Course Catalog

3 Unit(s)

Examines the psychological, therapeutic and health implications developmental issues have on individuals, couples and family relationships; and the biological, social, cognitive and psychological aspects of aging. Cultural understandings of human development will be covered along with the impact of financial and social stress on human development. Therapeutic implications including long-term care, end of life and grief issues will be covered.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Explores the effects of culture and ethnicity on psychology and behavior. Students will examine the cultural traits and values of various cultural groups in the United States. Implications for work and organizational environments and for counseling will be explored.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Effective Fall 2015 Provides an overview of group psychotherapy. In this course, students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in and lead therapy groups. Content includes a survey of group-counseling theories, techniques, and research; discussion of professional, ethical, and clinical issues in group practice; review of the developmental stages of groups; and practice as group members and as leader. Experiential practice is incorporated throughout.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

This course is designed to help students think critically about practical questions related to human behavior and thought processes. The course will introduce students to an array of methodological tools psychologists use in their research -- from the basics of scientific inquiry, ethical conduct, and controlled observation to co-relational, experimental, and applied approaches to research. Throughout, students will learn research methods within the context of classic and contemporary studies from diverse areas of psychology.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the specialized communication skills used in the practice of counseling. Students will study basic counseling skills, interventions and the use of the psychological interview as an assessment tool.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Explores the paradigms of mental and emotional dysfunction. Emphasizes the clinical techniques and professional practices used in the evaluation of individual psychological disturbance. Case studies will be used to examine different disorders and to learn how to use the DSM 5.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Surveys the theoretical and conceptual foundations of psychological assessment. Students will learn to select and administer assessment tools and to interpret their findings. Contains six hours of content related to suicide risk assessment and intervention.

View Course Sections: Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the major traditional and contemporary psychodynamic models of counseling and psychotherapy. These are concerned with the conscious, subconscious, unconscious, and subjective constructions of life experiences. Students will learn how to work with individuals using these models, paying attention to the models' principles of change and techniques, and their underlying theoretical rationale. Students will also learn to develop clinical case formulations and treatment plans, consider neurological factors that are relevant to counseling practice and outcomes, and modify case formulations and therapeutic interventions in order to consider clients' cultural and social identities.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the issues related to child and adolescent therapy, including assessment. This course applies the principles by which a child develops the ability to think, speak, perceive and act, and the moral, intellectual and cognitive changes experienced in adolescence, to the therapeutic process. Students will learn the different assessment methodologies and therapies used in working with young people.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Explores the major theoretical approaches and therapeutic techniques used in counseling families and couples. Students will study the basic concepts of family systems and learn several methods of intervention.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024

3 Unit(s)

Examines the legal and ethical responsibilities of counselors such as confidentiality, privilege, involuntary hospitalization and mandatory reporting. Students will learn the legal obligations of professional practice, laws relating to minors, marriage and the family and professional codes of ethics.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the neuroscience of counseling and psychopharmacology. Considers recent research and theoretical perspectives on brain functioning, enabling us to understand that all forms of counseling, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy are successful to the extent they change relevant neural circuits in the brain. Also considers the development of the brain and its relationship to psychological well-being and psychopathology. Examines several of the psychological problems individuals experience and the therapeutic interventions employed to address them, informed by our understanding of brain functioning. Major classes of psychotherapeutic medications, the psychiatric problems they address, their underlying neurological mechanisms, indications and contraindications for their use, and side effects are examined. Students learn to use internet databases and reference materials to maintain their knowledge base of these medications. The psychopharmacology of specific cultural and social groups is considered, including women, racial/ethnic groups, children and adolescents, and the elderly.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

1 Unit(s)

Examines human sexuality and sexual development, including dysfunctions and their treatment. Students will study the range of sexual behaviors, including atypical and dysfunctional behaviors, examine sexuality issues related to special populations or groups and learn processes and techniques of sex therapy.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

1 Unit(s)

Covers the definition, etiology, identification and treatment approaches of substance use, co-occurring disorders and addictions. Prevention, populations with special risk, community resources and the role of persons and systems that support or compound use and addiction will be covered. Effects of drug use, and medical and legal aspects will be explored.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

1 Unit(s)

Prepares students to identify, intervene, report and treat intimate partner and spousal abuse, geriatric abuse, family abuse and child maltreatment. Legal, cultural and psychosocial issues will be covered. Students will learn about current issues and recent research in the area of family violence, trauma and child maltreatment. This course will prepare students to apply their knowledge to use in a variety of clinical settings.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

