LMU Harrogate

MSP Course Descriptions

PSYC 510 Research & Statistical Methods

This is a course for students who have already completed undergraduate research and statistics coursework.  The overall objective is to provide opportunities to learn the skills necessary to apply statistical techniques to data analysis at an advanced level.  This course addresses research designs, including analysis of variance (two-way, repeated measures, mixed designs), as well as covers correlation and partial-correlation. Finally, it addresses and regression analysis, including multiple regression.  This course will also discuss sampling and post-hoc testing.

PSYC 520 Advanced Social Psychology

This course covers the perennial themes in social psychology (including attitudes, stereotyping, conformity, power, aggression, prosocial behavior, the social self, emotions, group dynamics, and inter-group relations).  The emphasis is on recent empirical and theoretical developments.  Special attention will be given to evolutionary treatments of social-psychological phenomena.  Research using primary sources will be emphasized and data processes that enable theoretical analysis.

PSYC 530 Advanced Personality

This graduate course reviews issues and theories of personality.  Key issues to be addressed include change and stability of Personality; the biological and environmental influences on personality; and, the different approaches to understanding, predicting and appreciating personality development.  This will include a review of the current literature of the discipline and engagement in recent and current research.

PSYC 540 Behavioral Neuroscience

Advanced study of neuropsychology, including an in-depth review of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, with an emphasis on how nervous system activity relates to psychological functioning and behavior.  This is an advanced course that will include a knowledge of current literature of the discipline and engagement in current research

PSYC 550 Developmental Psychology

This course reviews the extant issues and theories that represent individual development from conception through early adulthood. Attention will be given to the most recent research regarding the conceptualization of transformational events in development, individual differences in cognition and personality as well as the relationship between temperament and personality. This course will review the literature on the relationship of adverse childhood experiences on later, adult outcomes; and, finally, attention will be given to the measurement of stability and change for the age span addressed by this course. In addition, this course will include a review of the current literature of the discipline and engagement in recent and current research.

PSYC 560 Psychopathology

This course explores relevant theory and research on the etiology and treatment of psychological disorders. Students are encouraged to critically evaluate the role of neurobiology, culture, and social context in the evaluation of mental disorders.

PSYC 570 Legal and Ethical Issues in Psychology

This course is a comprehensive introduction to legal, ethical and professional issues pertaining to the practice of psychology.  In this regard, there will be a review of the current literature of the discipline and engagement in recent and current research.

PSYC 580 Advanced Cognition

Advanced study of the contemporary field of cognitive psychology; survey of topics may include memory, attention, perception, decision-making & judgment, language, and mental representations. This course will focus on established empirical and theoretical findings that exemplify general principles of mental functioning with an emphasis on information processing.  This will include a review of the current literature of the discipline and engagement in recent and current research.

PSYC 590 Addictions

The aim of this graduate level course is to provide an overview of basic concepts relevant to understanding the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders and other addictions (e.g., pathological gambling) from a scientist- practitioner perspective. 

PSYC 600 Applied Psychology

Applied Psychology includes the areas of clinical psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, occupational health psychology, human factors, forensic psychology, engineering psychology, as well as many other areas such as school psychology, community psychology and criminal justice.

PSYC 610 Advanced Forensic Psychology

This course will explore the interface of psychology and the law, with an emphasis on forensic psychology. Forensic psychologists help courts make informed decisions about cases when some aspect of psychology is involved. Landmark legal cases that pertain to psychology will be discussed. Students will explore the various options for careers in the field of forensic psychology. Specific topics covered include eyewitness and expert testimony, psychopathy, repressed memories, profiling, victimization and trauma, competence, the insanity defense, lie detection, juvenile justice, civil commitment, and custody evaluations.

PSYC 625 Practicum in Psychology

Practicum is volunteer work-study credit designed to provide students with experience in a selected field of study. The course provides students with the opportunity for supervised experiences in a psychologically oriented work environment. It is designed to enhance learning and to guide students toward a specific career upon completion of the MS program.

PSYC 650 Advanced Topics in Psychology

Topics may include but are not limited to advanced theories in psychology including cognition, developmental, social psychology, substance abuse, applied psychology, qualitative and quantitative research.  This course may be repeated as topics will change each semester.