Division of Psychology and Philosophy
Website: http://www.twu.edu/psychology-philosophy/
Chair: Nila Ricks, Associate Professor
Location: OMB 410H
Phone: 940-898-2077
E-mail: NRicks@twu.edu
Graduate Degrees Offered
School Psychology
The School Psychology Program offers an American Psychological Association-accredited / National Association of School Psychology approved Ph.D. degree and a National Association of School Psychologists accredited Specialist degree. The School Psychology Program is designed to prepare students in the scientist-practitioner model with an emphasis on scientific rigor and problem-solving applied to practice in intervention, consultation, assessment, program evaluation, and research. Doctoral students are prepared to assume leadership roles in educational settings, independent practice, and supervision. Doctoral graduates qualify for licensure as psychologists by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and listing in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology following appropriate internship and postdoctoral experience. Both specialist and doctoral graduates are eligible to take the national school psychology examination, which leads to being eligible for licensure as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and towards credentialing as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.
Applicants should be aware that, as is typical of graduate training in professional psychology, part of one’s development as a psychologist entails personal growth and disclosure in addition to academic learning. As such, students may be expected to share appropriate personal material in various classes and practicum situations. APA guidelines require that students be informed of this requirement.
Counseling Psychology
The department offers two graduate programs in Counseling Psychology. The doctoral program offers an American Psychological Association-accredited Ph.D. degree. The Master's program leads to a Master of Arts degree. Both provide systematic training within a practitioner-scientist model to prepare students for professional mental health practice in a wide range of settings.
Both programs are grounded in feminist multicultural philosophy and pedagogy and have a focus on developing practitioners with a strong understanding of individuals within their gendered and sociocultural contexts. Social justice and advocacy are highly valued and practiced. Graduates of the program are expected to embrace strong multicultural values and to be conversant with and competent in the diversity-sensitive applications of theory, practice, research, and other professional functions.
The programs are situated within the unique context of TWU, focusing primarily on the educational advancement of women. The Counseling Psychology programs strive to create an atmosphere that is inclusive, supportive, and flexible while maintaining strong academic rigor. The programmatic goals are to create a climate that challenges without competition, promotes professional competence while minimizing the power hierarchy, and incorporates student participation at high levels. The program faculty makes a concerted effort to attend to students’ training needs within a contextual framework and to create an environment in which collaboration, self-direction, community, and respect for individual differences are promoted. Students and faculty make every effort to maintain open communication and clear expectations.
Applicants should be aware that, as is typical of graduate training in professional psychology, part of one’s development as a psychologist entails personal growth and disclosure in addition to academic learning. As such, students may be expected to share appropriate personal material in various classes and practicum situations. APA guidelines require that students be informed of this requirement.
Doctoral graduates qualify for Licensure as Psychologists and listing in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology following appropriate internship and postdoctoral experience. Master’s graduates qualify for licensure as Professional Counselors (LPC).
Psychological Science
The Psychological Science program offers an M.S. degree. The Psychological Science Program is designed to prepare students in a variety of areas of psychological science with exceptional, student-focused research training. Through one-on-one mentoring, students will develop a deep understanding of the scientific basis of human psychology and highly marketable research skills. The program prepares students for direct entry into the workforce as a behavioral scientist or analyst with tech companies, marketing firms, defense contractors, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, federal and local governments, academic and private research labs, and other private industry employers. Graduates of the Psychological Science program are well-positioned for entry into a doctoral program in psychology or entry into teaching positions at community colleges. The 36-credit hour program is designed to be completed in as few as 12 months and includes the completion of a thesis project with a faculty mentor.
Minors
A doctoral minor requiring 18 semester credit hours is offered in psychology. Specific course requirements for the minor can be obtained by contacting the director of either doctoral training program.
Faculty
Courses
Contact hours identified in the course descriptions are based on a 15-week term. Students who enroll in Summer or mini-terms are expected to meet the same total number of contact hours as a 15-week term.
