Psychology Graduate Course Descriptions
800 Level Courses900 Level Courses
Law & Psychology Courses
821. Psychology of Gender (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology or permission.
Theory and research on the role of gender in human behavior and attitudes. Exploration of diverse theoretical positions on the development of gender and evaluation of the biological, social and cultural bases that influence the relationship between gender and a variety of areas of human experience (e.g., intelligence and achievement, emotion, relationships, sexuality, physical fitness, stress and coping).
825. Psychology of Racism (ETHN 425) (3 cr) Prereq: For psychology majors, PSYC 350. For non-majors, any research methods course.
Major terms and issues in psychology that pertain to race and racism in the United States, as well as general principles of the psychology of racism that are universal. The psychologies of the major racial minority groups in the United States examined through discussion of their unique cultures, histories, traditions, and collective identities. Research methods for studying the psychology of racism are reviewed to provide a basis for interpreting research results.
840. Perspectives in Psychology (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology or permission.
Currently important fundamental issues in psychology considered within a framework of their philosophical foundations and historical perspectives.
845. Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology including one 200-level Group 2 course.
Psychology as it applies to the workplace. Topics: selection tests, job analysis, performance appraisal, worker motivation, job satisfaction, leadership, and organizational theory.
851. Psychological Measurement and Prediction (4 cr) Lec 3, lab 3. Prereq: 12 hrs psychology or permission. A course in elementary statistics is highly desirable.
Consideration of theoretical issues and practical problems relating to measurement and rediction in psychology. Interpretation of mental-test statistics.
860. Human Memory (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology, including PSYC 350.
Issues in human memory within the context of cognitive psychology. Topics: attention, short and long term memory, retrieval processes, semantic memory, how memory is involved in comprehension and knowledge, and how emotion affects memory. In order to better understand the theories that are covered, some of the major research paradigms used in the study of memory are discussed.
861. Learning Processes (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology, including PSYC 268.
Theoretical evaluation of studies of learning, thinking, and perception.
862. Motivation and Emotion (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology, including PSYC 350.
Major problems and methods involved in the study of motivation and emotion including theoretical considerations.
863. Perception (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology.
Analysis and comparison of several approaches to the study of current problems in human perception and information processing. Includes psychophysical judgment, signal detection theory, perception of form and space, and the role of imagery in perception.
865. Behavioral Neuroscience (BIOS 819) (2-3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology or 12 hrs biological sciences, including PSYC or BIOS 373.
Relationship of physiological variables to behavior: an introduction to laboratory techniques in neuropsychology.
871. Human Sexuality and Society (EDPS, FACS, SOCI 871) (3 cr) (UNL) Prereq: Permission. Open to advanced students planning careers in the professions in which knowledge of human behavior and society is important (e.g., helping professions, medicine, law, ministry, education, etc.).
Interdisciplinary approach to human sexuality in terms of the psychological, social, cultural, anthropological, legal, historical, and physical characteristics of individual sexuality and sex in society.
872. Transpersonal Psychology (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology.
Transpersonal psychology perspective which includes biological, social, psychological and spiritual aspects in a holistic conception of human nature. Integrates the psychology of Christian Mysticism, Buddhist meditation, and Eastern wisdom with Western scientific personality theory.
883. Psychology of Social Behavior (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology.
Major problems, methods, and findings in the study of individual behavior as it is influenced by the social environment. Includes psycholinguistics, subhuman social behavior, culture and personality, leadership, and morale.
885. Theories of Personality (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology, including one Group B 200-level course.
Classic and modern theories of personality from the point of view of conflicts in the philosophies of science and images of man implied in the various theories.
886. Clinical Psychology (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology.
Fundamental procedures in clinical practice, a critical evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.
888. Community Psychology (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology.
Phenomena and perspectives which are typically included under the rubric community psychology, e.g., community mental health, crisis intervention, and social change interventions.
889. Child Behavior and Development (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hrs psychology, including one 200-level Group B course.
Current issues in theory and research in developmental psychology (e.g., emotional development, the changing American family, the preschool years, social understanding), along with methods of research in these and other areas.
*899. Masters Thesis (6-10 cr) Prereq: Admission to masters degree program and permission of major adviser.
800 Level Courses900 Level Courses
Law & Psychology Courses
901-910. Pro-seminars in Psychology (3 cr each) Prereq:Permission.
901. Conditioning and Learning
902. Developmental
903. Personality
904. Physiological
905. Sensation and Perception
906. Social
907. Cognitive Psychology
908. Clinical-Community
909. Psychopathology
910. History and Philosophy of Psychology
920-930. Seminars in Psychology (1-9 cr each) Prereq: Advanced graduate standing and permission.
