Coursework and other requirements specified by both the department and the individual programs are described in this section of the handbook.

Departmental Core Curriculum

All students are expected to complete the departmental core curriculum within two years of entering the program. The departmental core consists of five courses. All students take the following four courses:

8490 Scientific and Professional Ethics in Psychology
8500 History of Psychology
8410 Psychological Research Statistics I
8420 Psychological Research Statistics II

Additionally, students are also required to take at least one methodology course as specified by their program.

Students who have taken similar graduate courses previously and for that reason believe that any of these required courses should be waived should make such requests in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies during their first semester of study. (See Waiving Required Courses later in this handbook.)

Clinical Curriculum

The following clinical and clinically-related course work and activities constitute the course of study for all students in the Clinical Program. Clinical students also complete all departmental and college requirements. Additional requirements for students enrolled in both the Clinical and either the Community or the Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Program are described under those programs.

Required General Psychology Courses

Biological Bases of Behavior:
8610 Behavioral Neuroscience

Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior:
8540 Advanced Cognitive Psychology

Social Bases of Behavior (one of the following):
8510 Advanced Social Psychology
8200 Introduction to Community Psychology

Human Development (one of the following):
8551 Cognitive, Perceptual and Linguistic Development
8552 Social and Emotional Development
8662 Adolescent Development

Required Clinical Courses

8020 Assessment I
8030 Assessment II
8650 Psychopathology
8670 Therapy I
8680 Therapy II
8050 Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology

Consulting and Supervision (one of the following):
8260 Clinical and Community Consultation
9240 Clinical Supervision

Methodology (one of the following):
8010 Research Methods in Psychology
8014 Research Methods in Community and Applied Social Psychology

Clinical Electives (two of the following):
8220         Community Intervention and Social Change
8230         Program Evaluation
8280         Psychology and Public Policy
8620         Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology
8630         Developmental Neuropsychology
8640         Psychopharmacology
9130         Seminar in Advanced Approaches to Assessment *
9140         Neuropsychological Assessment
9230         Seminar in Advanced Approaches to Psychological Interventions*
* may be taken more than once if topic is different

Supervised Clinical Work

Clinical students must take a minimum of 30 credit hours of supervised clinical experiences distributed among the following practicum courses:

9950C Assessment (minimum of 9 credit hours)
9950E Psychotherapy
9950M Specialized Skills

In addition, all clinical students must register for 1 hour of Apprenticeship (9950A) fall and spring semesters of their first year in the program. This experience places first year students in clinical supervision with advanced students who are doing assessment and therapy.

Clinical students will complete a sufficient variety of practicum experiences to ensure a breadth of training in assessment and intervention. Students are expected to enroll in clinical practica every semester they are active in the program. Students will maintain a record of their activities for inclusion in their annual reports and internship applications using the spreadsheet provided to them by the Director of Clinical Training.

Students will enroll for 3 hours of Psychotherapy (9950E) or Specialized Skills (9950M) each semester they provide intervention services to clients under the supervision of one supervisor. Students will also enroll in a minimum of three credit hours of Assessment (9950C) or Specialized Skills (9950M) each semester they provide assessment services. Students will enroll for additional hours of credit based upon the services to be provided as determined by the supervisor. It is expected that advanced students will continue to carry at least one client in the Psychology Clinic throughout their time in the program.

Students must complete two semesters of assessment practica on-campus under the supervision of members of the clinical program faculty or staff before they may enroll in assessment practica for work conducted off-campus and/or under the supervision of clinicians who are not members of the clinical program faculty. Similarly, students must complete two semesters of intervention practica on-campus under the supervision of members of the clinical program faculty or staff before they may enroll in intervention practica for work conducted off-campus and/or under the supervision of clinicians who are not members of the clinical program faculty. The Psychology Clinic and the Regents Center for Learning Disorders are examples of on-campus practicum sites. For information on off-campus sites, go to Clinical Practica Sites).

Professional Development

Students will engage in at least two of the following three sets of activities to foster their professional development and strengthen their professional identity. Advisors will assist students in meeting these requirements and certify that they have been satisfied. Students should ensure that certification is recorded in students' clinical files.

1. Author or co-author of a presentation at a state, regional, or national meeting.
2. Author or co-author an article or chapter in a psychological journal or book.
3. Prepare or assist faculty in preparing a proposal for extramural funds.

Pre-Doctoral Clinical Internship

Clinical students are required to complete a 2000 hour one-year pre-doctoral internship in accordance with standards of the Education and Training Board of the American Psychological Association. Generally, credit for the clinical internship will be granted only for training completed within APA-approved centers. Students who find it necessary because of personal circumstances to seek an internship in a non-APA-approved center must petition the clinical faculty for approval.

Students wishing to apply for internship should meet with their clinical advisor and with the Director of Clinical Training no later than April 1 of the year preceding the internship appointment to review their readiness to begin the application process. Approval to apply for internship will be based on a determination of the student’s academic and clinical competence, a history of ethical and professional behavior, and satisfactory progress on the dissertation. Before being permitted to apply for internship students must have their dissertation proposal accepted and be making acceptable progress toward completion of the research. All other program requirements must also be completed. The clinical advisor will present the student to the Clinical Committee for approval. The Director of Clinical Training will inform the student of the committee’s decision.

