Psychology Douglas A. Behrend
Department Chair
216 Memorial Hall
479-575-4256
E-mail: psycapp@uark.edu
Web: http://www.uark.edu/depts/psyc/
• Professors Cavell, Knowles, Lohr, Schroeder, Stripling
• Associate Professors Behrend, Beike, Freund, Petretic, Westendorf
• Assistant Professors Bering, Fuendeling, Lampinen, Levine, Murray, Williams
• Adjunct Assistant Professors Jenkins, Matthews, Perry
Degrees Conferred:
M.A., Ph.D. (PSYC)
Areas of Concentration: The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is offered in the fields of experimental psychology and clinical psychology. The program is designed to produce experimental and clinical psychologists with broad knowledge of the field. Specialization for research is required during the student’s last two years of study.
Primary Areas of Faculty Research: The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology follows the scientist/practitioner model of training. While the majority of our graduates obtain applied, direct service provision positions, our training curriculum is such that those students whose career aspirations have been directed toward academic and research positions also have been successful. The Clinical Training Program is based on the premise that clinical psychologists should be skilled practitioners and mental health service providers as well as competent researchers. To facilitate these goals, we strive to maximize the match between the clinical and research interests of the faculty with those of the graduate students. The academic courses and clinical experiences are designed to promote the development in both areas. The objective of the Clinical Training Program is to graduate clinical psychologists capable of applying psychological theory, research methodology, and clinical skills to complex clinical problems and diverse populations. The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association.
The primary concentration of the Experimental Training Program is our Social and Cognitive Processes focus area, with emphases in the traditional subareas of social, cognitive, and developmental psychology. The faculty and students in the focus area typically have their primary research programs within one of these major subareas, although ad hoc research teams may also investigate questions at the intersections of these areas. In addition to Social and Cognitive Processes, other individual faculty members provide training to students interested in Brain and Physiological Psychology and in Cognitive Aging. Students in the Experimental Training Program are trained to have excellent statistical and writing skills, to become competent and autonomous researchers, and to contribute to the field of psychology through presentations at professional conferences and publications in scholarly journals. Opportunities for extensive supervised teaching experience are also available to our students. Graduates of the Experimental Training Program typically obtain teaching and academic positions after graduation, while others take jobs in the private sector.
Prerequisites to Degree Program: The candidate for admission to graduate study in psychology must satisfy the requirements of the Graduate School and have the approval of the Admission Committee of the appropriate training program. Scores on the Aptitude Section and the Advanced Psychology Section of the Graduate Record Examinations must be submitted with the application. The student normally will be expected to have had at least 18 semester hours in psychology, including statistics and research methods, or their equivalents.
The program of study is designed primarily for the student who seeks the Ph.D. degree. Students interested in pursuing a terminal master’s degree should not apply for admission. However, all Ph.D. candidates must complete requirements for the M.A. degree.
Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree: Clinical – minimum 30 hours. A student who seeks only the Master of Arts degree will be advised on selection of courses that will meet specific objectives. The student must complete 24 semester hours of course work and submit a research thesis. The thesis should be finished no later than the end of the second year of study.
Experimental – minimum 30 hours. A student who seeks only the Master of Arts degree must complete 24 hours of courses, including the following required courses: PSYC 4123, PSYC 5013, PSYC 5063, PSYC 5113, PSYC 5123, PSYC 5133, PSYC 5143, PSYC 523V (2 hours), and PSYC 6133. In addition, the student must submit a research thesis.
Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree:
1. Students in the experimental psychology program must fulfill all the requirements for the Master of Arts degree and take four 6000-level experimental psychology seminars.
2. The clinical student must take the following required courses: PSYC 5013, PSYC 5033, PSYC 5043, PSYC 5053, PSYC 5063, PSYC 5073, PSYC 5113, PSYC 5133, PSYC 5143, PSYC 5163, PSYC 5313, PSYC 6133 (or PSYC 4123), PSYC 6163, PSYC 6213, and PSYC 6223.
3. The clinical student must take a clinical practicum each semester on campus. The student must complete a one-year pre-doctoral internship at an approved facility. It may precede or follow completion of the dissertation at the discretion of the advisory committee, but it must be completed prior to formal granting of the degree.
4. All students must pass a written candidacy examination at a time recommended by the student’s advisory committee.
5. All students must complete a dissertation demonstrating independent scholarship and originality in research and its oral defense.
