Graduate Psychology

Course Descriptions*

PSYG 601 • Clinical Foundations of Psychotherapy I (3 units)
Clinical and theoretical foundations of the field of clinical psychology are presented with an emphasis on the development and application of beginning level clinical skills. Course includes supervised clinical experience. The clinical component will be used in assessing eligibility for trainee status.

PSYG 602 • Advanced Human Development (3 units)
An in-depth exploration of human development through the biological, behavioral, socio-cultural, cognitive, and spiritual perspectives in a life span approach with an emphasis on attachment and clinical application.

PSYG 604 • Ethical and Legal Issues (3 units)
Exploration of the legal and ethical issues pertinent to the field of psychology. The roles and responsibilities within the field of psychology for the graduate student, trainee or intern, and licensed professional are evaluated. Application of ethics to clinical work is emphasized. Contemporary professional ethics and statutory, regulatory and decisional laws are examined.

PSYG 605 • Family Therapy (3 units)
Examination of the intervention techniques and major theories, models and schools of Marriage and Family Therapy. Overview of experiential, strategic, structural, multigenerational, systemic, behavioral/cognitive, psychodynamic, and postmodern constructivism orientations are included. Ethical and legal issues related to family therapy are explored. Application of each theory is evaluated for cultural appropriateness.

PSYG 608 • Statistics and Research Design (3 units)
Presentation, evaluation, and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative statistical and research design. Examines appropriate use of appropriate assessment procedures for type of information utilized. Design, implementation and analysis of research skills are developed. Development of sufficient skills to appropriately evaluate published research reports in the field of clinical psychology and related fields is emphasized.

PSYG 609 • Clinical Psychotherapy I: Psychodynamic (3 units)
Prerequisites: PSYG 601, PSYG 603, PSYG 604, and an additional (3 units) from any course(s) in the Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology. Development of clinical skills through academic classroom instruction and interactions, experiential learning, and supervised clinical experience. Content and goals include: establish basic therapy skills, case conceptualization, treatment planning, report writing, increased understanding of modalities, and case supervision/liaison with placement sites. Emphasis on psychodynamic modality. Concurrent registration in PYPD 0609 and field placement is required for this course.

PYPD 0609 • Clinical Case Conceptualization I
In-depth processing of clinical casework with emphasis on case conceptualization, etiology, diagnosing both theoretically and according to the DSM, treatment planning and prognosis. Additional topics related to case management may be included. To be taken concurrently with PSYG 609. Credit/Fail.

PSYG 611 • Clinical Foundations of Psychotherapy II (3 units)
Prerequisite: PSYG 601. Continued development of basic clinical skills with an emphasis on facilitating the capacity for empathic listening, reflection, and skills necessary fro building, monitoring, and maintaining a therapeutic alliance. These credits do not count toward degree requirements.

PSYG 612 • Mind, Body and Spirit (3 units)
Examination of the cognitive, physical and spiritual aspects of a person and how they are inter-related. Emphasis is placed on the spiritual dimension and how the spiritual impacts psychopathology, assessment, treatment and intervention. 

PSYG 615 • Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents (3 units)
Prerequisites: PSYG 601, PSYG 603, and PSYG 604, or consent of the instructor. Advanced course in understanding and applying theory, assessment and treatment for children and adolescents. A variety of modality orientations and therapeutic techniques are explored with emphasis on developmental, multidimensional and multidisciplinary approaches. Legal and ethical issues and culturally sensitive interventions are examined as they relate specifically to work with this population. 

PSYG 620 • Clinical and Professional Development (3 units)
This class focuses on continued training of clinical skills, psychopathology, diagnoses, legal and ethical issues, report writing, treatment planning, and case conceptualization. These credits do not count toward degree requirements.

PSYG 650 • Teaching Assistantship (1-4 units)
Open to students with the approval of the instructor and director. Regular hours each week for classes and/or meetings are established at the beginning of the semester. The student assists an instructor in planning and conducting a course. These credits do not count toward degree requirements.

PSYG 655 • Research Assistantship (1-4 units)
Open to students with the approval of the instructor and director. Regular hours each week for classes and/or meetings are established at the beginning of the semester. The student carries out supervised research activities. These credits do not count toward degree requirements.

