Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology
A University of Alaska
Fairbanks Degree Offered in Partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage
Course Descriptions
A listing of required courses follows, listed numerically by Program Year, that is, in the order in which students would be most likely to take them. Elective courses are listed last; students will determine independently when to take these courses. For each course, indication is made of the course number, number of credits, semester(s) during which the course will be offered, course title, and course description as it will appear in the syllabus and catalog.
Courses Taken in Program Year One
PSY 601 (1 credit) Fall: Clinical/Community/Cross-Cultural Integration Seminar
Introduces current trends in community, clinical, and cross-cultural psychology. Students are encouraged to explore how these three fields complement each other to bring about positive change in community and clinical settings. Special emphasis is on ways to conceptualize mental health and community issues in culturally appropriate ways. (Note that this is a yearlong course that will meet every other week for two semesters. Students will register in the fall but complete the course in the spring. The course must be taken for 3 years for a total of 3 credits). (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 602 (3 credits) Fall: Native Ways of Knowing
Covers the appropriate and valid ways of describing and explaining human behavior by using the social context, culture, and history of indigenous groups. Includes indigenous approaches to values, health, the interconnection of family and community; the nature of spirituality and indigenous healing; and the importance of elders and spiritual healers. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 603 (3 credits) Spring: Alaskan & Rural Psychology
Introduces rural community
psychology, including the diversity of rural communities with emphasis
on Alaska, and the rural circumpolar north. Provides an introduction to
rural health promotion, prevention, and behavioral health care and a
basis for understanding many of the issues of services planning and
delivery in rural areas. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in
Psychology, PSY 632 Community Psychology Across Cultures)
PSY 611 (3 credits) Spring: Ethics and Professional Practice
Provides a comprehensive overview of ethical principles and legal statutes involved in clinical and community practice and research. Designed as a forum for discussion of ethical issues and other concerns relevant to professionals in psychology, with particular emphasis given to ethical issues in cross cultural and rural contexts in Alaska. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 622 (3 credits) Fall: Multicultural Psychopathology
An overview of contemporary views on child and adult psychopathology from a multicultural perspective. Reviews the fundamentals of clinical interviewing and diagnosis. Includes training in the DSM-IV diagnostic system. The role of culture, ethnicity, gender and social class in symptom formation and the experience of psychological disorders will be examined. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 623 (3 credits) Fall: Intervention I
Increases knowledge and skills related to traditional and nontraditional therapeutic interventions. Students are provided with a range of theoretical perspectives, a conceptual understanding of, and an opportunity to practice a wide range of culturally relevant and appropriate techniques that are applicable in traditional and non-traditional community mental health settings. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 629 (3 credits) Spring: Intervention II
Deepens understanding of the variety and application of intervention techniques in diverse settings. Directs students to explore the efficacy of specific interventions in a range of settings and with a variety of populations. Shapes critical thinking and basic intervention evaluation skills. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 623 Intervention I)
PSY 632 (3 credits) Fall: Community Psychology Across Cultures
An overview of theory, research, and practice of community psychology with particular emphasis on cross-cultural themes, the design and evaluation of interventions in remote and rural community settings, prevention and health promotion, and social change. Particular emphasis will be on issues relevant to Alaska Native communities. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 639 (3 credits) Spring: Research Methods
Presents methods used for research in community, clinical, and cross-cultural settings. Introduces epistemologies and ethics relevant to research with rural and indigenous people. Includes a variety of designs and data gathering methods for improving understanding of behavior in social settings. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches will be presented.(Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
Courses Taken in Program Year Two
PSY 633 (3 credits) Fall: Tests & Measurement in Multicultural Context
Surveys principles of construction, analysis and evaluation of psychological tests in a multicultural context. Emphasizes culturally sensitive application of psychological tests and measurements. Focuses on the history, theory and methods of psychological testing by examining the areas of intelligence, personality, and vocation. Discusses widely-used intelligence and personality tests and procedures. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 616 (3 credits) Fall: Program Evaluation and Community Consultation I