2 Unit(s)

Equips students with the knowledge and therapeutic tools necessary to work with families encountering special treatment issues including: substance abuse; immigration; illness; end of life and grief; and financial stress and homelessness. Students will also learn how to work with families who have a unique structure or are undergoing change such as same sex relationships; divorce; single and step-parenting; and adoption. Students will be provided with a theoretical foundation while learning to execute practical therapeutic approaches required when working with a variety of special situations. Prerequisite: PSYCH 325.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024

1 Unit(s)

Explores evidence-based practice treatments, best practices and the areas of emerging research knowledge within a recovery-orientated paradigm. Students will become familiar with specific evidence-based interventions to use for individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness, including co-occurring disorders. Additional topics of human diversity and legal/ethical concerns will be highlighted throughout the course. This course is intended to be taken within the last two trimesters of study. Corequisite: PSYCH 321.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024

3 Unit(s)

Examines principles and skills required to work with adults, youth and families with a diagnosis of serious mental illness using a recovery-oriented paradigm. Specific approaches for engagement, assessment, treatment planning and case management are addressed for meeting needs of consumers with persistent mental illness, trauma histories and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Students will learn how to engage in collaborative treatment, being a member of a multidisciplinary team with various systems of care; including community behavioral health; alcohol and drug service providers; human service agencies; law enforcement/criminal justice; primary care and academic/vocational services. Additional topics of illness prevention, health promotion, human diversity and legal/ethical concerns will be highlighted throughout the course. Prerequisite: PSYCH 321.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines and compares behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and other short-term models of counseling and psychotherapy. Equips students with the tools and evidence-based techniques necessary to help individuals resolve a host of problems presented by their clients. Students will also study behavioral and cognitive-behavioral models of couples and group counseling; learn to develop clinical case formulations and treatment plans; consider neurological factors that are relevant to addressing specific psychological problems; and modify case formulations and adapt therapeutic practice and interventions in order to consider clients' cultural and social identities, including socioeconomic status.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the theoretical and experiential aspects of group-functioning in organizations and the behavioral, psychological, and social-psychological dynamics of group behavior. Common pitfalls of group-decision making processes, life-cycle theories of group development, influence patterns in groups and the unique challenges of forming cross-cultural and cross-geographical groups will be explored.

3 Unit(s)

Examines the structure, function and performance of organizations and the impact of psychological and sociological variables on the behavior of groups and their members. Students will learn the key relationships between organizational culture, behavior and processes.

3 Unit(s)

Explores how systematic organizational interventions are accomplished within complex human networks. Students will learn how to use behavioral science to assess an organizations current state and discover routes to its improvement. Also covered will be the role of internal and external consultants in intervention and the resulting impact on human behavior and organizational performance.

3 Unit(s)

Explores the nature and role of leadership in organizations. Special emphasis will be devoted to the role of emotional intelligence in organizational effectiveness and managerial excellence. Students will learn through an examination of their own emotional and leadership competencies, and also through readings, cases and group projects.

3 Unit(s)

Prepares students to administer and interpret psychological tests in organizational environments. Students will be exposed to the major psychological assessment tools used to measure organizational performance and effectiveness, as well as tools used for employee selection, placement and training. Students will be able to select tools to perform key I/O duties like job analysis, performance appraisal and feedback, team building, person-environment fit analysis, leadership training and team morale assessment. They also will be able to construct and validate assessment tools and perform data analysis using SPSS to diagnose organizational problems. This course fulfills the test publishers educational requirement to purchase testing materials.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the structure, function, and performance of organizations, the impact of psychological and sociological variables on the behaviors of groups and their members, and explores how systematic organizational interventions are accomplished within complex human networks. Students will both learn the key relationships between organizational culture, behavior, and processes and learn how to use behavioral science to assess an organization's current state and discover routes to its improvement.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Explores the nature and dynamics of change in organizations and its impact on individuals and teams from psychological and social-psychological perspectives. Introduces the discipline of Change Management and the major models associated with its practice. Reviews the skill-sets of organizational change-agents, best-practices for managing resistance to change, and approaches to measuring the impact of organizational change efforts

3 Unit(s)

This course highlights the theoretical and practical aspects of the field of executive coaching. Areas of emphasis include the recent growth of executive coaching as a discipline and its place among other employee development practices, attitudinal and behavioral approaches to the coaching process, the measurement of coaching outcomes, ethical considerations in coaching, similarities and differences with psychotherapy, and the skills of an executive coach.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the expert skills and knowledge used in helping individuals clarify their career and life goals. Students will be introduced to the major career development theories and their application to the world of work. In the process, students will examine issues such as certification and licensure, multicultural counseling, retirement, and dual-career couples. Students will learn how to assess interest and ability and how to access occupational and educational information sources.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024

3 Unit(s)

Explores professional conflict resolution and mediation as an emerging means of problem solving in family, industrial, environmental and business law. Students will examine the theoretical framework of dispute resolution and its relationship to the traditional justice system and explore related ethical issues.

