseling relationship. (3 credits)
HPSC 784 Professional Seminar in Clinical Fundamentals – Therapy
Objectives: Prepare for therapy practicum in the second year; Through practice, discover basic clinical strengths and areas of growth; Learn specific systemic issues relevant to particular practicum sites; Increase knowledge, awareness, and skill in working with diverse populations; Understand the importance of professionalism, such as boundaries, limits of competence, and limits of confidentiality. Learn the fundamental of interviewing. Develop an understanding of formulations based cognitive behavior therapy. (3 credit)
HMTD 515 Interprofessional Teams and Culture in Health Care
Interprofessional Teams and Culture in Health Care is an experiential learning opportunity for students to interact in interprofessional health care teams which extends through the fall and winter of the first year. This interactive course is intended to help prepare the health care professional student to provide effective patient-centered health care through small group discussion and problem solving activities. Topics include: team interaction, communication, service learning, information literacy, quality improvement, healthcare professions, diversity in society, the impact of culture, ethnicity and religion on communication and the provision of services, disparities in the healthcare delivery system, and awareness of the impact of a provider’s own wellness and illness beliefs on the decisions he/she makes for patients. Interprofessional teams of students develop and participate in significant community based service learning projects. (1 credit per quarter/total = 2 credits)

Elective Courses

MNSC 501 Medical Neuroscience
A multidisciplinary approach to the structure and function of the nervous system is presented by faculty from the Departments of Biological Chemistry and Structure, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Neurology, Pharmacology and Molecular Biology and Physiology and Biophysics. This course provides a broad introduction to modern neurobiology by lecture, laboratory demonstration and conference sessions. The goal of the course is to correlate the structure with the function of the nervous system in man and other animals under normal, as well as drug- or disease-modified conditions. (8 credits)
HPSC 788 Forensic Psychology
This course will offer a survey of the history of forensic psychology, landmark cases, relevant American law, frequently used statutes and guidelines in criminal cases (e.g., sanity, competency and diminished capacity) and hybrid criminal/civil matters (e.g., sex offender commitment), ethical guidelines and professional issues. (2 credits)
HPSC 783 Family Systems and Therapy
In this course students are introduced to major models of family therapy. Primary theorists and techniques of each model will be considered. Lectures, class discussion and small group interactions are included. Students will gain a working knowledge of some of the major family systems models; they will also explore and understand the theories and techniques applicable to each model; explore a variety of family systems with an emphasis on understanding cultural, gender, and sexual orientation differences as they relate to family therapy; understand and complete assessment procedures with particular emphasis on genogram construction and interpretations and finally examine ethical issues as they relate to the practice of family therapy. (3 credits)
HPCC 503 Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy – Child and Adolescent
This course will emphasize the use of empirically supported therapeutic methodologies to facilitate behavior change for a variety of clinical problems in children and adolescents. The application of different learning principles and specific techniques of therapeutic change will be covered including parent-training interventions. The student will learn to solve problems encountered in practical application of cognitive and behavioral techniques. Emphasis will be placed on methods and procedures effective in the elimination of inappropriate behaviors and the acquisition and maintenance of appropriate behaviors. (4.5 units)
 
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