Curriculum

PSYCH 720 - Developmental Theory

This seminar will present and critique different developmental approaches to behavior and experience. The approaches considered may include: Piagetian theory; organismic-developmental theory; cultural/historical theories; Freudian and neo-Freudian theories; and information processing theory. The implications of these developmental theories for clinical psychology will also be discussed.

PSYCH 734 - Multicultural Perspectives on Development

A multicultural examination of child and adolescent development in the US. Major developmental tasks (e.g., forming identities, developing emotion regulation strategies, building academic cognitive & social skills) will be examined using both emic (within-group) and etic (cross-cultural) research. Throughout the course, Theoretical frameworks emphasizing the ecological and cultural contexts of development will be applied to explore contemporary social and mental health issues related to development and culture (e.g., immigrant adolescent mental health outcomes, ethnic academic achievement gaps).

PSYCH 746 - Child Assessment

Reviews principles and techniques of diagnosis and assessment of children, including the DSM IV, cognitive screening, intelligence, personality, and projective tests. May also include an introduction to specialized cognitive, educational, and vocational testing.

PSYCH 748 - Developmental Psychopathology

Examines child and adolescent psychopathology from an empirically-based developmental perspective. Reviews major developmental theories to elucidate the role of development in understanding the etiology and diagnosis of DSM-IV-TR disorders. Also focuses on theoretical and empirical literature in developmental psychopathology. Changes in the incidence rates of internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety) and externalizing disorders (e.g., conduct disorder, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder) are addressed. Disorders affecting both behavioral and mental functioning (e.g., autism) are included. Family, peer, and contextual/environmental influences are also covered.

PSYCH 774 - Child Therapy

Examines the principles and practice of psychotherapy with children. Attempts are made to delineate the similarities and differences between child and adult approaches as well as to expose the student to various theoretical perspectives on child therapy with an emphasis on one orientation. Normally offered alternate years.