PHIL 5913. Independent Study. Denotes course not offered as organized course. An in-depth review of a specific problem area jointly selected by student and instructor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5304. Advanced Psychological Statistics I. Brief review of measures of central tendency and variability. Advanced survey methods of correlational techniques, including multiple correlation. Advanced analyses of variance and nonparametric designs. Three lecture and two laboratory hours a week. Credit: Four hours.
PSY 5313. Psychological Tests and Measurements. Overview of psychometrics, including test construction, reliability, and validity. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5353. Research Design. Types of research methods; techniques and procedure of educational and psychological empirical research; research design; research writing; review of journal articles; general statistics for reading professional journals. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5423. Cognitive Assessment. Intensive introduction to the most widely used, individually administered intelligence tests. Prerequisite: A course in psychological appraisal or permission of the instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5463. Academic Assessment. Major norm-referenced measures of achievement and their use in the evaluation of specific learning disabilities. Prerequisite: Major in the school psychology specialist/doctoral program. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5473. Social-Emotional Assessment of Children. Administration and interpretation of personality assessment procedures with children, including integration with other psychoeducational assessment information. Prerequisites: PSY 5423 and PSY 5463. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5502. Professional and Ethical Issues in Counseling Psychology. Critical review of the program and discipline of counseling psychology; issues germane to the professional practice and identity of counseling psychology including professional ethics, licensure, and state board regulations. Two seminar hours a week. Credit: Two hours.
PSY 5513. Advanced Psychopathology. Extensive study of the fundamental principles of understanding mental illness from a systemic point of view; study of incident, cause, types of therapy, and prognostication for each case. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5523. Clinical Therapeutic Group Processes. Intensive group experience in which students study therapeutic group development as they function as participant, observer, and recorder of the emerging group process. Extensive reading is required. Theories of group development and group dynamics are examined as they relate to learning, perception, conflict resolution, problem solving, and psychotherapy. Prerequisites: Preregistration with instructor is required. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5533. Evidence-Based Intervention: Academic. Concepts and procedures of Rti, CBM, and evidence-based academic intervention. Prerequisite: Major in the School Psychology Specialist or Doctoral Program. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5541. Psychotherapy Skills I: Microskills Lab. Supervised instructional experience in basic clinical techniques for individual psychotherapy; counseling microskills that form the foundation for all psychotherapy interventions. Co-requisite: PSY 5653. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 5551. Principles of Abnormal Human Behavior. Examination of abnormal psychology and human behavior with a focus on crisis theory and intervention strategies. Topics include abnormal psychology and abnormal human behavior as they relate to etiology and treatment of suicidology, intimate partner violence, and substance use disorders. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 5653. Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling. Principles, procedures, techniques, and goals of effective counseling/therapy from a variety of theoretical viewpoints. Survey of major theories providing basic theory preparation for counselors/therapists in training. Prerequisite: Admission to Counseling Psychology graduate program. Co-requisite: PSY 5541. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 5733. Specialist Internship in School Psychology. Internship in a full-time school psychologist position which is comprehensive in scope, provides an opportunity to develop a clear professional identity, and explores the full responsibilities of a practicing school psychologist while having supervisory support from an experienced field supervisor. Prerequisite: PSY 5923. Forty practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5773. Family Psychology: Theory and Practice. Major theories in contemporary family/couple psychology, including their empirical base and associated techniques. Practice of introductory psychotherapeutic skills for family/couple work. Prerequisites: PSY 5653 and PSY 5541. Two lecture and two laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5803. Introduction to School Psychology. The school psychologist's roles within the total educational process of the child with emphasis upon development. Co-requisite: PSY 6931. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5853. Seminar in School Psychology. Capstone course to synthesize key concepts in school psychology curriculum; includes crisis intervention, working collaboratively with families, school-based prevention activities, and computer applications. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5901. Special Topics. Denotes organized course in psychology not regularly offered. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 5911. Independent Study. Individual instruction in a class that is not being taught during a current semester, and that is needed for graduation or to fulfill degree requirements of a graduate student. Credit: One hour.