The candidacy examination focuses upon methods characteristic of the field and upon specific content areas that are appropriate for each student. This examination may not be given until the M.A. thesis has been accepted, and it must be completed before dissertation research is begun. The final oral examination deals primarily with the dissertation research.
PSYC4013 Exceptional Children (IR) Study of children whose development follows atypical patterns, including for example, the mentally deficient, the physically and emotionally handicapped. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4023 Adulthood and Aging (SP, Even years) Psychological factors occurring from young adulthood through old age. Emphasis on cognitive, personality, physical, and psychological factors. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4033 Educational Psychology (IR) Psychological theories and concepts applied to the educational process. Investigates the learner and instructional variables in a wide range of educational settings. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4053 Psychological Tests (FA) Nature and theory of individual and group tests of intelligence, personality, interests, and attitudes. Prerequisite: PSYC 2013.
PSYC4063 Psychology of Personality (SP) Development and nature of the normal personality. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4073 Psychology of Learning (FA, SP, SU) Basic principles of learning showing how these principles are derived from experimental studies and how they are applied to explain more complex forms of behavior. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4123 Perception (FA) Survey of principles and theories of sensation and perception. Content covers the classical senses with emphasis on integrating physical, physiological, and psychophysical evidence concerning the operation of sensory system in humans and other animals. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4133 Behavior Modification (SP, Odd years) Introduction to the basic principles of behavior modification and contingency management. Presents procedures of conditioning, reinforcement, token economy and self-control of individuals and groups in a variety of settings with emphasis on discussions of research and ethics. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4143 History and Systems of Psychology (FA) Examination of the concepts, methods, and systems which have contributed to the development of modern psychology. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4183 Physiological Psychology (FA) Examination of the biological basis of behavior. Surveys neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropharmacology, and then investigates how the nervous system produces various types of behavior. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC4193 Comparative Psychology (SP) Similarities and differences in behavior across different species, including man. Special reference is made to principles concerning the organisms adjustment to its environment. Prerequisite: PSYC 2003.
PSYC5013 Advanced Developmental Psychology (SP) Critical examination of the research relevant to the psychological factors influencing the growth processes of the individual from birth to maturity. Prerequisite: PSYC 4073.
PSYC5023 Neuropsychological Assessment (IR) Introduction to the principles, techniques, and tools of assessment in clinical neuropsychology. Includes training in the interpretation, integration, and reporting of results. Prerequisite: PSYC 5043.
PSYC5033 Psychopathology (FA) Psychological and somatic factors contributing to pathological behavior. Interrelations of these factors will be analyzed in terms of how they lead to differential abnormal states. Prerequisite: PSYC 3023.
PSYC5043 Assessment of Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities (FA) Training in the theory, administration and interpretation of individual tests of intelligence and mental ability. Prerequisite: PSYC 4053.
PSYC5053 Advanced Personality Assessment and Clinical Diagnosis (FA) Guidelines for using standardized instruments and structured interviews in the diagnosis and clinical assessment of major psychological disorders. Includes training in the interpretation, integration, and reporting of results. Prerequisite: PSYC 5043 and PSYC 5163.
PSYC5063 Advanced Social Psychology (SP) Theory, methodology, and contemporary research in the major areas of social psychology. Topics include attitude theory and measurement, group processes, social and cultural factors.
PSYC5073 Introduction to Clinical Practice: Core Skills and Ethical Guideli nes (FA, SP) (Formerly PSYC 507) An introduction to clinical practice focusing on a) interview methods and techniques and b) ethical principles and guidelines.
PSYC5113 Theories of Learning (FA) Major concepts in each of the important theories of learning. Prerequisite: PSYC 4073.
PSYC5123 Cognitive Psychology (SP, Even years) Contemporary theories and research on human information processing including topics such as memory, language, thinking, and problem solving.
PSYC5133 Inferential Statistics for Psychology (FA) Inferential statistics, including representative parametric tests of significance. Special emphasis on analysis of variance, covariance, and component variance estimators as applied to psychological research. Prerequisite: PSYC 2013 or STAT 2013.
PSYC5143 Advanced Descriptive Statistics for Psychology (SP) Special correlation techniques followed by a survey of representative nonparametric tests of significance. Major emphasis on advanced analysis of variance theory and designs. Prerequisite: PSYC 5133.
PSYC5163 Personality: Theory & Disorder (SP) An introduction to empirically based theories of personality and personality disorders with an emphasis on clinical application and intervention.
