COURSES OFFERED
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY
List of courses:
PSYC 6321 Psychological Measurement & Evaluation
PSYC 6358 Life Planning and Career Development
PSYC 6380 Research Design and Procedures
PSYC 7333 Psychopathology: Etiology, Diagnosis, & Treatment Planning
PSYC 7351 Life Span Developmental Psychology
PSYC 8301 Group and Family Processes
PSYC 8303 Professional Practice Skills & Issues
PSYC 8345 Theoretical Foundations of Individual and Family Psychotherapy
PSYC 8351 Introduction to Systemic Approaches to Psychotherapy
PSYC 8352 Pre-Practicum Psychotherapy Lab: Basic Interviewing Skills
PSYC 8355 Psychotherapy with Children, Adolescents, and Their Families
PSYC 8356 Normal Family Processes Across Cultures
PSYC 8357 Advanced Systemic Approaches to Psychotherapy
PSYC 8390 Practicum I
PSYC 8391 Practicum II
PSYC 8392 Practicum III
PSYC 8393 Practicum IV
PSYC elective
Course Descriptions
PSYC 6321, Psychological Measurement and Evaluation, Study of the construction of measurement instruments, including specification of the test purpose, generation of the form and content of test items, item try-out and analysis, standardization of test administration and scoring procedures, assessment of test reliability and validity, and establishment of test norms.
PSYC 6358 , Life Planning and Career Development, Vocational choice theory, career choice and lifestyle, sources of occupational and educational information, and career decision-making processes. Includes a personal career assessment battery.
PSYC 6380, Research Methods and Procedures, Study of statistics, analysis of research design and methodology, use of library resources, and evaluation of current literature; experience with various aspects of a research project.
PSYC 7333, Psychopathology: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning, Definition, description, and diagnosis of mental disorders according to DSM and other classification systems. Focus on the individual in family and cultural contexts. Will cover the administration of mental status exams and the development of treatment plans based on diagnostic categories.
PSYC 7351, Life Span Developmental Psychology, Social development of the individual as a process; ecological and familial settings for development as they interact with genetic and physiological patterns of growth and change.
PSYC 8301, Group and Family Processes, Focus upon understanding group process and facilitation. Review of strategies for prevention of interpersonal and systems dysfunction utilizing communication groups, family enrichment, parenting groups, etc.
PSYC 8302, Counseling Theories: Methods and Techniques, Current approaches in psychological counseling; key concepts, therapeutic techniques, and applications of theories; basic ethical and personal issues in the counseling context.
PSYC 8303, Professional Practice: Skills and Issues, Investigation of such professional issues as ethics, professional organizations, family law, certification and licensure, and finance relative to practice.
Prerequisite: PSYC 8302.
PSYC 8350, Foundations of Family Therapy, Explores the founding of the family therapy movement and its early leaders. Theorists covered include Virginia Satir, Carl Whitaker, Murray Bowen, Salvador Minuchin, and Jay Haley.
PSYC 8351, Systemic Approaches to Counseling I, Introduction to recently developed models of systemic theories. Emphasis on brief, postmodern models.
PSYC 8352, Pre-practicum Counseling Laboratory: Basic Interviewing Skills, Approaches to systemic and individual interviewing. Special attention to the beginning stages of therapy and to common presenting concerns. Laboratory preparation of students to begin practicum.
Prerequisite: PSYC 8302, PSYC 8351, or consent of instructor.
PSYC 8353, Systemic Approaches to Counseling II, Application of emerging and current trends in the mental health field to the practice of psychotherapy with individuals, families, and larger systems. Course will examine a number of areas including family violence and abuse, chronic medical problems, marital issues, and assessment and diagnosis of systemic problems. Particular emphasis on the effects of culture and gender on the successful delivery of mental health services. Prerequisites: PSYC 8302, PSYC 8351.
PSYC 8355, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Analysis of factors contributing to and procedures for promoting psychological health in children and adolescents; appropriate counseling theories and interventions in the context of school and family systems.
PSYC 8356, Normal Family Processes Across Cultures, Familiarization with systems on a variety of levels and across a diversity of cultures. Emphasis on the cultural and contextual aspects of normalcy. Issues in healthy family functioning and assessment.
PSYC 8357, Systemic Approaches to Counseling III, Presentation and analysis of contemporary methods in systemic therapy. Emphasis on development of a meta-theoretical perspective in psychotherapies in general, and systemic therapies in particular. Prerequisite: PSYC 8353 or consent of instructor.
PSYC 8390, Practicum I, Under direct supervision of psychology faculty, students will provide psychological services to individuals and families in the department-sponsored Community Counseling Service; students must demonstrate specific competencies according to their specialization. Note: in the Houston program, this course spans three trimesters and involves a four hour class meeting each week, including some time between trimesters. All students must accumulate 125 hours of direct service for successful completion (in the Houston program, this is usually formally completed during the third year, concurrent with other practica). Prerequisites: 18 semester hours in graduate psychology including PSYC 8302, PSYC 8351, and PSYC 8352.
PSYC 8391, Practicum II, Continuation of PSYC 8390. Placement at off-campus site. Requires a minimum of 20 hrs./week time commitment. All students must accumulate 125 hours of direct service. Prerequisite: PSYC 8390.
PSYC 8392, Practicum III, Continuation of PSYC 8391. Placement at off-campus site. Requires a minimum of 20 hrs./week time commitment. All students must accumulate 125 hours of direct service. Prerequisite: PSYC 8391.
PSYC 8393, Practicum IV, Continuation of PSYC 8392. Placement at off-campus site. Requires a minimum of 20 hrs./week time commitment. All students must accumulate 125 hours of direct service. Prerequisite: PSYC 8392.
Note: For additional description of Practicum program, click here.
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