PSY 5913. Independent Study. Denotes a course not offered as organized course. An in-depth review of a specific problem area jointly selected by student and instructor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5923. Supervised Practicum. Practicum experience in clinical setting; supervised and taped client contact with critical discussion. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Fifteen practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5963. Capstone Proficiencies. A capstone experience in writing and applying research findings to inform clinical practice. Writing applied literature reviews, program evaluation, and grant writing. Comprehensive exam over the MA program. Prerequisites: Enrolled in last or next to last semester of coursework only degree plan. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5973. Professional Paper. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5983. Thesis. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 5993. Thesis. Prerequisite: PSY 5983. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6011. Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology I. History, development, and current status of Counseling Psychology and areas of related emphasis in the program. Structure and function of APA; related organizations; and accrediting, credentialing, and other regulating bodies. Integration of foundational competencies related to self-reflection, interpersonal relationships, individual and cultural differences, ethical practice, and social justice/advocacy. Initial exploration of student's professional identity. One seminar hour a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6021. Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology II. Continuation of PSY 6011. Contemporary issues in professional psychology at large and within Counseling Psychology specifically. Issues such as science-practice integration/evidence-based practice, technology in psychology, interprofessional practice, clinical training, and maintaining professional competence. Critique of theoretical and empirical bases of scholarship related to key professional issues. Emphasis on foundational competencies related to scientific-mindedness. Development of doctoral-level writing skills. Prerequisite: PSY 6011. One seminar hour a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6104. Cognition and Emotion. Interaction between major processes involved in emotion and human cognition including perception, attention, memory, language, problem solving, and decision making. Four seminar hours a week. Credit: Four hours.
PSY 6113. Measurement and Psychometric Theory. Psychometric theories including Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory; foundational concepts such as reliability and validity and the mathematical models and assumptions on which they rest in the context of psychological measurement; specialized measurement software for data analysis; test development and item analysis. Prerequisite: Admission to Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology or School Psychology, or permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6123. Academic and Professional Writing. Academic and professional writing including development of a clear written voice in cogent works for classroom projects, academic publications, theses, and dissertations. Focus on avoiding common errors, proofreading, peer review, practice, and mastery of written expression. APA style and diversity-inclusive written language. Taken in the semester immediately prior to enrollment in PSY 6983 for the first time. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6133. Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience. Neuroanatomy, neuron physiology, psychopharmacology, neuroendocrinology, physiological bases of motivation, emotion, learning, sensation, sleep, and attention. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6143. Neurodevelopmental and Genetic Disorders In Children. Focus on low and high incidence neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders in children. Emphasis placed on identifying characteristics, differential diagnostic techniques, and empirically based interventions associated with these disorders. Prerequisite: Doctoral standing and/or permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6204. Advanced Psychological Statistics II. Multivariate statistical procedures in analysis of variance and regression, covariance analysis, and latent variable analysis. Prerequisite: PSY 5304. Four lecture hours a week. Credit: Four hours.
