Psychology, Doctorate

Development of essential listening skills for therapeutic effectiveness to include principles and procedures of individual therapy. Students learn to apply effective interviewing and micro-skills which include the use of required videotaped psychotherapy interviews, role-playing, and therapy process models. 

This course serves to establish a psychological integrative perspective throughout the students’ courses. Students will be challenged to apply what they have learned through the lens of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-diversity model in an interactive way, establish and grow healthy models of self-care, study, and peer cohesiveness, and to increase communication, interpersonal skills, and professionalism as they incorporate concepts from their classes into a practical model.

Grade of pass/fail.

This course is an introduction to the practicum experience. This class will review skills and build the knowledge necessary to successfully enter and complete the practicum experience.

Building on PPSY6111, this course continues to establish a psychological integrative perspective throughout the students’ courses. Students will be challenged to apply what they have learned through the lens of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-diversity model in an interactive way, establish and grow healthy models of self-care, study, and peer cohesiveness, and increase communication, interpersonal skills, and professionalism as they incorporate concepts from their classes into a practical model.

Grade of pass/fail.

This course is an introduction to the history and application of family systems therapy and the broad range of family theories that have been used within the tradition of family treatment. The students will be able to identify and understand assessment techniques, intervention strategies, and resources needed in order to support families as they look through the lens of theory. Unique family characteristics, such as ethnic and cultural considerations, will also be reviewed to highlight the diversity that exists within families.

Techniques of group procedures appropriately applied to decision-making, problem solving, and resolution of conflict. Theories, characteristics and group dynamics, interventions, stages, leadership styles, and roles relevant to group counseling will be discussed. This course is experiential in nature and students will be required to effectively facilitate and evaluate a group counseling experience from a particular theoretical orientation.

This course encompasses the types, uses, and basic psychometrics involved in educational and personality testing and assessment. Validity, reliability, and program evaluation concepts are covered, and students are introduced to elementary statistical concepts important to interpreting and understanding test reviews. Various types of clinical dissertations are presented and discussed to assist students in developing their clinical dissertation proposal. 

This clinical course is intended to prepare students for effective practice in dealing with clients’ sexual issues. It includes an overview of the biological, psychological, and relational aspects of human sexuality that arise in clinical practice. Topics will include appropriate language, sexuality through the life cycle, appropriate boundaries and cultural differences in sexuality, physiology of sexuality, taking a sexual history, sexual orientation, sexuality, and disabilities, reclaiming sexuality following a history of sexual abuse, sexual addiction, and other special topics. Includes DSM-V-TR sexuality diagnoses and treatment approaches for psychotherapy clients with sexual problems. Attention is given to psychotherapy and diverse couples with presenting problems of sexual dysfunctions.  Students will explore the applications of this knowledge to clinical practice and examine their level of comfort with this material as it relates to the clinical situation.

This course focuses on the administration, scoring, and interpretation of cognitive, intelligence, and achievement assessments for adults and children.

This course is designed to provide oversight, support, and consultation of the clinical practicum experience. Students will meet with an on-campus faculty member to review cases, integrate concepts from other courses, and receive feedback from their peers and faculty.

Grade of pass/fail.

This course is an introduction to child-centered play therapy. The course will give an overview of the history and development of child-centered play therapy. It will present current techniques as well as the current research being done to demonstrate their relevance to the practice of play therapy with children and their families. The course will demonstrate the basic skills necessary to prepare a playroom and how to facilitate parent consultations. Students will be instructed how to structure a play session and approach issues from a child-centered play therapy perspective.

Building on PPSY6512, this course continues to establish a psychological integrative perspective throughout the students’ courses. Students will be challenged to apply what they have learned through the lens of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-diversity model in an interactive way, establish and grow healthy models of self-care, study, and peer cohesiveness, and to increase communication and interpersonal skills, and professionalism as they incorporate concepts from their classes into a practical model. Second entry students will take this course in order to be introduced into the PsyD program, build community with the existing PsyD cohort, and to learn the aspects of the PsyD model inherent with an entry-level PsyD student. This course will also serve as the assessment point for competency skills required for entry into the PsyD Program.

Grade of pass/fail.

This advanced course focuses on research methodologies and their applications in the analysis of both empirical and qualitative data. This course provides the foundational skills necessary for students to finalize their clinical dissertation proposal and to conduct the research to complete their clinical dissertation.

This course emphasizes the administration, scoring, and interpretation of personality and projective assessments.