The first in a two-course series, providing an overview of theories, methods, and applications of program evaluation and community consultation as tools for facilitating systemic and programmatic changes in community and clinical settings. Seminar covers techniques of entry into various settings and designing program evaluations in collaboration with various community organizations. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 639 Research Methods)
PSY 617 (3 credits) Spring: Program Evaluation and Community Consultation II
The second in a two-course series, introducing the principles and dynamics involved in various types of consultative relationships in community and clinical settings, with a focus on cross-cultural and ethical issues. Covers methods of program evaluation implementation and use of program evaluation findings for consulting with relevant stakeholders. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 616 Program Evaluation and Community Consultation I)
PSY 652 (3 credits) Fall: Practicum Placement – Clinical I
Provides a supervised clinical practicum experience in psychological interviewing, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. Applied techniques focusing on delivery of clinical services in traditional or non-traditional clinical settings. Cultural factors are considered in each of these areas. (Prerequisites: Admission to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology; PSY 623 & 629 Intervention I & II, PSY 611 Ethics; PSY 622 Multicultural Psychopathology)
PSY 653 (3 credits) Spring: Practicum Placement – Clinical II
Provides an advanced clinical practicum experience designed to provide increased depth in applying theory to the practice and improving skills as a clinician. Covers application of psychological assessment principles. Impact of cultural factors continues as a major aspect of the practicum experience. (Prerequisites: Admission to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology; PSY 652 Practicum Placement-Clinical I)
PSY 657 (3 credits) Fall: Quantitative Analysis
Examines the underlying principles of statistics, including the logic of statistical inference, probability, power, effect size, and Type 1 and 2 errors. Uses statistics for designs including the description of groups, correlation, predictive model, inferential statistics, analysis of mixed-method designs, and common nonparametric techniques. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 639 Research Methods)
PSY 679 (3 credits) Spring: Multicultural Psychological Assessment I
Introduces administration, scoring, and interpretation of various intellectual and objective personality assessment instruments, as well as their psychometric properties, for children and adults. Emphasis on the meaningful integration of test results into a culturally sensitive assessment report. Highlights professional and ethical issues related to multicultural assessment practices emphasizing Alaska Natives. (Prerequisites: Admission to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology, PSY 633 Tests and Measurement in Multicultural Context)
Courses Taken in Program Year Three
PSY 604 (3 credits) Fall: Biological and Pharmacological Bases of Behavior
Covers biological underpinnings of behavior and the basic principles of pharmacology. Deals with physiological causes and contributors to psychopathology and with the medical sequellae of psychiatric disorders. Topics will include issues such as differential diagnosis, referral for medical or psychiatric evaluation, the functional and structural characteristics of relevant physiological systems. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 622 Multicultural Psychopathology)
PSY 605 (1 credit) Fall: History and Systems
Provides a brief philosophically-oriented overview of the history of psychology. Compares Western psychology in the 19th and 20th centuries and selected indigenous psychologies of Asia and North America. Special attention is given to systems of thought that have emerged since the founding of psychology as an empirical science. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 607 (3 credits) Spring: Cognition, Affect, and Culture
Presents an overview of attention,
memory, appraisal, and emotion with applications to clinical psychology
in a cultural context. Cultural influences on emotional experience and
cognition are explored. The etiology and treatment of psychological
disorders with significant cognitive and affective disturbance are
explored. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 612 (3 credits) Spring: Human Development in a Cultural Context
Study of developmental theory, research, and substantive applied issues across the life span. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding how culture and sociocultural context impact the interplay of biology and environment in the development of essential qualities and characteristics of individuals. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 658 (3 credits) Fall: Qualitative Analysis
Provides an in depth study of the theory of qualitative inquiry, qualitative methodologies, and techniques of qualitative research. Special emphasis on using qualitative research methods in cross-cultural settings and in the broader context of community-based participatory research (CBPR). Uses of qualitative research methods in community and clinical psychology(Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 639 Research Methods)
PSY 672 (3 credits) Fall: Practicum Placement – Community I
