Courses 700 Level
PSYCH 703.1. Design of Psychological Research. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. An intensive examination of experimental research methodology. Prior approval of the research project by both the faculty advisor and the MA advisor is required before registering. Individual research projects.
The neuroscience methods and design series, PSYCH 704.1–704.2, is designed to provide a conceptual overview as to how neuroscience research is conducted— from design to analysis. The overarching emphasis in this series is to provide students with the tools to design and quantitatively evaluate research properly as well as critically evaluate research by others.
PSYCH 704.1 Neuroscience Methods I: Statistics and Research Design. 3 lec. hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: Permission of the instructor. This course focuses on principles of designing rigorous experiments and basic statistical tools used to test and support inferences and conclusions drawn from data.
PSYCH 704.2 Neuroscience Methods I: Quantitative Tools in Neuroscience. 3 lec hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 704.1. Building on the methods and design principles in PSYCH 704.1, this course will provide a survey of quantitative tools in neuroscience research. Statistical methods will be reviewed with a focus on their appropriateness and rigor in the context of common neuroscience designs, addressing questions of power, robustness, and repeatability. A critical perspective will be emphasized, identifying current challenges and critiques of statistical methods in the neuroscience field. Students will learn R as a tool for analysis and data visualization.
PSYCH 705. Statistical Methods in Psychology I. 2 lec., 2 conf. or lab. hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: An undergraduate course in statistical methods. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-tests, correlation, chi square, tests of normality, and distribution-free procedures. Other topics include independent groups, repeated measures and factorial ANOVA, multiple comparisons, multiple regression and ANCOVA.
PSYCH 706. Statistical Methods in Psychology II. 2 lec., 2 conf. or lab. hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 705. Multivariate methods including MANOVA, factor analysis, canonical correlations, discriminant functions analysis, and related topics.
PSYCH 709.1. Basic Neuroscience: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 3 lec. hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: Permission of the instructor. This course is designed to provide basic knowledge of neural function at a molecular and cellular level, encompassing neurophysiology and neurochemistry. Key concepts include electrical properties of neurons, propagation of action potentials, synaptic transmission, molecular signaling pathways, and major neurotransmitter systems. The course centers on identifying molecular mechanisms underlying neural processing.
PSYCH 709.2. Basic Neuroscience: Systems Neuroscience. 3 lec. hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: Permission of the instructor. This course focuses on neuroanatomy, circuits, and functional systems within the brain. The course will provide basic knowledge of brain regions and pathways (i.e., essential neuroanatomy) together with how these anatomical regions/pathways form circuits and systems to mediate critical organismal functions. Emphasis in functional systems will be placed on motor, sensory, and homeostatic systems.
PSYCH 709.3. Basic Neuroscience: Cognitive Neuroscience. 3 lec. hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 709.1, 709.2. May be taken concurrently. This course is designed to provide students with an overview of cognitive neuroscience, with an emphasis on human studies. It covers such topics as cognitive control, attention, and executive function as well as affective and social processing, including relevant neuropsychiatric disorders associated with these cognitive functions such as ADHD, schizophrenia, autism, and others. Relevant neuroscience methods—including imaging, EEG, and TMS—are covered.
PSYCH 709.4. Basic Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience. 3 lec. hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 709.1, 709.2. May be taken concurrently. This course is designed to provide students with an overview of behavioral neuroscience, with an emphasis on animal models. It covers such topics as reward, reinforcement learning, memory, associative processes, appetitive regulation, habit, emotional regulation, motor learning, and spatial navigation.
PSYCH 711.03. Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior. 3 hr.; 3 cr. Prereq. or coreq.: A basic course on cognition. Foundational course on cognitive and affective aspects of behavior. Covers current issues in cognitive psychology, focusing on topics of perception, attention, memory, language, and problem solving. Additionally covers the connection between cognition and emotion, including the cognitive regulation of emotion, the structure and theories of emotion, emotion regulating cognition, and emotion regulation.
PSYCH 720. Developmental Psychology I. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq.: One graduate or undergraduate course in developmental or child psychology (or its equivalent). An introduction to the major concepts, principles, theories, and methods of developmental and child psychology (e.g., critical periods, nature-nurture issue, relation of phylogeny to ontogeny).