PSYG 670 • Special Topics (1-3 units)
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Study of a special topic in psychology. May be repeated for credit.

PSYG 704 • Addictive Behaviors (3 units)
Current theoretical and clinical approaches to the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of addictive behaviors will be explored.  Alcohol and substance abuse is emphasized, and the class also covers a range of addictive behaviors including sexual addictions and eating disorders.

PSYG 707 • Premarital and Marital Therapy (3 units)
Survey of theories of premarital and marital therapy. Areas covered include attraction theories, couple and marital assessment, and therapeutic interventions. 

PSYG 708 • Clinical Psychotherapy II: Cognitive-Behavioral (3 units)
Prerequisite: PSYG 609. Development of advanced clinical skills through academic classroom instruction and interactions, experiential learning, and supervised clinical experience. Content and goals include: continued work on report writing, case conceptualization, treatment planning, knowledge of modalities, and case supervision/liaison with placement sites. Emphasis on cognitive-behavioral modality. Concurrent registration in PYPD 0708 and field placement is required for this course.

PYPD 0708 • Clinical Case Conceptualization II
In-depth processing of clinical casework with emphasis on case conceptualization, etiology, diagnosing both theoretically and according to the DSM, treatment planning and prognosis. Additional topics related to case management may be included. To be taken concurrently with PSYG 708. Credit/Fail.

PSYG 709 • Clinical Psychotherapy III: Group Therapy (3 units)
Prerequisite: PSYG 708. Continued development of advanced theoretical knowledge and clinical skills through experiential learning, and supervised clinical experience. Content and goals include: case supervision/liaison with placements, special topics as applicable to meet the needs of the students, transition modality knowledge to clinical application, and continued work on report writing, case conceptualization, and treatment planning. Emphasis on group therapy. Concurrent registration in PYPD 0709 and field placement is required for this course.

PYPD 0709 • Clinical Case Conceptualization III
In-depth processing of clinical casework with emphasis on case conceptualization, etiology, diagnosing both theoretically and according to the DSM, treatment planning and prognosis. Additional topics related to case management may be included. To be taken concurrently with PSYG 709. Credit/Fail.

PSYG 710 • Psychotherapy and Cultural Diversity (3 units)
Exposure to the current literature relating to cultural sensitivity in counseling diverse ethnic populations. Exploration of history, theories and interventions specifically developed for unique populations as well as ethical considerations when utilizing traditional counseling practices.

PSYG 720 • Clinical Psychopharmacology (2 units)
Prerequisites: PSYG 601, PSYG 603, and PSYG 604. Covers the essentials of clinical psychopharmacology, which are tied directly with the treatment protocols for the spectrum of Axis I and II conditions as described in the DSM.

PSYG 725 • Psychological Testing and Measurement (3 units)
Prerequisite: PSYG 601 and 608. Basic testing, assessment and measurement skills are developed and psychometric theory is emphasized. Students are introduced to appropriate psychological testing instruments and trained in the administration, scoring, interpretation and application of resulting data. Report writing skills are developed. Cultural appropriate use of assessment tools is examined.

PSYG 730 • Applied Methods and Analysis of Research (1-3 units)
This class applies knowledge of research design and statistics to psychosocial research. Actual research will be designed and carried out. These credits do not count toward degree requirements.

PSYG 755 • Professional, Ethical, and Clinical Issues (3 units)
Prerequisite: Advanced to Candidacy. Exploration and application of ethical and professional demands as relevant to student’s current stage of professional development, particularly as related to concurrent practicum placements. Specific areas of professional specialization will be highlighted.

PSYG 765 • Comprehensive Clinical Seminar (3 units)
Prerequisite: PSYG 708. This class will assist the student in the synthesis of knowledge gained over the span of the graduate program including ethical and legal issues, psychopathology, counseling modality, clinical skills and professional development. Concurrent field placement is required for this course.

PSYG 799 • Continuing Registration (1-4 units)
May be required for each semester in which the student is not enrolled in any program coursework. May be required until all graduation requirements have been met. Credit does not count toward Master’s degree requirements. PSYG 799 will carry a grade of "CE" (continuing enrollment) until all course requirements are met, at which time the grade will be changed to "CR" (credit).

* This information is provided for ease of use, however it is not the official record. See the academic catalog for official course descriptions and requirements.