3 Unit(s)

Explores the skills and techniques necessary for conflict mediation. Students will learn communication techniques, problem identification and disagreement management skills, techniques for achieving agreement or settlement and intake skills.

3 Unit(s)

Introduces students to the action-research model of industrial/organizational psychology consulting to organizations and offers a step-by-step process to conduct successful consulting engagements. Core consulting processes such as entry, contracting, data-collection, feedback, action planning, and implementation will be reviewed. Additional topics include tactics for working with challenging clients, managing organizational politics, and typical career paths in consulting.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024

3 Unit(s)

Examines the dynamics and structure of diversity in organizations and how organizations leverage comprehensive diversity initiatives to build and sustain competitive advantage. Emphasis will be placed on ways organizations integrate diversity into key processes to capture a 'diversity dividend' resulting in improved financial performance, customer loyalty, and employee engagement

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Explores professional conflict resolution and meditation as an emerging means of problem solving in family, industrial, environmental, and business law. Examines the skills and techniques necessary for conflict mediation. Students will examine theoretical frameworks and related ethical issues and learn conflict management and resolution skills.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Explores the growing field of business, organizational and personal coaching with a primary focus on learning interpersonal coaching skills and concepts. Topics will include: specific communication skills of a coach, interpersonal coaching tools, developmental models of change, common coaching issues, the stages and structures of coaching, and solution-focused coaching methods. Class structure will include: demonstrations, experiential practice and learning, and guest lectures from successful coaches (depending on their availability). May be used as a management, industrial / organizational psychology or conflict resolution certificate elective option. This course combines lecture, experiential learning activities and cyber-enhanced learning modalities. It is taught so that students will utilize theory in class activities that illustrate coaching concepts and teach coaching skills.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

3 Unit(s)

Practical application of assessment, counseling, consultation and case management skills in an approved mental health setting. Students are required to complete a total of 300 clinical hours during the program consisting of face-to-face counseling with individuals (adults, children, adolescents, couples, families or groups). Supervision must be provided by an on-site practicum supervisor in accordance with Board of Behavioral Science regulations. Additionally, students will attend a practicum seminar that will provide group consultation utilizing written case studies and oral case presentations. Additional topics of human diversity and legal/ethical concerns will be highlighted throughout the course. Students are required to meet with clients and their families in volunteer and in-class settings. Students are required to enroll in the PSYCH 394 seminar course during every term that they will be participating in their traineeship placement. If the placement will cover five weeks or less of the term and the hours gained during that period are not needed to fulfill the 300-hour requirement, then registration in the PSYCH 394 seminar course is not required that term. Prerequisite: PSYCH 320, PSYCH 326, and PSYCH 321. Consent of the department chair is required.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

13 Unit(s)

Explores significant, topical, practical and theoretical problems and issues in applied psychology. Topics are selected by the department chair. This course may be taken more than once, provided the same topic is not repeated.

3 Unit(s)

Provides practical experience and training in applied psychology by working with an experienced practitioner in an appropriate setting. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

13 Unit(s)

Allows rigorous exploration of a specific topic. Students will research and prepare an extensive paper on an area of special interest. This course is for the advanced student only. Only one directed study course may be taken for credit toward a masters degree. PSYCH 399 can be used to satisfy area of concentration requirements for the masters degrees in psychology. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair and dean.

