Clinical Psychology Master’s Program
Course Descriptions (listed in numerical order)
BH 400 Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the ethical, data-based application of principles derived from the experimental analysis of behavior to produce socially significant change in people. This course introduces students to ABA through readings, lecture, homework assignments, and exercises; the content relates specifically to people with developmental disabilities. The students will learn about basic principles of behavior and how to apply them to produce effective, ethical, and meaningful change in the behavior of people they support. The students learn how to assess the functions or causes of behavior, develop interventions appropriate to those functions, design behavior intervention programs, and assess their effectiveness. (3 credits)
BH 403 Analysis and Treatment of Developmental Disabilities
This course builds upon the basic principles of learning and applied behavior analysis presented during the conditioning and learning course (BH 407). The course will offer advanced coverage of special topics, including practicing behavior analysis in applied settings such as schools and hospitals; conducting parent training assessment and treatment procedures for improving communication skills of individuals with developmental disabilities; managing problem behaviors such as self-injury, food refusal, and noncompliance; and for dealing with special populations such as children with autism. (2 credits)
BH 405 Observation and Measurement
This course addresses behavior definition, data collection, inter-observer agreement, social validity, treatment integrity, functional assessment, and stimulus preference assessment. The course content is based on current state-of-the-art procedures in applied behavior analysis and includes methods of classroom data collection, such as precision teaching and curriculum-based measures, and basic issues in data-driven decision making and measurement-guided education. (3 credits)
BH 406 Advanced Research Project I
This is the first seminar in preparing the applied behavior analytic Master’s thesis. Emphasis will be on utilizing the corequisite M.A. practicum as a setting to propose a piece of applied behavior analytic research. The major learning objective is the completion of an accepted proposal for the M.A. thesis. (1 credit)
BH 407 Conditioning and Learning
This course focuses on behavioral principles and their applications to diverse populations. Both classical and operant conditioning are reviewed with a heavy emphasis on operant. Candidates will learn behavioral principles and procedures to increase, reduce, or promote the generalizations and maintenance of behavior. This is a course that relates to fieldwork and previous courses. (3 credits)
BH 408 Behavioral Consulting in Organizations
This course focuses on applying behavior analytic principles in the domain of behavioral consultation and management. Emphasis is placed upon understanding the various stages of successful behavioral consultation, identifying potential problems that may arise during the consultation process, and knowing how to overcome them. School-based consulting is a major focus. Other learning objectives include:
• Correctly identifying, explaining, and understanding the key concepts of behavioral consultation
• Applying the key concepts of behavioral consultation to any targeted consultation population.
• Correctly identifying, explaining, and understanding the various stages of successful behavioral consultation
• Successfully identifying potential problems that may arise during the consultation process and knowing how to overcome them
(2 credits)
BH 415 Professional Development I
BH 416 Professional Development II
The Professional Development Group is a two-course series (fall and spring semester) in which students explore issues of professional and career development in counseling including the history of counseling, roles of counselors, organizational structures, and credentialing. In addition, this course provides a forum for students to receive regular advisement, become oriented to The Chicago School, review polices and procedures of the program, master APA style and improve professional writing skills, learn and discuss implementation of APA ethical guidelines, plan for progress through the program, and prepare to begin their first practicum. Applied Behavior Analysis specialization students also participate in approximately 10 hours per week of field experience. BH 415 must be taken during the first semester of enrollment, and BH 416 during the second semester.
Students will complete 20 hours per week of field work during BH 416. (1 credit each semester – 2 credits total)
BH 423 Psychopathology
This course addresses the major definitions for mental disorders, as well as the theories of etiology within the context of recent developments in the categorization and classification of psychological phenomena (DSM-IV TR). A survey of the classes of psychotropics used for the major disorders will also be addressed in this course. (3 credits)
BH 425 Intellectual Assessment
This course serves as an introduction to models of intellectual assessment and explains the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the most widely used intellectual assessment instruments. Specific emphasis is placed on interpretation and report writing using the WISC-IV and WAIS-III.
