Course descriptions
YEAR 1 FALL SEMESTER
70500: Advanced Statistical Methods I: An initial comprehensive review will cover tests of significance, one-way, independent groups and repeated-measures ANOVA, simple multiple comparisons, 2 × 2 factorial ANOVA, power analysis and SAS programs. This is followed by assumption failure, general multiple comparison procedures, general two-way ANOVA, three-way and higher factorial ANOVA, higher-order interaction effects, contrast coding, mixed designs, multiple regression and analysis of covariance.
70801: Basic Neuroscience: Neuroanatomy: The course introduces students to the organizational structure of the human brain, including slide material of gross neuroanatomy, cerebral vasculature, spinal organization, and internal structure from medulla to cortex. Functional system mini-lectures are also provided for the sensory and motor systems, the thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, cerebellum and cortex. Neuroanatomical mapping of major neurochemical systems and their receptors is also provided. Course expectations include both visuo-spatial and written fluency of the material.
70802: Basic Neuroscience: Neurophysiology: This course considers electrophysiological phenomena from the perspective of biophysical and chemical phenomena. Discussions concentrate on cellular neurophysiology in terms of electrical potentials within single cells (Hodgkin-Huxley), synaptic mechanisms and interrelationships in small neural networks. This course includes recent molecular, ion channel and modulatory phenomena related to pre-synaptic, post-synaptic and membrane-mediated activity.
76000: Psychometric Methods: A general introduction to the principles of psychological measurement and theories underlying the use of common psychological assessment instruments. Lectures regarding the application and evaluation of psychometric methods focus on standardization procedures, norms, reliability, validity, and test construction. Lectures cover the ethical use of tests, history of psychological testing, theories of intelligence, and the development of techniques for the assessment of personality and psychiatric disorders (including project, self-report, rating scale, interview and observational techniques).
YEAR 1 SPRING SEMESTER
70310: Research Methods and Design 1: An intensive examination of experimental research methodology, with emphasis on the following topics: experimental vs. nonexperimental approaches to research; the control of variables and its relation to internal, external, and statistical validities; the relationship between design and analysis of data. Variants of between-group, within-group, and single-subject designs are considered, with an evaluation of the properties of each design type. The applicability of research design principles across a variety of substantive research areas is considered.
70803: Basic Neuroscience: Neurochemistry (Psychopharmacology): This course discusses the basic chemical architecture of the central nervous system and metabolic pathways of functional significance. Emphasis is placed upon membrane properties, synaptic transmission, pharmacological principles, second messenger systems and molecular mechanisms mediating receptor and transmitter function. Each of the major aminergic and peptidergic neurotransmitter and receptor subtype systems is reviewed.
71000: Advanced Physiological Psychology I (Prerequisites: 70801/02/03): This course deals with the behavioral and physiological basis of sensory perception and the execution of motor actions.
76600: Psychodiagnostics I (prerequisite: Psych 76000): This course provides experience in the administration, scoring, interpretation, and written presentation of findings, formulations, and recommendations based on measures of intellectual functioning (e.g., the Wechsler scales). Students will be trained to integrate clinical history, behavioral observations, theories of intelligence, cognitive style, lifespan and cultural factors, and neuropsychological research into their test reports. Students will also develop a familiarity with other assessment techniques (e.g., the Stanford-Binet).
YEAR 2 FALL SEMESTER
71100: Advanced Physiological Psychology II (Prerequisites: 70801/02/03): This course deals with the physiological, endocrinological, and neurochemical substrates of homeostasis and motivation, stress, learning and memory, attention, language and higher order cognitive functions.
75500: Psychopathology I: The identification and diagnosis of psychopathology including mood, anxiety, thought, and personality disorders. We will discuss the current psychiatric multi-axial classification system (DSM-IV) and consider psychopathology from a number of different perspectives (e.g., neurobiological, cognitive, behavioral and psychoanalytic). We will also consider multicultural and historical influences on the definition of psychopathology and the stability and change of psychopathology throughout the life course.
76700: Psychodiagnostics II: (prerequisite: Psych 76600) An introduction to clinical interviewing for the assessment of personality and psychopathology and to the administration and interpretation of commonly used objective inventories and rating scales, plus a survey of projective tests. Issues of cultural diversity (e.g., age, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity) will be considered with respect to psychiatric diagnosis, interpretation of test results and the therapeutic relationship.
81700: Survey of Clinical Neuropsychology (Prerequisites: 70801/02/03): The course reviews the fundamentals of neuropsychology with an emphasis on applying the knowledge of brain-behavior relationships to neurological, psychiatric, and other medical disorders affecting higher cortical functioning. The course covers disorders of attention, aphsia, amnesia, agnosia, apraxia, parietal syndromes and dysexecutive syndromes.