This course provides a forum for exploration and discussion of the role of spirituality and world religions in psychotherapy and mental health.

This course is designed to provide oversight, support, and consultation of the clinical practicum experience. Students will meet with an on-campus faculty member to review cases, integrate concepts from other courses, and receive feedback from their peers and faculty. 

This course covers the basic tenants and applications of cognitive behavioral theory in psychotherapy. Integrative underpinnings and empirically validated treatments will be explored.

This course will focus on the assessment and development of attention, concentration, emotion, executive functioning, and the effects and diagnosis of trauma, head injury, and teratogens on brain development. 

This course emphasizes the administration, scoring, and interpretation of neuropsychological assessments.  Can be taken concurrently with PSYD8220 Clinical Neuropsychology. 

This course studies current information on cognition and cognitive processes (such as memory, knowledge, learning, and thinking), as well as affective processes (such as emotion, affect, and mood). Cognitive and affective bases of behavior are integrated so as to help students obtain an advanced knowledge of the base within the discipline of psychology, applying this understanding to the profession of clinical psychology.

A historical survey of modern psychology and an analysis of its classical systems and contemporary theories.

Exploration of a current topic or practice in the department. May be repeated for credit.

Seminar approach to the study of clearly defined problems or issues. May be repeated for credit.

Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Approval of program director required.

This course is designed to provide oversight, support, and consultation of the clinical practicum experience. Students will meet with an on-campus faculty member to review cases, integrate concepts from other courses, and receive feedback from their peers and faculty.

This course is designed to provide oversight, support, and consultation of the clinical practicum experience. Students will meet with an on-campus faculty member to review cases, integrate concepts from other courses, and receive feedback from their peers and faculty. 

Grade of pass/fail.

This course explores the theory and practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy, including brief psychotherapy, analytic, object relations, and self-psychologies.

Students will examine theoretical constructs related to the development process and developmentally based behavior patterns across the age spectrum (from conception to death).

This course emphasizes the administration, scoring, and interpretation of assessments focused on children under the age of 18. 

This course includes a review of the contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, the assessment of appropriate developmental milestones, and the examination of health behaviors from a culturally diverse perspective. The course will emphasize the biopsychosocial model in understanding health and disease and collaboration with other health workers in treatment planning and implementation.

This course is designed to introduce doctoral students in clinical psychology to the fundamental aspects of developing and conducting PsyD dissertation research. It provides an overview of the dissertation process, from conceptualization to completion, emphasizing the integration of research, ethical considerations, and professional standards. Students will begin the dissertation proposal process in this course. 

This course provides advanced support in the development of the PsyD dissertation. Students participate in the section of the course that addresses the category they have chosen for their dissertation (e.g., qualitative research, quantitative research, program consultation, critical literature analysis, theoretical development, or clinical application). Students will complete this coursework by completing a dissertation and passing an oral dissertation defense. Students will take two credits per semester from the summer of their 2nd year until the dissertation is successfully defended (14 credits minimum).

Grade of pass/fail.

This course introduces contemporary psychological theories and the integration of state-of-the-art psychological practice.

Before the student is cleared to apply for internship, each student is required to pass an oral comprehensive exam of PsyD content that indicates readiness for internship. The student will sit before a panel to present a portfolio and be examined by a panel of experts. Each student’s work will be evaluated and should reflect psychotherapeutic proficiency, appropriate goal setting, diagnostic understanding, theoretical soundness, diversity awareness, and a biblically-based, holistic approach. Fee: Additional fee required.

This course is designed to provide oversight, support, and consultation of the clinical practicum experience. Students will meet with an on-campus faculty member to review cases, integrate concepts from other courses, and receive feedback from their peers and faculty. 

Grade of pass/fail.

This course is designed to provide oversight, support, and consultation of the clinical practicum experience. Students will meet with an on-campus faculty member to review cases, integrate concepts from other courses, and receive feedback from their peers and faculty. 

Grade of pass/fail.

This course is designed to provide oversight, support, and consultation of the clinical practicum experience. Students will meet with an on-campus faculty member to review cases, integrate concepts from other courses, and receive feedback from their peers and faculty. In addition, students will receive instruction and support in the APPIC internship process and will apply for internship during this course.

Grade of pass/fail.

This course focuses on the aspects of becoming a professional psychologist, including steps to prepare for licensure, avenues of employment, and legal, ethical, and professional issues involved in working in a multidisciplinary managed care context.