PSYCH 720.01. Developmental Disabilities I. 2 hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq.: Permission of the instructor and a course in developmental psychology. This course is an overview of the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The content includes readings, lecture, and discussion on the history of the field, the concepts of intelligence and adaptive behavior, classification systems, litigation on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, etiology, servicedelivery systems, the special case of autism, a review of early intervention programs and research, language programming, and a review of attention, memory, and cognition. Readings will be included on behavioral assessment and intervention strategies for people with developmental disabilities.
PSYCH 720.02. Developmental Disabilities II: Functional Assessment. 3 hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 730, 730.01 or permission of the instructor. This course will provide students with an overview of how to conduct a functional behavioral assessment for individuals with developmental disabilities. The course curriculum includes a) learning about a variety of data collection procedures toward identifying behavioral functions, and b) conducting a case study where a student conducts a functional behavioral assessment.
PSYCH 720.03. Behavioral Intervention in Developmental Disabilities. 2 hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq.: A course in Applied Behavior Analysis (PSYCH 730.01 or 730.02) or the equivalent and a course in Developmental Disabilities (PSYCH 720.01 or 720.02), or permission of the instructor. This course is an overview of behavioral intervention procedures in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities. The content includes readings, lecture, and discussion on the context of intervention, the concepts of behavioral assessment and intervention in the field of developmental disabilities, staff training issues, and an in-depth review of many of the research-based behavioral intervention procedures used to train appropriate repertoires in people with developmental disabilities.
PSYCH 720.04. Behavior Analysis of Child Development. 3 hr.; 3 cr. A critical review of basic concepts in child psychology from the point of view of the field of behavior analysis. Content includes readings, lecture, and discussion concerning: a) the criteria for evaluating scientific theories; b) the concept of behavior in developmental psychology; and c) the behavior analytic view of development.
PSYCH 720.05. Autism. 3 hr.; 3 cr. This course will provide students with an overview of issues concerning individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and related disorders. The course will focus on characteristics of ASD, family issues, and empirically supported treatments. Students are encouraged to analyze extant research and to propose new solutions to problems in this area.
PSYCH 730. Psychology of Learning. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq.: Experimental Psychology and Statistical Methods in Psychology I. An examination of representative investigations and theories of learning.
‡PSYCH 730.01. Theory and Method in Applied Behavior Analysis I. (Formerly PSYCH 770.1.) 3 hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: Undergraduate courses in statistics and research design (experimental psychology with laboratory) and permission of the Executive Committee of the MA Program (permission should be requested three months prior to registration for this course); coreq.: PSYCH 730.05. Introduction to basic theory and methodology in the field of applied behavior analysis, including: (1) the technical language; (2) operational definition; (3) assessment of reliability and generality; (4) data analysis; (5) research design. Students will conduct supervised laboratory and fieldwork as part of the requirements.
‡PSYCH 730.02. Theory and Method in Applied Behavior Analysis II. (Formerly PSYCH 771.1.) 3 hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 730.01 (formerly PSYCH 770.1) and permission of the Executive Committee of the MA Program (permission should be requested three months prior to registration for this course); coreq.: PSYCH 730.06. An advanced course in theory, methodology, and professional issues in the field of applied behavior analysis, focusing on contemporary issues in behavioral assessment strategies, single case research design, data evaluation, program development, and learning processes, and providing the student with the following skills: (1) competence in critically analyzing behavioral analytic research articles; (2) writing applied research proposals; (3) carrying out applied behavioral research in the field; (4) writing applied research/treatment reports for dissemination in professional journals and at professional conferences.
PSYCH 730.04. Supervised Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis. 3 hr.; 3 cr. (8–12 fieldwork hours per week plus 2 hours supervision with Queens College faculty). Prereq.: PSYCH 730.01 (formerly PSYCH 770.1) and PSYCH 730.02 (formerly PSYCH 771.1) or comparable background. Students must receive prior consent of instructor, which will be based on a personal intervie w. Students must also sign an acknowledgement of fieldwork regulations. This course is designed as a supervised field experience in agencies and institutional settings where behavior modification is in practice. Structured experiences include behavior assessment, as well as the development, administration, and evaluation of behavior modification programs for individuals and groups. Students will be required to purchase a malpractice insurance policy at a small fee. Fieldwork Regulations At any time, either the student or the fieldwork supervisor may initiate a request for termination. Students who are thought to lack certain of the personal qualifications needed in patient/client relationships may be required to discontinue the fieldwork. Appeals from the decision of the fieldwork supervisor will be considered.