YEAR 2 SPRING SEMESTER
76101: Neuropsychological Assessment (Prerequisites: 76000, 81700): An introduction to neuropsychological assessment techniques. The course provides direct training in neuropsychological assessment and reviews neurological tests for evaluation of brain damaged adults and children. The course covers tests of fund of knowledge, attention, language and aphasia, memory perception and gnosis, apraxia and motor function, parietal syndromes and frontal executive syndromes. Each test is discussed in terms of the logic underlying it, sociocultural and theoretical perspectives. Tasks include neuropsychological evaluations, clinical report writing, and oral case presentation. Laboratory exercises provide direct experience and supervision of a variety of neuropsychological tests, to acquire competence in their administration.
77100: Ethics/Professional Issues in Psychology: Ethical and legal issues that arise in the course of dealing with human or animal subjects, in teaching, research, assessing or treating patients, interacting with colleagues and the public, and in publishing scholarly works. Professional issues, such as preparing CVs, job seeking, certification and licensing are also considered.
78701: Systems of Psychotherapy (Prerequisite: 75500: Psychopathology I): The course provides an up-to date review of the evidence-based research literature on the theories and practice of psychotherapy. Major schools of psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic) will be compared and contrasted with the aim of evaluating the relative efficacy of various intervention approaches. Course material will include how these approaches apply to different diagnostic conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, and personality disorders) and how sociocultural factors (e.g., age, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity) influence the course and efficacy of treatment.
80200: Independent Research in Psychology: Independent Research under the mentorship of a Neuropsychology faculty member. Required as part of the second year project.
YEAR 2 SUMMER
70341: Externship in Clinical Neuropsychology: For each Externship, students are required to spend approximately 16 hours per week over a 15-week semester working under the direct supervision of a Neuropsychology faculty member or 16 hours per week with an outside practicum supervisor approved by the Clinical Committee. Both grades and written evaluations are required.
YEAR 3 FALL SEMESTER
70000: History of Psychology: Topics include the mind-body problem, nativism and empiricism, hedonism and reinforcement, hypnotism and spiritualism, psychophysiology and psychopathology. Schools of psychology (structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt, psychoanalysis and behaviorism) are reviewed, as are the contributions of philosophers, physical, biological and social scientists.
74000: Personality: The course focus is on contemporary research in personality and individual differences. Topics include factor analytic research, the nature of dispositions, motivation, behavior genetics, brain and personality, the self, intelligence, personality change, health, work, cognitive style and others.
70342: Externship in Clinical Neuropsychology: For each Externship, students are required to spend approximately 16 hours per week over a 15-week semester working under the direct supervision of a Neuropsychology faculty member or 16 hours per week with an outside practicum supervisor approved by the Clinical Committee. Both grades and written evaluations are required.
Elective or Seminar
YEAR 3 SPRING SEMESTER
70600: Advanced Statistical Methods II (Prerequisite: 70500): Multivariate statistical methods including simple correlations, regression, multiple and partial correlation, factor analysis theory and practice, canonical correlations, discriminant function analysis, one-way and factorial MANOVA, multiple comparisons for multivariate data, advanced power analysis and robust testing.
74600: Social Psychology: A survey of classic and contemporary research and theory. Topics include stereotyping and prejudice, cross-cultural studies, social influence, the self, gender, social cognition, and others.
70343: Externship in Clinical Neuropsychology: For each Externship, students are required to spend approximately 16 hours per week over a 15-week semester working under the direct supervision of a Neuropsychology faculty member or 16 hours per week with an outside practicum supervisor approved by the Clinical Committee. Both grades and written evaluations are required.
Elective or Seminar
YEAR 4 FALL SEMESTER
72001: Lifespan Developmental Psychology: A lifespan perspective, from conception to death, on the development changes in sensory and perceptual functions, language, cognition, personality, and psychosocial adaptation.
ELECTIVES/SEMINARS
72000: Developmental Psychology I: An introduction to the major concepts, principles, theories and methods of developmental and child psychology. Consideration of issues such as critical periods, relationship between phylogeny and ontogeny, brain and nervous system development, interaction of genotype and environment.
72100: Developmental Psychology II: The phylogenesis and ontogenesis of basic sensory processes, perceptual functions, cognitive-intellective skills, language and communication. (note that 72000 and 72100 are separate and distinct courses).
73000: Psychology of Learning: Theories of learning; examination of representative studies; Behavior Analysis.
73500: Psychology of Perception: Topics include the anatomical and physiological processes underlying perception in vision, audition, and somatosensation.
73800: Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience: The course, taught from a cognitive neuroscience perspective, covers such topics as higher-order visual processes, including object recognition and visual imagery, attention, sensory memory, working memory, long-term memory (episodic, semantic, implicit) and language. Each topic begins with a review of the extant behavioral data and models, which is followed by a review of the neuroscientific data suggesting how these cognitive functions map onto neural systems.
80100 Seminars: (Listed are titles of seminars given in recent years. Future seminars are announced on a semester by semester basis.): Psychosocial Issues in the Treatment of Neurological Disorders; Neuropsychology of Emotion; Cognitive Neuroscience; Neuropsychology of ADHD; Aging and Dementia.