920. Abnormal
921. Developmental
922. Clinical
924. Learning
926. Personality
929. Social Behavior
930. Psychometric Methods
925. Ethics for Psychologists (1 cr) Prereq: Permission.
Introduction to ethical principles and reasoning for research, teaching and professional practice in psychology.
925A. Ethics for Clinical Psychologists (1 cr) Prereq: Advanced graduate standing and permission.
Application of ethical principles to practica and professional practice. Critique of the status of a professional mental health discipline, a discipline's ethical code, and practice in society.
941. Psychometric Methods I (3 cr) Prereq: Permission.
Applications of statistical methods and probability theory to psychological problems. Scaling methods, correlation, chisquare, and graphic methods of studying relationships.
942. Psychometric Methods II (3 cr) Prereq: PSYC 941 or permission.
Psychophysical methods, analysis of variance, design of experiments, advanced correlation analysis.
943. Factor Analysis (3 cr) Prereq: PSYC 942 or EDPS 971 or permission.
Analysis of mental ability and personality into sets of variables.
955. Introduction to Clinical Assessment (3 cr) Prereq: Permission.
Introduction to the theory and application of assessment procedures and techniques. Measurement and interpretive issues in clinical assessment. Laboratory introduction to structured techniques emphasizing intellectual assessment.
956. Clinical Assessment Techniques (3 cr) Prereq: PSYC 955 or permission.
Didactic and laboratory training in the administration, scoring, and beginning interpretation of projective and objective assessment techniques.
957. Topics in Clinical Assessment (3 cr) Prereq: PSYC 955 and 956 and permission, or equivalent advanced training and permission.
A selected topic taught during the course. Examples include clinical Neuropsychology, assessment techniques and assessment batteries, individual case conference presentation, and assessment of sexual dysfunctions.
958. Seminar in Dispositional Assessment (3 cr) Prereq: PSYC 955 and 956 or permission.
Advanced interpretation, issues, and research in clinical psychology assessment. Emphasis on the "dispositional assessment" model of clinical analysis. Student presentations and individual case interpretation.
960. Seminar in Alcohol Use and Abuse (3 cr) Prereq: Permission.
Biopsychosocial perspective of alcohol abuse. Focus on multiple factors that contribute to alcohol problems, including physiological/genetic, psychological and sociocultural determinants. Intervention, treatment and prevention issues. Societal and governmental attitudes and policies. Emphasis on theoretical and empirical literature bearing on the above areas.
963. Group Processes and Group Psychotherapy (3 cr) Prereq: Open to students in community-clinical psychology or permission.
Group phenomena which are relevant to mental health service providers. Incorporates both didactic and experiential teaching of group process and group outcome issues. Focus on group process issues in group therapy (using the group concepts of Yalom and other writers) and experiencing these concepts in a training group.
970. Clinical Interviewing (3 cr) Prereq: Open to students in community-clinical psychology or permission.
Basic skills needed in seeing a mental health client (e.g., listening, empathy, reflection and restatement) explored through didactic, group interaction and live individual interviews. Focus is preparing the student to meet their first psychotherapy client in a competent manner. Doing observing and rating pseudo and patient interviews.
971. Psychological Literature I (1-6 cr)
Reading assignments in special fields; library reading, conferences.
972. Psychological Literature II (1-6 cr) For course description, see PSYC 971.
974. Teaching Methods for Psychology (1-3 cr, max 3) Prereq: Permission.
Teaching methods, philosophical perspectives to teaching, practical ideas about classroom instruction, and career issues in higher education.
975. Advanced Experimental Psychology (1-9 cr, max 9) Prereq: Permission.
Typical refinements of controlled investigations. General methodology and practice in carrying out a few prolonged experiments.
979. Cultural Diversity in Psychology (3 cr) Prereq: Permission.
Influence of culturally driven world-views on psychological functioning and on psychological theory. American psychological theory, research and practice influenced by the socialization and world-views of the contributing psychologists. Ways in which existing theory and practice accommodate-or fail to accommodate-the world-views and experiences of racial/ethnic minorities in the contemporary United States.
981. Clinical Intervention I (3 cr) Prereq: Graduate standing in clinical psychology training program or permission of director of clinical training.
Practical and didactic training in assessment and intervention for psychological and behavioral disorders. Emphasis on entry-level clinical skills including establishment of the therapeutic relationship, case conceptualization, and development of treatment plans within the scientist-practitioner model.
982. Clinical Intervention II (3 cr) Prereq: PSYC 981 and either graduate standing in clinical psychology training program or permission of director of clinical training.