PSY 6233. Preschool Assessment. Administration and interpretation of preschool assessment procedures. Prerequisite: PSY 5423. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6253. Autism Spectrum Disorders. Administration and interpretation of assessment procedures for children and adolescents with autism spectrum and other developmental disorders. Academic, behavioral, and social interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Home-school collaboration with families of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6263. Preschool, Autism and Low Incidence Assessment. Physical, social, emotional, cognitive, pre-academic, perceptual-motor, personality, and behavior domains of children from birth to five years of age and from five to 21 years of age. Emphasis on research-based and applied practice methods for evaluation and intervention design/implementation, and the importance of collaborating with family members and school-based staff. Preschool and autism assessment measures and administration techniques, determination of special education eligibility, consultation with parents and teachers, and planning appropriate interventions. Application of methods to assess other low-incidence conditions. Prerequisites: PSY 5423, PSY 5463, and PSY 5473. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6333. Psychology of Gender. Comprehensive examination and critical analysis of the nature of gender from multiple perspectives via the integration of theory, research, and practice considerations. Emphasis on the psychology of women with substantive integration of topics and concerns related to men, intersex, and transgender/gender-nonconforming people. Prerequisite: Counseling Psychology major. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6383. Multicultural Psychology. Examination of paradigms of multicultural psychology (the fourth force in counseling and psychotherapy), cultural identity development, examination of one's own cultural heritage and its impact in the therapeutic relationship; competencies and standards, culture-specific strategies in multicultural psychotherapy, and therapeutic implications of the paradigms. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6393. Psychology of Violence, Trauma, and Abuse. Focus on abuse and victimization across the lifespan, ranging from infancy to late adulthood. Trauma-based disorders, psychological dynamics, and the recovery process will be explored. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6423. Psychopathology and Exceptionalities in Childhood and Adolescence. Comprehensive overview of etiology, identification (diagnostic nomenclature, DSM-5), and intervention in children and adolescents with exceptionalities and emotional disorders. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6443. Objective Personality Assessment for Adults. Administration, scoring, and interpretation of most widely used objective assessment procedures for measuring personality functioning in adults, with emphasis on MMPI, and current conceptual and clinical issues in objective psychodiagnostics. Prerequisites: PSY 5423 and doctoral standing. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6444. Theory and Practice of Counseling with Children and Adolescents. Principles, procedures, and techniques of effective counseling from a variety of theoretical viewpoints with primary focus on children and adolescents in school settings. Instructional supervised experience in clinical techniques basic to individual counseling. Three lecture and two laboratory hours a week. Credit: Four hours.
PSY 6523. Neuropsychological Assessment Techniques I. Introduction to the administration and interpretation of current neuropsychological assessment instruments for all ages with an emphasis on childhood and adolescence. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6533. Neuropsychological Assessment Techniques II. Advanced administration and interpretation of current neuropsychological assessment instruments for all ages with an emphasis on childhood and adolescence. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6563. Psychology of Human Sexuality. Advanced exploration of concepts related to human sexuality with emphases on psychological and cultural factors. Significant focus on self-as-counselor as it impacts the therapeutic process. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6583. Neuropsychopharmacology. Introduction to practical and theoretical understanding of the effects of drugs upon behavior. Emphasis on major antipsychotic, antianxiety, antidepressant drugs, their clinical use, and their side effects. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6613. Advanced Developmental Psychology. An in-depth analysis of theories regarding the psychological development of children, adolescents, and adults. The course will include an overview of the empirical and conceptual approaches to the study of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of humans from conception through death. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6633. Philosophical and Historical Foundations of Psychology. Major philosophical theories of the mind and historical foundations of psychology. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6673. Therapeutic and Crisis Interventions for Children and Adolescents. Theoretical background and applied psychotherapeutic techniques for children and adolescents presented within the context of specific childhood disorders. Includes counseling, screening, and referral information for children and adolescents that experience a crisis within the school setting. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6693. Advanced Therapy Intervention for Children and Adolescents. Group therapy intervention strategies for psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence in school settings. Group selection, protocols, and assessment for group therapy. Supervised practice required. Prerequisite: PSY 6673. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6703. Direct Behavioral Interventions. Assessment and management techniques emphasizing behavioral intervention strategies for groups and individuals across educational and clinical settings. Cognitive, behavioral, and systemic assessments and interventions in schools will be emphasized. Co-requisite: PSY 6931. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6743. Seminar in Social Psychology. Analysis of classic and contemporary research in social psychology; critical analysis of current empirical research and application to real-world phenomena. Exploration of a wide variety of social psychological topics including self & identity, culture, interpersonal relationships, helping behavior, attitudes, and prejudice. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6773. Advanced Multicultural Psychology. Promotion of multicultural awareness and understanding of relevant theories, terminology, and techniques for communicating and working with individuals of diverse backgrounds with an emphasis on children and adolescents in various settings, including schools. Examination of cultural identity development and assimilation, competencies, and standards. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6803. Seminar in Vocational Psychology. Theories of vocational psychology, vocational assessment, integration of vocational assessment and general psychological assessment, computer and internet applications, applications of vocational research, cross-cultural and gender issues, integration of work with family and leisure, and dual career family issues. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6821. Clinical Practicum. Practicum field-based experience in the clinical setting for a total of 50-125 hours across the semester. Supervised client contact and experiences in assessment, consultation, counseling, and intervention dependent on the field practicum site. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6831. Health Service Psychology Internship. Supervised internship experience in clinical and/or school settings; supervised competency-based skill development. One year, full-time (1800-2000 hours) placement in an APA/APPIC accredited match site; required to meet state licensing requirements. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and completion of all doctoral classwork except dissertation. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6833. Ethics in Psychology. A critical discussion and evaluation of the ethical alternatives with respect to decision-making and action in the area of Research and Professional Practice. Methodology will include contemporary cases involving personal, social, and institutional issues, as well as theoretical and empirical foundations in the classical systems of ethics. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6853. Supervision and Consultation Psychology. Designed to develop knowledge and strategic skills required in the practices of supervision of services and professional consultation in psychology. Both didactic content and field-based pre-practicum components are included. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6863. Qualitative Research Methods and Program Evaluation. Study of philosophical, conceptual, and practical bases of qualitative methodologies, with a particular focus on program evaluation. Emphasis on qualitative inquiry, data collection and analysis, and integration of qualitative/quantitative data. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6871. Internship in Professional Psychology. One-year, full-time supervised clinical internship experience in professional psychology as required by national accreditation standards and state licensure requirements. Prerequisites: Completion of comprehensive/qualifying exam (advancement to candidacy); dissertation proposal complete by November 1st of internship application year. Enrollment for 3 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer) required. Forty practicum hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6873. Advanced Consultation. Advanced skills in indirect-interventions which include the family, community, and school. In-depth exploration and practice in instructional team participation, and behavioral and emotional consultation with parents and school personnel. Emphasis on connecting families and schools using behavioral and systems perspectives. Prerequisite: PSY 6853. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6901. Special Topics. Denotes organized course in psychology not regularly offered. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. One lecture hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6903. Special Topics. Denotes organized course in psychology not regularly offered. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6911. Independent Study. Individual instruction in a class that is not being taught during a current semester, and that is needed for graduation or to fulfill degree requirements of a doctoral student. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6913. Independent Study. Denotes course not offered as organized course. An in-depth review of a specific problem area jointly selected by student and instructor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6921. Research Consultation in Psychology. Research consultation for doctoral students in the design stages of a dissertation proposal and exposure to computer analysis and interpretation of data. May be repeated for additional credit. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6922. Clinical Practicum. Practicum field-based experience in the clinical setting for a total of 125-225 hours across the semester. Supervised client contact and experiences in assessment, consultation, counseling, and intervention dependent on field placement site. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. Credit: Two hours.
PSY 6923. Supervised Practicum. Practicum experience in clinical setting; supervised and taped client contact with critical discussion. Fifteen practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6931. Practicum in Applied Psychology. Pre-practicum will provide limited practical experiences as co-requisite for PSY 5803 and PSY 6703. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Minimum of three practicum hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6933. Internship in Psychology. Supervised internship experience in clinical and/or school settings, supervision and critical discussion. One-year, full-time, placement necessary to meet licensing certification requirements. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Forty practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6961. Research Team. Participation in research activities as negotiated with a supervising faculty member. The student is expected to pursue areas of interest independently or in conjunction with the faculty member's interests. Two laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6981. College Teaching. Covers important pedagogical aspects of college teaching: effective lecture preparation and delivery; stimulating class discussions; writing good exams; using group projects and cooperative learning strategies; classroom management techniques; cultural diversity issues and learning styles. May be repeated for additional credit. Prerequisite: GTA or anyone in need of pedagogy requirements. Two laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6983. Dissertation. Credit: Three hours.
PSY 6991. Supervised Field Work. Field experience in applied settings; faculty supervision of students employed in the practice of psychology in the community. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Two practicum hours a week. Credit: One hour.
PSY 6993. Dissertation. Prerequisite: PSY 6983. Credit: Three hours.
