Concentrations/Tracks
Although the college's doctoral programs are committed to the general training of clinical psychologists, we also give students the option of beginning to specialize. Concentrations and tracks have been developed in recognized areas of psychology. Each concentration accepts a limited number of students at admission or during the first or second year of study and therefore a student is not guaranteed a slot in a particular concentration. Students are permitted to participate in one concentration only. Each concentration consists of a set of electives, a practicum in an approved clinical program related to the concentration, and research activities with faculty in the concentration. Below are listed concentrations with their required courses.
Recognizing the crucial need for competent clinical psychologists working within the justice system, the Clinical Forensic Psychology (CFP) concentration emphasizes clinical psychological skills applicable in the criminal justice system, which include issues regarding competency and criminal responsibility; psychological damages in civil trials; civil competencies; psychological autopsies and criminal profiling; and child custody and parental fitness.
Course work includes: Introduction to Forensic Psychology; Forensic Psychology: Criminal Law; Forensic Psychology Assessment; Psychological Interventions in Forensic Settings; Forensic Psychology: Family Law; Special Issues in Forensic Psychology: Supervision, Consultation, Ethics and Controversial Issues.
Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) specializes in the study, treatment, and professional training in the interaction of physical health with the individual's cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social functions. Its broad scope encompasses intervention for maintenance of good health. Significant contributions have been made in chronic pain management, weight control, cardiovascular rehabilitation, pediatric diseases, and coping with medical procedures.
Course work includes: Health Psychology; Anatomy and Physiology; Assessment in Health Psychology; and two intervention Health Psychology courses.
Clinical Neuropsychology (CN) is concerned with the function of the brain and its relationship to all aspects of behavior, as well as the impact of brain dysfunction and injury on individuals' abilities to function. The concentration not only encompasses the approaches, perspectives, and practice settings of neuropsychology, but also extends to the related disciplines of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropathology, neurorehabilitation and child neuropsychological assessment.
Course work includes: Clinical Neuropsychology; Clinical Neuroanatomy; Behavioral Neuropathology; Advanced Clinical Neuropsychology; Neuropsychological Case Analysis; Child and Adolescent Neuropsychological Assessment.
Ph.D. students will complete their research practicums, major papers and dissertation with a neuropsychology faculty member. Psy.D. students will complete four research practicums, a research project equivalent to a major paper, a dissertation-equivalent project in the area of neuropsychology under the direction of a neuropsychology faculty member, as well as the Ph.D. three course statistical sequence.
Psychodynamic Psychology (PP) is a discipline of psychology that presents a theory of personality and an explanation of the framework for understanding psychopathology. Psychodynamic theory and technique have demonstrated applicability to conceptualizing and providing treatment for a wide range of interpersonal and intrapsychic difficulties. This concentration emphasizes contemporary psychoanalytic theories of personality, pathology, and psychotherapy.
Course work includes: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy I and II; Narcissistic, Borderline, and Other Character Disorders; Psychodynamic Treatment of Affective Disorders; Psychodynamic Treatment Approach to Family and Group Therapy; Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Practice.
Serious Mental Illness is an emerging area of specialization in psychology, studies the treatment and evaluation of severely and persistently mentally ill adults and children and their families. The area focuses on specialized assessment techniques of psychopathology and level of functioning, psychotherapeutic interventions and psychosocial rehabilitation, psychopharmacology as well as program development and public policy.
Course work includes: Community Psychology with Seriously Mentally Ill; Treatment of Serious Mental Illness; Consultative Psychopharmacology.
The Child, Adolescent & Family Psychology track (CAFP) addresses the assessment and treatment of youth and their families, with a particular focus on empirically-supported assessment and treatment methods. The area focuses on children and adolescents experiencing stressful circumstances or significant mental health problems and their families. In addition, the area is concerned with efforts to prevent and treat child mental health problems and promote healthy child and family development.
Students interested in completing the track should declare their interest with Academic Affairs and complete all track requirements. These requirements include child-focused practicum experiences, research experiences, and/or service learning experiences; a Directed Study (Psy.D. students) or Dissertation (Ph.D. students) on a topic relevant to children, adolescents and families; and 12 hours of elective coursework focused on children, adolescents and families.
Students may choose their 12 hours (4 courses) of elective courses from a variety of offerings including: Child and Adolescent Neuropsychological Assessment; Infant & Toddler Mental Health; Parent Focused Intervention; Pediatric Psychology; Play Therapy; System/Family Therapy II; Evidence-Based Treatment of Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Children and Adolescents; and Crisis Intervention. (Please note that new course offerings are also being developed). Click HERE for more information.
As society becomes increasingly more ethnically/racially/culturally diverse, psychologists can expect to work with a clientele that are substantively different in terms of values and expectations about mental health treatment. This track is designed to provide coursework, research, and practicum experiences to better enable students to work effectively in a demographically changing society. Students wishing to specialize in the multicultural track will complete all existing core requirements as well as participation in pre-practicum research, research, and clinical practica with core faculty. Students will also complete 12 hours of specified coursework. In addition, research practica, major paper, and dissertation will be completed on a topic in multiculturalism with a track faculty member.