3 Unit(s)

This course provides a basic introduction to the field of human psychology. Students will explore systems theory as it applies to individuals, families, and organizations; basic methods of psychological research; motivation; learning and memory; sensation and perception; basic topics in neuroscience; and social psychology. Students will learn how to use research-validated tools to create more effective and satisfying relationships, in both personal and professional settings. The course also covers how psychology can elaborate and deepen the understanding of cultural diversity, human biology, and lifespan development. The class concludes by applying psychological principles to career goals.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

4 Unit(s)

This is a survey course introducing major topics in psychology. Topics covered include research and methods; culture; the brain; neurobiology; sensation and perception; learning; memory; thinking; intelligence; language; emotion and motivation; social psychology; developmental psychology; consciousness; personality; abnormal psychology and treatments; and happiness and well-being; as well as special topics in moral psychology, humor, and criminal psychology. This course may not be audited. This course is offered only for students enrolled in GGU Degrees+ programs, in partnership with Outlier.org.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Examines the psychological, therapeutic and health implications that developmental issues have on individuals, couples and family relationships, and the biological, social, cognitive and psychological aspects of aging. Cultural understandings of human development will be covered along with the impact of financial and social stress on human development. Therapeutic implications including long-term care, end-of-life and grief issues will be covered. Corequisite: PSYCH 10.

View Course Sections: Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

Basic course in experimental psychology, including: research design and inferential statistics; introduction to scientific procedures and methods in psychology; and participation in research, data analysis, and report writing.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

3 Unit(s)

This course studies a wide range of subjects which focus on the relationship between people and technology, including how technology influences people, and how people might use technology to live more effectively and skillfully. In addition, this course addresses the problematic use and impact of digital technologies across the lifespan, as well as the psychological implications of cyberspace and emerging technologies. Corequisites: PSYCH 10 and ENGL 60.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024

3 Unit(s)

An introduction to the role of the nervous system in psychological processes, including the basis of nerve conduction, the role of neurotransmitters, and basic neuroanatomy. The course also addresses the neurophysiology underlying sensory processes, motivation, emotion, sleep and dreaming, language, learning and memory, addiction, and mental disorders. It also explores human cognition, including the evolution of mind, as well as sensation, perception, learning and memory. Language, concept formation, and decision-making will also be addressed. Corequisites: PSYCH 10, ENGL 60, and MATH 40.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024

3 Unit(s)

Examines the specialized communication skills used in the practice of counseling. Students will study basic counseling skills, interventions and the use of the psychological interview as an assessment tool. Corequisite: PSYCH 10.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

3 Unit(s)

This course examines the origins, symptoms, and treatments of behavioral and personality disturbances from childhood through senescence in the context and application of the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). This course covers a broad survey of mental health problems including: anxiety disorders, depression, addictive disorders, psychosis, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Students will develop critical thinking skills as applied to theories, assessment, and treatments relevant for each disorder. Students will also be encouraged to consider the role of stigma in mental illness. Corequisite: PSYCH 10

View Course Sections: Fall 2023

3 Unit(s)

This course presents a framework and process for exploring aging at the end-of-life, and includes dying, death and bereavement. In addition, this course investigates the psychological problem of death anxiety, as well as various parts of the aging process at the end-of-life, including psychological, physiological and sociological aspects. Coping with loss, change, grief and mourning are also addressed. Corequisites: PSYCH 10 and ENGL 60.

View Course Sections: Spring 2024

3 Unit(s)

Explores the psychology of leadership as viewed through leadership identity, theory, self-awareness, and practice. The role of leadership theories is explored along with the importance of the role of personality and behavioral type in leadership. The topics of leadership and emotional intelligence are examined as well as the interactions between the leader and followers and how leaders influence, motivate and engage human beings. The course concludes with an examination of the role of leadership in cultivating teleology and purpose within and beyond organizations.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024

3 Unit(s)

Using a portfolio design which encompasses all the of the signature assignments the student has created in the major courses as a basis, the lead instructor works closely with the student to learn about his/her future goals, and how best to achieve them. The faculty then mentors the student in the direction of the chosen post-graduation destination, whether that be going on to graduate school, or finding work. There will be a final, summative project in the capstone, one which must demonstrate broad integrated learning, as well as an applied ethical lens to some aspect of psychology that spoke to the student. The final project then will be the crowning achievement to burgeoning portfolio. Alumni, outside mentors, adjunct faculty, and leaders from within the counseling community, in conjunction with the lead faculty member, can collaborate to help student placements in real-world occupational settings as well.

View Course Sections: Summer 2024 , Spring 2024 , Fall 2023

13 Unit(s)

Provides supervised work experience in psychology. Job and learning objectives are developed in conjunction with the department chair. Prerequisite: Consent of the department.

3 Unit(s)

Addresses significant, topical and practical problems, issues and theories in psychology. Topics will be selected by the department chair. This course may be taken more than once, provided the same topic is not repeated. Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair. Prerequisites will vary based on topic.

13 Unit(s)

Individual study of a selected topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are limited to one directed study course per semester. Prerequisite: Consent of the department.