Practical and didactic training in assessment and intervention for psychological and behavioral disorders. Emphasis on conceptualization of more complex cases, assessment and treatment of a broader range of cases, and evaluation of efficacy of interventions within the scientist-practitioner model.
983. Therapy in Clinical Psychology I (3 cr) Prereq: Permission.
Theory and methods employed by different "schools" of therapy analyzed and related to basic psychological theory.
985. Law and Behavioral Science (LAW 762/G) (1-4 cr) See description under Law/Psychology Studies which follows.
986. Child Psychopathology and Assessment (3 cr) Prereq: Advanced graduate standing and permission.
Major categories of child psychopathology, theoretical formulations of etiology of such disorders, empirical findings and issues related to each disturbance and appropriate instruments for assessing each disorder.
987. Child Therapy (3 cr) Prereq: Advanced graduate standing and permission.
Various child intervention techniques with an emphasis on behavioral parent training for child noncompliance.
988. Mental Health Law (LAW 763/G) (1-4 cr) See description under Law/Psychology Studies which follows.
989. Topics in Law and Psychology I (LAW 764/G) (1-4 cr) See description under Law/Psychology Studies.
989A. Topics in Law and Psychology II (LAW 765/G) (3 cr) See description under Law/Psychology Studies.
991. Research Methods in Social and PersonalityPsychology (3 cr) Prereq: Permission and second-year graduate standing; at least 1 sem graduate-level statistics.
Research design and the application of design to real research problems, including the application of statistics, problems of control, confounding, alternative explanations, demand characteristics, and experimenter effects. In addition to readings in theory of design and experimentation, the practical solution of design problems and critique of research are emphasized.
992. Field Methods in Psychology (3 cr) Prereq: Secondyear graduate standing and permission.
Design and implementation of field research, including observational methods, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, and program evaluation. In addition to readings in the theory of field research methodology, the solutions to specific, commonly occurring design and statistical problems are emphasized.
993. Seminar in Program Evaluation (3 cr)
Major issues involved in the evaluation of programs which deliver human services. Includes needs assessments, outcome evaluation techniques, qualitative methods, goal attainment scaling, multi-attribute utility theory, role relationships and political problems with which evaluators must contend.
995. Psycholegal Research Other Than Thesis I (LAW 757/G) (3-6 cr) See description under Law/Psychology Studies.
995A. Psycholegal Research Other Than Thesis II (LAW 758/G) (3-6 cr) See description under Law/Psychology Studies.
996. Research Problems Other Than Thesis (1-24 cr)
997. Clinical Practicum (1-30 cr, max 30) Prereq: Full graduate standing in clinical psychology training program or permission of director of clinical training.
Individually supervised evaluative and diagnostic work with clinic subjects. Emphasis on the refinement of skills in evaluating and diagnosing behavior deviations.
998. Practicum in Law and Psychology (3 cr per sem, max 6) Prereq: Full graduate standing in Law/Psychology Graduate Training Program or permission of the director of the Law/Psychology Program. See description under Law/Psychology Studies which follows.
999. Doctoral Dissertation (1-24 cr, max 55) Prereq: Admission to doctoral degree program and permission of supervisory committee chair.
800 Level Courses900 Level Courses
Law & Psychology Courses
Law & Psychology Graduate Course Listings
985. Law and Behavioral Science (LAW 762G) (1-4 cr)
General issues in the interaction between the law and the behavioral sciences. Discussion of the use/misuse/nonuse of the behavioral sciences in the law, with attention to ways of making behavioral-science input most useful. Analysis of the law as a behavioral instrument.
988. Mental Health Law (LAW 763G) (1-4 cr)
Critical review of the mental health laws throughout the nation and their psychological underpinnings. Emphasis on research that illuminates the problems facing the mental health system and the solutions available to it.
989. Topics in Law and Psychology I (LAW 764G) (1-4 cr per sem)
Consideration of a specific area of law and psychology.
989. Topics in Law and Psychology II (LAW 765G) (1-4 cr per sem)
Consideration of a specific area of law and psychology.
995. Psycholegal Research Other than Thesis I (LAW 757G) (3-6 cr)
Substantial research and writing project on a psycholegal topic which is supervised and approved by a faculty member. Law/Psychology Studies
995. Psycholegal Research Other than Thesis II (LAW 758G) (3-6 cr)
Substantial research and writing project on a psycholegal topic which is supervised and approved by a faculty member.
Law/Psychology Studies
998. Practicum in Law and Psychology (3 cr per sem, max 6) Prereq: Full graduate standing in Law/Psychology Graduate Training Program or permission of the director of the Law/Psychology Program.
Supervised fieldwork in law and psychology. Emphasis on the integration of legal analysis and psychological research in the formulation or implementation of public policy.