PSYCH 730.05. Applied Behavior Analysis: Measurement and Applied Project 1. 3 hr.; 3 cr. Coreq.: PSYCH 730.01 and permission of the Executive Committee of the Psychology MA Program. Introduction to field applications of basic theory and methodology of applied behavior analysis, including: (1) the technical language; (2) operational definition; (3) assessment of reliability and generality; (4) data analysis; (5) research design in natural settings. Students will attend their project site in order to plan an applied behavior change project. Group supervision will be provided in the weekly meetings on campus.
PSYCH 730.06. Applied Behavior Analysis: Measurement and Applied Project ll. 3 hr.; 3 cr. Coreq.: 730.02 and permission of the Executive Committee of the Psychology MA Program. An advanced project in the application of theory, methodology, and professional issues in the field of applied behavior, focusing on contemporary issues in behavior assessment strategies, single case design, data evaluation, program development, and learning processes, and carrying out applied behavior research in the field. Students will attend their project site in order to carry out an applied behavior change project. Group supervision will be provided in the weekly meetings on campus.
PSYCH 730.07. Theories of Association. 3 hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 730. This course examines the recent history of learning from an association perspective, including the major molar learning theorists (Thorndike, Pavlov, Hull, Tolman, Guthrie, Skinner) and extending to current theories of association as represented in competition and comparator models of conditioning.
PSYCH 731. Stimulus Control of Behavior. 2 lec., 4 lab. hr.; 4 cr. Prereq.: A graduate course in basic learning processes, such as PSYCH 730. Emphasis is on the acquisition and maintenance of discriminative behavior. Topics include discrimination training, generalization, perception, signal detection, and psychophysics. PSYCH 732. Motivation and reinforcement. 2 lec., 4 lab. hr.; 4 cr. Prereq.: A graduate course in basic learning processes, such as PSYCH 730 or equivalent. The role of motivation in behavior theory, and the experimental manipulation of reinforcement variables as these interact with motivational variables. Topics include response strength, contingency, motivation and establishing operations, schedules of reinforcement, choice, and conditioned reinforcement.
PSYCH 735. Psychology of Perception. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq.: An undergraduate or graduate course in experimental psychology. The phenomenology, psychophysics, and psychophysiology of perception are discussed. Topics may include perceptual organization and development, illusions, constancies, and the Ames demonstrations. Heredity and environment interactions are considered in relation to perceptual theories (Gestalt, transactionism, etc.).
PSYCH 738. Cognition. 3 hr.; 3 cr. This course focuses on the study of cognition in humans. Among the topics covered are attention, recognition of patterns (such as speech and visual forms), imagery, storage and retrieval of information from short-term and long-term memory, and the organization of thought and language. A central theme of the course is a focus on structure and organization in these various cognitive processes.
PSYCH 740. Personality. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Survey of contemporary research topics in personality psychology.
PSYCH 746. Social Psychology. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq.: An undergraduate or graduate course in experimental psychology. Among the topics to be covered are: (1) foundations of modern social psychology; (2) physiological process and social man; (3) social interaction and social process; (4) the nature and characteristics of social groupings; (5) types of social groupings; (6) the relations between groups; (7) social change and stability.
PSYCH 754. Behavioral Science and Business. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. The behavioral science principles that can be applied to employee-employer relationships are considered. Basic problems such as personnel promotion, motivation, training, measurement of job satisfaction, increasing worker efficiency, and merit ratings are reviewed from the standpoint of the psychologist in industry.
PSYCH 755. Psychopathology. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq.: a) Introductory psychology and b) personality theory or psychopathology, or permission of the instructor. Identification, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of psychopathological conditions. Several models of psychopathology are considered, including psychological (cognitive, behavioral, and psychoanalytic), medical, sociocultural, and mixed models. The study of anxiety and anxiety disorders is emphasized. The other syndromes considered are somatoform, dissociative, psychophysiological, and personality disorders.