The typical Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) internship/residency setting requires applicants to have between 800 and 1000 hours of practicum work. The practicum work includes direct client contact during the therapy/assessment session itself and supervision activities, as well as preparation for the therapy/assessment session and preparation of reports. This program will use the APPIC internship/residency formula to guide the distribution of time among preparation, supervision, and client contact for its practicum work. The APPIC formula states that approximately 25% of supervised clinical work hours should consist of direct client contact, with the remaining 75% consisting of related supervision and preparation activities. Students preparing themselves for the typical internship/residency should therefore accumulate 200-250 hours of direct client contact plus 600 to 750 hours of related activities. However, some students may choose to apply only to internships/residencies that require fewer than 800 hours of practicum work. Other students may find it possible to substitute other qualifications and accomplishments, such as appropriately supervised intervention research or employment involving the provision of clinical services, for some of the hours of practicum work required by the typical APPIC program. Students are therefore encouraged to track carefully their clinical activities so that they accumulate the number of clinical, supervision, and preparation hours necessary to meet their professional goals.

Community Curriculum

Students in the Community Psychology Program students must meet all departmental and college requirements. Students who plan to seek licensure should also take four courses that satisfy the Clinical Program's general psychology course requirement.

Courses Required for Community Students

8014 Research Methods in Community Psychology
8060 Issues of Human Diversity in Community Psychology
8200 Introduction to Community Psychology (plus one hour of Psyc 9910, Adv. Directed Readings)
8220 Community Interventions and Social Change
8230 Program Evaluation
8430 Psychological Statistics III or 9900 Qualitative Methods
9900 Prevention
9940B Specialized Seminar in Psychology (3 X 1)
9960C Community Psychology Practica (9 hours) click here for details

Two of the following:
8280 Psychology and Public Policy
8260 Clinical and Community Psychological Consultation
9900 Ecological Theory and Assessment
9900 Community Organizing

Courses Required for Joint Clinical and Community Students

8014 Research Methods in Community Psychology
8200 Introduction to Community Psychology
8220 Community Interventions and Social Change
8230 Program Evaluation
9900 Prevention
9940B Specialized Seminar in Psychology (3 X 1)
9960C Practicum in Community Psychology (9 hours)

Two of the following:
8280 Psychology and Public Policy
8260 Clinical and Community Psychological Consultation
9900 Ecological Theory and Assessment
9900 Community Organizing

Note. In addition, joint students satisfy all Clinical Program requirements. They will probably take 8260 because that course also satisfies Clinical Program requirements. For joint students, 8060 is satisfied with 8050 and 9960C may be satisfied with related clinical practica, upon approval from the Community faculty.

Developmental Curriculum

Courses Required for Developmental Students

8012 Developmental Methods
8430 Psychological Statistics III
8551 Cognitive, Perceptual and Linguistic Development
8552 Social and Emotional Development
9940A Developmental Seminar

9940A Developmental Seminar. Offered each semester for 1 semester hour. Students usually enroll each semester; the seminar provides a forum for students and faculty to share research.

There are no other required courses as such. Instead, in consultation with their advisor, students propose a course of study to the Developmental Program faculty, typically during their first semester in the program. They specify the courses they plan to take and provide a rationale for their choice. Once approved by the program faculty, this becomes a binding course of study for the student, although requests for subsequent modifications can be made. Courses that might be specified include, but are not limited to:

6130  Sensation and Perception
6400  Psychology of the Atypical Child
8060  Issues of Human Diversity in Psychology
8200  Introduction to Community Psychology
8510  Advanced Social Psychology
8540  Advanced Cognitive Psychology
8610  Behavioral Neuroscience
8662  Adolescence
9900  Special Topics in Developmental Psychology
9660  Infancy

COMM 6400  Development of Communication and Language

Minor in Developmental Psychology

A minor in developmental psychology consists of 12 semester hours of coursework that has been approved by the Developmental Program faculty. Students apply to the Developmental Program faculty for the minor either before or after taking either of the two foundation developmental courses (8551 Cognitive and Linguistic Developmental, 8552 Social and Emotional Development), and under most circumstances before taking other coursework for the minor. For example, a minor might consist of one or both of the foundation courses (i.e., Cognitive and Linguistic Development, Social and Emotional Development), Developmental Methods, or any of the content courses appropriate for developmental psychology offered in the department.

NBN Curriculum

All students in the Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Program must fulfill all requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Psychology. In addition to course work, practica, and other academic/research pursuits available at the university, students are encouraged to take advantage of research and professional experiences, conferences, workshops and seminars related to neuropsychology and behavioral neurosciences nation- and world-wide.

