Course Descriptions

PSY 502
Statistical Methods in Psychology
Prerequisite: Graduate Psychology majors
Advanced study of statistical methods in psychology including analysis of variance and regression. Previous experience with the SPSS statistical program is necessary. This course is intended for those who have completed an undergraduate statistics course.

PSY 504
Topics in Child Development
Prerequisite: Graduate Psychology majors
The goal of this course is to conduct a detailed exploration of several domains of child development. After reviewing research methodology and overarching theoretical concerns specific to developmental psychology, the course will focus on physical and motoric development, cognitive development, social development, emotional development, and moral development. Starting with a review of the basic developmental theories applicable to each domain, readings from the current literature on typical and atypical development will be examined.

PSY 509
Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
Prerequisite: MA ABA Option, ABA Certificate Program or permission of instructor
The basic Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis relevant to the design and implementation of behavioral interventions in educational and human service environments will be presented in this course. Behavioral principles such as schedules of reinforcement, measurement techniques, analysis and interpretation of behavioral data, ethical, and pragmatic issues will be covered. Student will critique the validity and usefulness behavioral research to applied problems. Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis is the first of a 5-course sequence that has been approved by Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). Completion of this 5-course sequence is one of the requirements necessary to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification exam.

PSY 518
Cognitive Neuroscience
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing or permission of instructor
This course will cover the physiological processes associated with perceptual function, attention, memory, language and hemispheric processing. Each topic will be examined in terms of cognitive issues, neuroanatomical and neurophysiologic correlates, and methodological approaches. The disruption of these processes in neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric populations will also be explored.

PSY 519
Child Psychopathology
Prerequisite: Graduate Psychology majors
Survey of advanced child psychopathology with emphasis on literature review and empirically supported treatments.

PSY 520
Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
Prerequisite: Graduate Status, Department Permission and PSY 521
Behavior change strategies based on principles discovered in the experimental analysis of behavior and replicated in the field of applied behavior analysis will be covered. Specific strategies for accelerating and decelerating various behaviors will be discussed, along with the theoretical underpinnings of each procedure. Issues of generalization of behavior change will be explored as they relate to the ethical use of treatment methodologies. Research strategies will be included. Part of the educational qualifications required to sit for the behavior analysis certification examination.

PSY 525
Implementing Behavior Analysis in Educational Settings
Prerequisite: Graduate Status, Department Permission and PSY 521
Clinical practice of applied behavior analysis in a variety of educational and human service settings will be covered. Topics include the consultation process, functional behavior in schools, ethics of practice, staff training and behavioral education in schools. Applications for children who do not have developmental disabilities will be covered. Part of the educational qualifications required to sit for the behavior analysis certification examination.

PSY 526
Research, Design and Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis
Prerequisite: Graduate Status, Department Permission and PSY 521
Research design and the ethical study of human behavior in ABA applications are covered. Topics include measurement, interpretation of data from a variety of experiments and ethical issues in research. Part of the educational qualifications required to sit for the behavior analysis certification examination.

PSY 527
Clinical Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis
Prerequisite: Graduate Status, Department Permission and PSY 521
Contemporary developments and issues in ABA including behavior change strategies, recent developments in ABA, generalization and ethical use of treatment methodologies are addressed. Part of the educational qualifications required to sit for the behavior analysis certification examination.

PSY 582
Fieldwork and Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis I
Supervised experience in Applied Behavior Analysis required as part of the BCBA exam. Experience is in approved sites. Fieldwork contract approval is required. Seminar is based on fieldwork experience.

PSY 583
Fieldwork and Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis II
Supervised experience in Applied Behavior Analysis required as part of the BCBA exam. Experience is in approved sites. Fieldwork contract approval is required. Seminar is based on fieldwork experience.

PSY 584
Fieldwork and Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis III
Prerequisite: PSY 583 and Departmental Approval
Supervised experience in Applied Behavior Analysis required as part of the BCBA exam. Experience is in approved sites. Fieldwork contract approval is required. Seminar is based on fieldwork experience.

Electives

PSY 503
Advanced Psychopathology
Prerequisite: Matriculated Graduate Student
Theories of abnormal psychology, in an advanced study of the major forms of psychopathology. Students will be exposed to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association). Case studies and therapeutic intervention strategies will be emphasized.

PSY 505
Research Methods and Design
Prerequisite: Matriculated Graduate Student
Integrates research design, data analysis, data interpretation, and APA format report writing across the two dominant paradigms in contemporary psychology. The course includes the use of the SPSS statistical software for univariate parametric and some non-parametric models. The course contains a strong experiential component to prepare students for thesis writing.