PSYC523V Research Practicum (1-3) (FA, SP) Presentation, evaluation, and discussion of on-going research proposals. Required of all experimental graduate students in the first 2 years of their program.
PSYC5313 Introduction to Clinical Science: Research Design and Ethical Guid elines (FA) Provides a) guidelines for designing and conducting empirical research in clinical psychology, b) ethical principles that regulate clinical research, and c) supervised opportunities to develop a clinical research proposal.
PSYC600V Master’s Thesis (1-6) (FA, SP, SU)
PSYC602V Seminar: Teaching Psychology (1-3) (FA, SP) Survey of the literature on teaching of psychology in college. Includes: planning the course, method, examining and advising students. Prerequisite: teaching assistant.
PSYC607V Clinical Practicum III (1-3) (FA, SP) Provides supervised experience in the application of the more complex and lesser known psychodiagnostic techniques and training and experience in psychotherapeutic techniques with the more severe functional disorders. Level of responsibility and independence to increase in 608V. Prerequisite: PSYC 507V and PSYC 508V.
PSYC608V Clinical Practicum IV (1-3) (FA, SP) Provides supervised experience in the application of the more complex and lesser known psychodiagnostic techniques and training and experience in psychotherapeutic techniques with the more severe functional disorders. Prerequisite: PSYC 507V and PSYC 508V.
PSYC609V Clinical Graduate Seminar (1-3) (FA, SP) Provides intensive coverage of specialized clinical topics. Open to all graduate students.
PSYC611V Individual Research (1-18) (FA, SP, SU)
PSYC6133 Advanced Physiological Psychology (FA) Examination of the biological basis of behavior, with emphasis on underlying neural mechanisms.
PSYC6163 Psychotherapy (SP) A conceptual overview of psychotherapy, with an emphasis on a) common mechanisms, and b) cognitive and interpersonal approaches. Prerequisite: PSYC 5033.
PSYC6173 Clinical Child Psychology (SP, Even years) Intensive study of psychopathology, assessment, and treatment of children. Broad survey with emphasis on theory, practice, and research from a developmental perspective. Prerequisite: PSYC 5033 and PSYC 5043 and PSYC 5053.
PSYC6183 Group Psychotherapy (FA, Even years) Examination of theory, research, and practice in group psychotherapy.
PSYC6203 Marital and Family Psychotherapy (FA, Odd years) Examination of theory, research, and practice in marital and family psychotherapy. Includes supervised clinical experiences.
PSYC6213 Behavior Therapy (FA, Even years) Provides clinical experience and training in the major behavior modification technique. Includes also a critical evaluation of theory, research, and issues in the area.
PSYC6223 Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology (SP) The impact of clients’ diversity on assessment, treatment, and research in clinical psychology. Broad coverage with an emphasis on implications for clinical practice.
PSYC6233 Professional Issues in Clinical Practice (IR) Examination of major issues the professional practice of clinical psychology, including regulations governing licensure, the business of behavioral health care, and the role of clinical psychologists in the courts.
PSYC6323 Seminar in Developmental Psychology (FA, Odd years) Discussion of selected topics in the area of human development. Emphasis will be on a review of current theory and empirical research. Topics selected for discussion could range from early development (child psychology), to later development (psychology of adulthood and aging-gerontology), to current attempts to integrate the field (life-span developmental psychology).
PSYC6353 Seminar in Learning/Memory/Cognition (SP, Odd years) Discussion of selected topics in learning, memory, or cognition. Emphasis on current theory and empirical research. Topics selected for discussion may be in the areas of learning, memory, problem solving, or language.
PSYC6373 Seminar in Personality and Social Psychology (FA) Discussion of selected topics in social psychology and personality. Current theoretical positions and recent research findings are emphasized. Topics selected for discussion will be in areas of intrapersonal processes, interpersonal processes, group processes or any of various areas of personality.
PSYC6413 Seminar in Physiological Psychology (SP, Odd years) Discussion of selected topics in physiological psychology. Emphasis will be on a review of current theory and empirical research. Each offering of the seminar will examine the biological basis of a specific aspect of behavior, utilizing both animal and human data.
PSYC698V Field Work (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) Provides academic credit for field work in multidisciplinary setting, involving supervised experiences in assessment and psychotherapy. May be repeated.
PSYC699V Clinical Psychology Internship (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) Supervised experience in a multidisciplinary setting of assessment and psychotherapy. May be repeated.
PSYC700V Doctoral Dissertation (1-18) (FA, SP, SU) Prerequisite: candidacy. |
