7000

PYC 7300 RELIGION & SPIRIUALITY IN PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTICE (3)

This course introduces students to the practice of integrating religion, spirituality, and healing into the therapeutic relationship. Surveys the current issues about the assessment and treatment of clients incorporating religious and spiritual constructs, including the various religious worldviews, an understanding of the psychological development of religious and spiritual perspectives, the treatment of religious and spiritual dysfunction, the incorporation of religious and spiritual assets, the spiritual and healing aspects of the body and mind connection, the connection of spirituality with the creative process, and a review of the clinical research in this particular aspect of the counseling field.

PYC 7301 CULTURE & DIVERSITY IN COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (3)

This course addresses the influence of culture, race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, nationality, age, ability, mental and physical characteristics, education, and family influences, on the provision of counseling services. Students will increase their cultural humility and evaluate societal trends, human roles, subgroups, norms, diverse lifestyles, and communication patterns. The course also emphasizes the examination of personal and institutional prejudice, bias, oppression, and discrimination, as well as psychosocial theories of multicultural counseling and identity development. Students will develop and increase personal awareness of cultural issues and professional multicultural counseling competencies, as well as gain insight into personal assumptions, values, beliefs, and expectations about self and others as a means of working more effectively with diverse populations in the therapeutic process.

PYC 7303 ADVANCED HUMAN SEXUALITY ACROSS CULTURES (3)

This course examines the ideologies and practices associated with sexuality from a broad perspective that incorporates various case studies about the ethnographic and clinical records. Working from the argument that much of human sexual behavior is culturally constructed rather than biologically determined, the course invites students to expand their notion of the "normal" and to consider the human condition from a cross-cultural perspective. Topics discussed include cross-cultural varieties of transgender experience, same-sex sexualities, and heteronormative identities. The second section of this course investigates the differences between kink sexualities, paraphilia, and sexual dysfunction.

PYC 7304 NEURODIVERSE & DIFFERENTLY ABLED PEOPLE (3)

This interdisciplinary seminar will investigate the emerging concepts of neurodiversity, and neurodivergence terms developed initially by autistic activists and self-advocates seeking to depathologize autism and other forms of neurological, mental, and cognitive difference. Neurodivergent refers to an individual with less typical cognitive variables such as Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc. Neurotypical relates to individuals of typical development and intellectual/cognitive functioning. This course emphasizes neurodiversity and its encounter with a world that has not been designed for them. Neuropsychological aspects of neurodiversity will also be presented in a non-pathologizing manner.

PYC 7392 PERSPECTIVES ON AGING (3)

This course, through the use of the final two stages of Erickson's developmental model, facilitates the development of a framework which is utilized to assess the experiences and needs of the older adult and their families. Course requires a minimum of 25 volunteer hours with older adults.

PYC 7400 JUVENILE OFFENDERS: IMPLICATIONS OF ASSESSMENT & DIAGNOSIS FOR REHABILITATION (3)

Students will focus on studying the forensic psychology of juvenile delinquents. Course material will address issues related to adolescent development, the psychology of juvenile delinquency, and the social and legal matters related to adolescent development and delinquent behavior. The course will cover issues in juvenile delinquency and violence, criminal prosecution of juvenile cases, and other issues involved in the interface between child psychology and the legal system. The course format emphasizes discussing current problems in the law and adolescent psychology field. Students will be expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the material and to formulate and express their own opinions on relevant issues and how to develop educational programs for juvenile offenders.

PYC 7402 ADVANCED CRIMINAL PROFILING (3)

This course explores the research and science of criminal investigative analysis, primarily in serial offenders. It studies the process of inferring distinctive personality characteristics of individuals responsible for committing criminal acts. This course also integrates broader societal contexts and implications and centers on the method that implies combining deductive and inductive profiling. Other subjects studied in this course include the analytic process of collecting and interpreting forensic evidence and the use of such evidence to develop offender characteristics. It approaches each crime as its universe of social relationships and behaviors and requires the examination and analysis of an actual homicide. An overview of the socio-legal aspects involving profiling and analysis of specific profiling issues in different types of serial crime are addressed.

PYC 7403 ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY OF TERRORISM (3)

Examine terrorism and responses to terrorism from an applied psychological perspective. Emphasis is on identifying these standard features within and across terrorist organizations and on understanding the motives, objectives, and methods used by terrorists to achieve their goals. The main aim of the course is to develop an ability to describe and use the fundamental attributes of terrorist psychology and to educate students on the examination, analysis, comprehension, and evaluation of the behavior of terrorists. It also provides the intellectual foundation for further study in terrorism. This course also explores evidence-based deradicalization techniques and educational programs for incarcerated terrorists.

PYC 7404 ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY IN THE LAW SYSTEM (3)

This course is designed to explore the application of psychological research and theory to the problems faced by the Legal System. Students will be given a broad overview of the relevant topics, issues, and methodologies in Psychology and Law. Students will be taught about the different professions that can emerge from this specialization: jury consultants, legal consultants, expert witnesses, defense consultants, etc.

PYC 7422 SOCIAL/CULTURAL CONCERNS IN COUNSELING (3)

Study of social, cultural and gender differences and issues related to counseling clients with various backgrounds, beliefs and concerns. Includes multicultural counseling techniques.

PYC 7552 SPECIAL TOPICS: COUNSELING (3)

Topics designed around special theories, practices or interests in the field of counseling.

PYC 7802 PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING (3)

Examines use of standardized tests to study individuals, including test development, selection, administration and interpretation. Includes educational and mental health applications.

PYC 7822 LIFE PLANNING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT (3)

Focus on theory, research, techniques and tools used in life planning, transitions and career development.

PYC 7832 HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (3)

Examination of psychological, social, intellectual, and physical influences on the development of personality and behavior patterns in children, adolescents and adults.

PYC 7852 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (3)

Examination of major theories and systems pertaining to abnormal behavior. Studies implications for psychotherapy and treatment planning and diagnosis using DSM-IV. Prerequisite: Minimum of 15 semester credit hours of graduate counseling coursework.

PYC 7862 BIOLOGICAL BASES OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR (3)

Examination of current and classic research linking biological factors to deviation of human development and behavior from what is considered to be the norm. Includes the impact of revolution in neuroscience on the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal behavior. Study physiology of the central nervous system and how it triggers behaviors associated with a variety of DSM-listed disorders including depression, anxiety, addiction, and psychosis. Prerequisite: Minimum of 15 semester hours of graduate counseling coursework.

PYC 7922 COUNSELING THEORIES (3)

Examination of theories of personality development and therapeutic processes. Consideration of techniques for counseling applications and professional consultation.

PYC 7932 GROUP COUNSELING AND DYNAMICS (3)

Theories of group counseling. Includes techniques of observation, assessment and leadership in therapeutic groups.