The Year One curriculum (post B.A. entry) consists of 3 quarters of Pre-PsyD coursework (and a total of 150 hours of supervised experience to be acquired during the spring and summer quarters) as follows:

Fall Quarter

PSC601 Psychotherapy Theories
In this course, students learn the concepts and techniques used in traditional theories of psychotherapy and examine the social, cultural and historical contexts that produced them. Theories are read in their originals sources and the emphasis is on a critical examination of their relevance to practice with contemporary populations.

PSC603 Research Methods
This course examines different approaches to the generation and evaluation of psychological theory and data. The strengths and weaknesses and ethical practice of quantitative and qualitative methods are examined with attention to the descriptive and inferential statistical methods used in hypothesis testing and psychological assessment.

PSC 605 Multicultural Competence
This experiential course fosters multicultural awareness, teaches students about the impact of multiple cultural influences and identities on clinical issues, and introduces students to culturally responsive assessment practices and clinical skills. Cultural influences and identities include: age, disability, religion/spirituality, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, indigenous heritage, national identity and gender.

PSC607 Family Systems Theories
This course examines the major concepts of family systems theories and helps students conceptualize systemically. The history, premises, cultural influences and approaches of family therapy are explored. The application of systems theory with couples and families is also considered.

WRK601 Human Sexuality
In this workshop, students examine current topics including biological, psychological, psychosocial and cultural aspects of sexuality. Students explore their own sexual identities and their values regarding sexual behavior. In order to receive credit with the Board of Psychology or the Board of Behavioral Sciences for the Human Sexuality requirement for licensure, students must attend all ten hours of instruction.

Winter Quarter

PSC 602 Academic Writing
The purpose of this course is to develop skills in academic writing, critical analysis and professional literature review. Students learn how to search psychology literature, write using APA style, and acquire other skills needed to produce graduate level papers.

PSC606 Psychopathology
This course provides a survey of the major theories, categories and treatment of psychopathology including psychopharmacological approaches. Students develop their diagnostic skills and a mastery of the categories and concepts of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV-TR).

PSC620 Psychotherapy Relationship and Process Skills
This course provides an introduction to basic psychotherapeutic concepts and skills, with particular attention to the nature of the relationship between psychotherapist and client. Students practice fundamental psychotherapy skills in the roles of therapist, client and observer. Students also learn to attend to process variables in psychotherapy, to differentiate between content and process, and to work with client affect, resistance and defense, transference and counter transference. Basic ethical and legal standards are explored.

PSC 650A Prepracticum
In this preparatory class for supervised experience, students view a live psychotherapy session conducted by the instructor during the first hour of class. The remaining class time is devoted to a discussion of the case and the interventions implemented by the therapist/instructor. Through their participation, students demonstrate their readiness to engage with clients in agency settings. Ethical and legal issues are reviewed.

WRK602 Child Abuse Reporting
In this workshop, students learn how to assess for and report incidents of child abuse (sexual, physical, emotional or child neglect). The course considers indicators of abuse, crisis counseling techniques, community resources, the rights and responsibilities of reporting, the consequences of failure to report, how to care for a child’s needs after a report is made, sensitivity to previously abused children and adults and the implications and methods of treatment for children and adults. In order to receive credit with the Board of Psychology or the Board of Behavioral Sciences for the Child Abuse Assessment Training requirement for licensure, students must attend all seven hours of instruction.

Spring Quarter

PSC604 Human Development
This course examines the process of human growth and development throughout the life span. Development is examined from the perspectives of psychodynamic, cognitive, and social psychological theories with an emphasis on applying developmental concepts to clinical cases.

PSC 608 Psychological Assessment
This course provides an overview of the domains of psychological assessment and the assessment techniques that are commonly used by psychologists. Students will learn the process of formulating assessment questions, selecting instruments, critiquing assessment instruments, basic interpretation of test data and writing up their results.

PSC621 Group Psychotherapy
Students are introduced to the concepts and theories of group process, group membership and behavior. All students participate in the classroom group process under the leadership of the instructor, where opportunity is provided for learning group facilitation skills.

PSC622 Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning
In the class, students integrate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills that they have been developing into case conceptualization and treatment planning skills. Learning objectives include formulating a theoretical conceptualization that also addresses developmental, multicultural and systemic factors. Students also learn to formulate short and long term therapy goals appropriate to the various phases of psychotherapy. Use of the clinical supervision and the development of a professional identity are also addressed.

PSC652 Supervised Experience*
Field experience takes students out of the classroom and brings them into the community to work with clients, professional psychotherapists and peers from other schools and disciplines. The experience allows students to develop psychological knowledge and psychotherapeutic skills by providing services in a variety of settings.

Summer Quarter

PSC652 Supervised Experience*
Field experience takes students out of the classroom and brings them into the community to work with clients, professional psychotherapists and peers from other schools and disciplines. The experience allows students to develop psychological knowledge and psychotherapeutic skills by providing services in a variety of settings.

*Consisting of a total of 150 hours of supervised experience to be acquired during the spring and summer quarters.