Community practicum experience that provides increased depth in applying theory to practice and improving skills as a community psychologist. Impact of cultural factors will be a major aspect of the practicum experience. (Prerequisite: Admission to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology)
PSY 673 (3 credits) Spring: Practicum Placement – Community II
Advanced community practicum experience that provides hands-on opportunities to create depth and breadth in designing creative applications of theory to practice and independently applying and honing skills as a community psychologist. Impact of cultural factors will be a major aspect of the practicum experience. (Prerequisites: Admission to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology, PSY 672 Practicum Placement-Community I)
PSY 681 (1 credit) Fall: Substances of Abuse in Alaska
Presents an overview of the most prevalent substances of abuse in Alaska including physical, psychological, social, and medical consequences of use and abuse. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 682 (1 credit) Fall: Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment Planning
Specialized tests, measurement, and treatment planning for substance abuse are reviewed. Emphasis on the integration of results into culturally relevant treatment plans following the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) dimensional criteria. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
PSY 683 (1 credit) Fall: Clinical Interventions in Substance Abuse
Emphasis is on conceptualizing substance abuse as a continuum from intervention to after-care. Relevant evidence-based interventions and therapeutic communities are addressed within the context of rural Alaska Native Communities. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology)
Courses Taken in Program Year Four
PSY 699D (3-6 credits) Fall, Spring, Summer: Dissertation
Involves independent empirical research under the supervision of an individual dissertation committee. Culminates in a document prepared to publication standards and a public presentation. (Prerequisites: Admission to the Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology Passage of Research Competency, approval from Director of Clinical Training)
Courses Taken in Program Year Five
PSY 686 (6 credits) Fall, Spring, Summer: Predoctoral Internship
Deepens understanding and application of assessment and intervention techniques in diverse settings. Students are placed in clinical or community settings for 40 hours per week to apply and sharpen skills. Students work under a local supervisor who manages student caseloads and assignments in collaboration with the course instructor. (Prerequisite: Admission to Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology; approval of dissertation proposal; approval by the Director of Clinical Training)
Elective Courses (mostly likely taken in Program Years Three and Four)
PSY 606 (3 credits) Spring, every third year: Native Ways of Healing
Explores healing from a variety of Native perspectives, particularly from Alaska Native perspectives. Emphasizes the preparation and education of healers, their roles and work, and integration within the community. Students will have the opportunity to examine the possible integration of clinical and community psychology with indigenous approaches to healing.(Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Psychology).
PSY 659 (3 credits) Fall, every
third year: Multivariate Methods in Psychology
Provides a conceptual discussion of and statistical software
training in advanced statistical analysis, including multivariate
regression, canonical correlation, discriminant analysis, multivariate
analysis of variance, principal component analysis, factor analysis,
logistic regression, and cluster analysis. (Prerequisites: Graduate
standing in Psychology, PSY 639 Research Methods, PSY 657 Quantitative
Analysis).
PSY 671 (1 or 3 credits) Spring, every third year: Grant Writing
Provides hands on training in developing, writing, and submitting grant proposals. Discusses components of the grant writing process with an emphasis on services grant writing for nonprofits and public agencies. Emphasizes research grant writing, with a focus on NIH grant application and review process, and secondary attention to NSF process. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 639 Research Methods).
PSY 684 (3 credits) Fall, every third year: Clinical Supervision
Familiarizes students with the clinical, ethical, and cultural issues involved in supervision. Contemporary, empirically supported information regarding various approaches to supervision will be examined. Covers both the relationship inherent in clinical supervision, and training in leadership and supervision of employees in other work settings. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Psychology, PSY 653 Practicum Placement-Clinical II).
PSY 687 (3 credits) Spring, every third year: Multicultural Psychological Assessment II
Presents advanced psychological assessment tools including interviews, projective techniques and neurocognitive assessment. Emphasis on the integration of cognitive, personality and other test results derived from an assessment battery into a meaningful and culturally sensitive psychological assessment report. (Prerequisites: Admission to Ph.D. Program in Clinical-Community Psychology; PSY 679 Multicultural Psychological Assessment I)
PSY 698 (1-4 credits) Fall,
Spring, Summer: Individual Research
Practical application of quantitative and
qualitative research principles, under the supervision of a faculty
member. Activities may include data collection, data entry, data
cleaning, data analysis, data interpretation, and article-writing.
(Prerequisite: PSY 639 Research Methods)