Courses Required for NBN Students
(Track 2: Specialization in Behavioral Neuroscience)

8010 Research Methods in Psychology
8615 Functional Human Neuroanatomy
8616 Neurobiology I: Cellular Neurobiology
8617 Neurobiology II: Intergrative Neurobiology
8618 Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
8620 Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology

In addition, each Track 2 student proposes an integrated plan of study that meets all departmental requirements and provides a clear focus that can be met by the faculty in the program and department. This plan of study can include courses listed in Track 1 below, those courses listed as program electives below (that can be taken as Psyc 9920-Advanced Directed Readings), and additional courses available in other departments of the college.

Examples of other relevant courses include:

• Physiological Basis of Motivated Behaviors
• Behavioral Endocrinology
• Mammalian Reproduction: An Ecological Perspective
• Neural and Humoral Basis of Feeding
• Circadian Rhythms
• Reproduction
• Aggression, Hormones, and Behavior
• Neurobiology of Leaning and Memory
• Psychopharmacology
• Survival Skills in Academia

Courses Required for Joint Clinical and NBN Students
(Track 1: Specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology)

8010  Research Methods in Psychology
8610  Behavioral Neuroscience or 8618 Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
8615  Functional Human Neuroanatomy
8620  Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology              

9140  Neuropsychological Assessment 
9900  Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience 
9900  Efficacy of Neuropsychological Intervention 

9950C   Assessment (minimum 9 credit hours, on-campus)

9950E   Psychotherapy (minimum 12 credit hours)

9950M  Practicum: Specialized Skills (minimum 6 credit hours advanced assessment  and/or intervention, and minimum 3 credit hours of Assessment Supervision) 

Note. In addition, joint students satisfy all Clinical Program requirements (which includes 8610). This course of study is consistent with the guidelines proposed by the Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical Neuropsychology.

Elective Courses for NBN or Joint Clinical/NBN Students

6130  Sensation and Perception
6140  Introduction to Psychophysiology
8540  Advanced Cognitive Psychology
8630  Developmental Neuropsychology
9900  Seminar: Professional Development

Social/Cognitive Curriculum

Students in the Social/Cognitive Psychology Program must meet all departmental and college requirements.

Courses Required for Social/Cognitive Students

8010 Research Methods in Psychology (or another methods course endorsed by one's advisor)
8430 Psychological Statistics III
8510 Advance Social Psychology
8540 Advanced Cognitive Psychology

One of the following:
6140 Introduction to Psychophysiology
8610 Behavioral Neuroscience

In addition, each student must complete:
Two Special Topics courses in Social Psychology
Two Special Topics courses in Cognitive Psychology

Courses for Primary and Secondary Emphases

By the end of the first semester, each student must select a primary emphasis, with 9 additional hours required from the list of courses below. The other topic becomes the student's secondary emphasis by default.

For primary emphasis in social:
8060 Issues of Human Diversity in Psychology
8200 Introduction to Community Psychology
8552 Social and Emotional Development
9900 Special Topics in Social Psychology (in addition to the two required courses noted above; may be repeated)

For primary emphasis in cognitive:
6130 Sensation and Perception
8551 Cognitive and Linguistic Development
8560 Animal Learning and Cognition
9900 Special Topics in Cognitive Psychology (in addition to the two required courses noted above; may be repeated)

Elective Courses

Four are required. The 12 elective hours come from courses above or from other courses inside or outside the department. Special topics courses and research hours may be repeated as elective hours.

Students are expected to be involved in research throughout their graduate training. Their research projects include theses, dissertations, and other activities. Students are encouraged to initiate projects, carry them through to completion, and present their work at professional meetings and in journal articles. In addition, they are expected to attend departmental colloquia and meetings of the Hard Data Café, a biweekly Social/Cognitve research colloquium.

Social/Cognitive Minor

The Social/Cognitive program offers a minor that consists of 12 semester hours of coursework. These hours include four required courses--Advanced Social Psychology, Advanced Cognitive Psychology, Special Topics in Social Psychology, and Special Topics in Cognitive Psychology. Students from other program areas should apply to the Social/Cognitive Program for minor status, either before or after taking one of the required courses.

Waiving Required Courses

The preceding sections detailed courses required by the departmental core or by specific programs. However, students may occasionally petition that a required course be waived in their case.

Departmental Core Courses

Requests that a departmental core course be waived are made in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies. Typically such requests are made when a student has taken a similar graduate course elsewhere. Students must make such requests in writing during their first semester of graduate study at GSU and should supply syllabi and other relevant information concerning the course they took previously. The Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with faculty members who teach similar courses, then decides whether such requests should be granted.

Courses Required by Programs

Requests that courses required by the various programs be waived are made to the chair of the appropriate program. Typically such requests are made when a student has taken a similar graduate course elsewhere or has otherwise demonstrated competence, or thinks that a course other than one that satisfies a program requirement would better serve his or her education. As a general rule, students should make such requests during their first semester of graduate study at GSU and should supply any information or documentation relevant to their request. If the request is granted, the chair of the program should send a memo to the Director of Graduate Studies detailing which requirements have been waived for that student.