PSYCH 756. Clinical Psychopharmacology. 3 lec. hr., 3 cr. Prereq.: Permission of the instructor. This course covers psychopharmacology, including basic principles of pharmacology and neurochemistry. Geared toward doctoral-level clinical students, the emphasis is on examining neuropsychiatric disorders and the drugs used to treat them from a practice perspective.
PSYCH 760. Psychometric Methods. 2 lec. hr. plus conf.; 3 cr. Prereq. or Coreq.: PSYCH 705 or permission of MA Advisor. A general introduction to psychometric methods which focuses on administration, standardization, norms, reliability, validity, and test construction. Lectures cover the history of intelligence testing and the development of techniques for assessing personality and psychiatric disorders, as well as basic issues related to intelligence testing and an introduction to the Wechsler intelligence scales.
PSYCH 771.1, 771.2, 771.3. Ethical Issues in Psychology. 1 hr.; 1 cr., 2 hr.; 2 cr., 3 hr.; 3 cr. This course examines ethical and legal standards that apply to psychologists and others involved in the application of psychological principles. Emphasis will be placed on ethical standards recognized by and for professionals and on laws concerning professional practice.
PSYCH 772.1. Ethics: Neuroscience. 1 lec. hr.; 1 cr. Prereq.: Must be MABN student or have permission of the instructor. This course covers basic ethical questions relevant to neuroscience, including topics of human subjects, animal welfare, data manipulation, authorship, intellectual property rights/ownership, collaboration, and public dissemination of information.
PSYCH 772.2. Neuroscience Colloquia. 1 hr.; 1 cr. Prereq.: None. This course consists of weekly seminars, primarily consisting of scientific talks from both outside speakers and college faculty. In addition, some seminars will be devoted to professional development and student presentations. May be taken two times for credit.
PSYCH 772.3. Thesis Seminar: Neuroscience. 2 hr.; 2 cr. Prereq.: Permission of the instructor. This course is designed for students who have had at least two semesters of research (may be in second semester) and who have sufficient data to begin writing their MA thesis. In this workshop-format course, students will write, share, and critique each other’s thesis drafts with the goal of having a completed thesis by the end of the course. The course will also help students prepare applications for doctoral programs, including crafting personal statements and developing their curriculum vitae.
PSYCH 791. Seminar in Selected Topics in Psychology. Prereq.: Permission of the instructor. Content will be determined by the special interest of students and the instructor. The course may be repeated for credit by permission of the department as the topic changes.
PSYCH 791.1. 1 hr.; 1 cr.
PSYCH 791.2. 2 hr.; 2 cr.
PSYCH 791.3. 3 hr.; 3 cr.
PSYCH 791.4. 4 hr.; 4 cr.
PSYCH 795. Fieldwork Project in Applied Behavior Analysis. 3 hr.; 3 cr. Prereq.: PSYCH 730.06 During this course students will develop and implement an Applied Behavior Analysis skill acquisition project. This project may be an extension of the project conducted in 730.05/.06 or an entirely new project. The project requires selecting a socially significant target behavior, developing a measurement system, implementing a technological procedure within a single-subject research design, and writing an APA-style manuscript regarding the applied project. Class time will be spent problem solving all aspects of applied projects and developing professional skills. Students are required to attend an Applied Behavior Analysis fieldwork site for at least 9 hours per week for the semester (144 total hours). This course is open to all matriculated MA students in the Applied Behavior Analysis Program, for whom the courses are required. Enrollment is limited. All other students must obtain special permission from the head of the ABA MA Program.
COURSES IN RESERVE
PSYCH 712. Recording and Stimulational Techniques in Physiological Psychology.
PSYCH 720.1. Lifespan Developmental Psychology.
PSYCH 721. Developmental Psychology ll.
PSYCH 730.03. Behavioral Interventions with Children.
PSYCH 730.11. Theory and Practice of Behavior Modification I: Assessment and Techniques.
‡ Course is open to all matriculated students enrolled in either the Clinical Behavioral Applications in Mental Health Settings MA Program or the CUNY Learning Processes PhD Sub-Program. Enrollment is limited. All other students must obtain special permission from the Head of the MA Program.