Graduate Level Psychology Course Descriptions

PSYC 520 - Graduate Statistics (3 units). Introduction to theory and application of some of the more advanced parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques employed in psychological research. Topics will include but are not limited to multiple regression, analysis of covariance, factor analysis, causal modeling, and discriminant function analysis. Two hours of lecture and two hours of activities. Prerequisites: PSYC 424 or its equivalent and consent of the instructor.

PSYC 530 - Advanced Research Methods (3 units). Advanced study of research design, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs, assessment of reliability and validity, and ethical use of human and animal subjects in research. Prerequisites: PSYC 424 or 520 and consent of instructor.

PSYC 550 - Proseminar in Social/Personality Psychology (3 units). An exploration of research and theory in social and personality psychology. Advanced study of theories of personality and individual differences, social perception, group processes, attitudes, and the application of personality and social psychological theories across a variety of social, institutional, and cultural settings. A substantial portion of class time is devoted to the critical examination of current research articles and theoretical models in social/personality psychology. Students will make formal oral and written presentations of individual or group projects/assignments. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the graduate program or consent of instructor.

PSYC 552 - Proseminar in Developmental Psychology (3 units). Advanced study of current research and theory in developmental psychology. Issues such as temperament, attachment, gender-identity, cognition, and emotion will be considered from a developmental perspective, as well as the influences of family relationships, social interactions, cultural values, education, and social policy on development. Class discussions and assignments will encourage critical and analytic thinking as well as active learning approaches. Students will make formal oral and written presentations of individual and/or group projects. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the graduate program or consent of instructor.

PSYC 554 - Proseminar in Cognitive Psychology (3 units). Advanced study of human cognition. Focuses on theory and research in areas such as attention, categorization, memory, knowledge representation, learning and skill acquisition, psychology of language, thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and judgment. Relevant issues in neuropsychology, cognitive development, and cognitive disorders will be included to complement the focus on normal adult performance. The role of culture in cognitive activity will be discussed. Discussions and assignments will center around a critical examination of current literature in these areas, including both integrative and interdisciplinary (cognitive science) perspectives. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the graduate program or consent of instructor.

PSYC 556 - Proseminar in Comparative/Physiological Psychology (3 units). Advanced study of the biological bases of behavior. Students will explore current research and theory in neuroanatomy and physiology, endocrinology, evolutionary theory, and the adaptive significance of behavior. Where appropriate, issues of global environmental change and its effects on health and species diversity will be addressed. Discussions and assignments will center around a critical examination of current research articles and theoretical models in comparative and physiological psychology. Students will make formal oral and written presentations of individual or group projects. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the graduate program or consent of instructor.

PSYC 558 - Proseminar in Counseling/Clinical Psychology (3 units). In-depth seminar designed to investigate and discuss current topics in counseling/clinical psychology, including assessment and intervention techniques, professional ethics, multicultural issues, and outcome research. Students will present formal written and oral presentations and lead class discussions of advanced issues relevant to counseling/clinical theory, research, or practice. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the graduate program or consent of instructor.

PSYC 600 - Contemporary Issues in Psychology (3 units). Students will receive exposure to theoretical background, current research, and contemporary issues in counseling/clinical, cognitive, comparative/physiological, developmental, and social/personality psychology. Presentations will be given by faculty, second year graduate students, and guest speakers in their fields of expertise. Professional issues including ethics in psychological research and practice, the dissemination of scholarly discourse, the status and coherence of the discipline, and its role in a multicultural, global society will also be explored. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program.

PSYC 680 - Teaching of Psychology (3 units). An introduction to pedagogical theories, styles, and strategies as they apply to college teaching of psychology. Students will explore a range of options available to a college instructor in the presentation of course material, learning assessment tools, test construction, and grading. Different styles of learning, especially as they may apply to a multicultural student population, will be explored. Students will have the opportunity to write and practice giving lectures, lead mock discussion groups, and construct mock exams. Students must enroll either in PSYC 680 in the first semester of their second year of study. Graded Credit/No Credit. Prerequisites: Completion of fifteen (15) units in the graduate program and consent of instructor.
PSYC 681 - Field Placement (3 units). Students will spend a minimum of ten hours per week working within a social service, mental health, educational or business/industry setting, with the goal of applying psychological knowledge to and learning about the delivery of services in that setting. Students will be supervised both on site, and by the course instructor. Students enrolled in the course will meet three hours per week as a group to discuss issues and readings relevant to their experiences. Graded Credit/No Credit. Prerequisites: Completion of nine (9) units in the graduate program and consent of instructor.

PSYC 690 - Graduate Research (3 units). Faculty-supervised research. May be repeated , but no more than six (6) units of credit may be applied toward the Master’s degree. Prerequisite: Admission to the graduate program and consent of instructor.

PSYC 699 - Graduate Thesis (3 units). Preparation of the thesis. Graded Credit/No Credit. Prerequisite: Approved thesis proposal, completion of twenty-seven (27) units in the graduate program, and consent of thesis advisor.

PSYC 700 - Thesis Extension (A-1 unit, B -2 units, C-3 units). Registration in this course is limited to students who have received a grade of Report in Progress (RP) in PSYC 699. Also, student must be registered in PSYC 700 when the completed thesis is granted final approval. May be repeated. Graded Credit/No Credit. Prerequisite: Prior registration in PSYC 699 with an assigned grade of Report in Progress (RP).

Browse the undergraduate level course descriptions.