(3 credits)
BH 429 Clinical and Diagnostic Skills I
This course provides a broad understanding of the philosophic bases of the helping process and an integration of counseling methods and strategies, basic helping skills, client and helper self-understanding and self-development, and facilitation of client change. Developmental factors with children and cultural differences are considered. (2 credits)
BH 432 Clinical and Diagnostic Skills II
Prerequisite: BH 429. This course builds upon the foundation of Clinical and Diagnostic Skills I. Specifically, students will learn ways of incorporating these techniques into models of diagnostic interviewing. This course provides the student with a solid understanding of additional interview formats, including Mental Status Examinations and the assessment of suicidal ideation. Consideration of cultural differences in establishing a relationship and conducting an interview is integral to this course. (2 credits)
BH 443 Diversity in Clinical Psychology
Using a systems approach, this course will examine the impact of privilege on students’ perception of culture, diversity, and identity. Students will explore their own culture, and their reactions to and perceptions of persons who are different. The course specifically examines class, ableness, gender roles, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and the interaction between those statuses and clinical issues. (2 credits)
BH 445 Professional Ethics and Issues
Professional, ethical, and legal issues related to the practice of clinical psychology and the psychologist are critically examined. Issues considered include privacy, privilege, confidentiality and its limitations, informed consent, patients’ rights, malpractice, patient-therapist relationships, and regulation influencing the practice of therapy. For the Applied Behavior Analysis Specialization this course meets Behavior Analysis Certification Board® requirements for 10 hours in “ethical and professional standards issues relevant to the practice of behavior analysis.” (2 credits)
BH 455 Research Methods
This course is designed to teach students experimental and quasi-experimental research designs at both the conceptual and applied levels. Areas of emphasis include experimental control, validity, reliability, sampling, correlational research, qualitative research, single subject designs, independent group designs, repeated measures and complex designs, and design confounds. Descriptive research methods will also be discussed. Students will learn how to generate research designs, how to select variables for study, and how to critique designs in psychological research. This course will require students to designate the designs utilized in published research, identify and explain design confounds, and think critically about published psychological research. (3 credits)
BH 481 Psychopharmacology
This course presents the basic principles required for the use of psychopharmacological agents. All major classes of psychotropics will be presented, including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anxiolytics and sedatives/hypnotics, psychostimulants atypical medications. Other topics convered will include laboratory and physiological assessments pertinent to their use, basic neurochemical and anatomical concepts associated with their proposed mechanism of action, drug-drug interactions, adverse reactions, and pertinent aspects of differential diagnosis. Psychiatric aspects of general medical conditions, with particular attention to the diagnosis and treatment of delirium, will also be presented. (2 credits)
BH 493 Advanced Intervention: Behavioral
This course provides an overview of contemporary behavioral models and therapy techniques. It presents major behavioral modalities and their theoretical and research foundations. The emphasis is on the further development of a broad range of behavioral assessment, intervention, and conceptualization skills. A major focus is the proficiency in two full regimens of contemporary, empirically-supported, manualized behavior therapy. (2 credits)
BH 506 Advanced Research Project II
This is the second seminar in preparing an applied behavior analytic Master’s thesis. Emphasis will be on utilizing the corequisite M.A. practicum as a setting to complete a piece of applied behavior analytic research. The major learning objective is the completion of the M.A. thesis. (1 credit)
BH 512 Psychology of the Lifespan
This course examines normal development from infancy through advanced ages, focusing on the development of perceptual and cognitive processes, psychosocial roles and familial interpersonal processes. Current clinical approaches are examined from diverse theoretical viewpoints and in view of recent research findings. Cultural diversity and individual differences are integral to this course. For the Applied Behavior Analysis Specialization this course meets Behavior Certification Board® requirements for 45 hours in “any other behavior analysis content area.” (3 credits)
BH 519 Special Topics I
BH 520 Special Topics II
BH 521 Special Topics III
These seminar courses for the Applied Behavior Analysis Specialization will address current topics in the field that may include: autism, stimulus control, relational frame theory, verbal behavior theory, behavioral intentional communities, instructional methodologies, and similar topics of interest. (BH 519 - 1 credit, BH 520 - 2 credits, BH 521 - 3 credits)
BH 522 Radical Behaviorism
As an introduction to the topic, this seminar will allow students to begin their study of radical behaviorism, the philosophy of science, pioneered by B.F. Skinner, that underlies the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Applied Behavior Analysis. Works studied will include modern commentaries on Skinner’s original formulations. (1 credit)
BH 524 Performance Management in Human Services
Prerequisites: BH 405, BH 523. This class will teach students a generic process for developing staff repertoires that are essential in delivering effective behavior-analytic services in applied settings. Staff performances are measured and feedback is provided to improve client outcomes.
(2 credits)
BH 525 Translational Research in Applied Behavior Analysis
Prerequisite: BH 400. “Translational research” promotes the interchange between basic and applied findings. The class focuses on Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Applied Behavior Analysis efforts to address similar clinical issues. Students will review experimental articles, from JEAB and other journals and applied behavior analysis readings that address an applied issue and translate the basic lab findings to an applied setting.
(1 credit)
BH 526 Seminal Writings in Behavior Analysis
By exploring various foundational and modern readings in behavior analysis, this seminar will address different areas such as schedules of reinforcement, stimulus control, punishment and its effects, and shaping. Topics covered within the seminar will vary from year to year. (1 credit)
BH 527 Analysis and Arrangement of Instructional Content
By applying non-linear and constructional analyses, students in this course will learn important principles involved in both analyzing instructional content and arranging it into sequences. This course is appropriate for students who will design and supervise instructional programs for clients in settings such as institutions, private intervention programs, rehabilitation programs, and schools or other educational programs. It is also for students who will work with clients such as adults with developmental disabilities, children with autism and related disabilities, or persons with learning disabilities. Before taking the course, students should have a solid foundation in reinforcement theory and at least a rudimentary understanding of stimulus control. Students are also encouraged to take BH 529 Behavior Analysis of Instruction and/or 528 Verbal Behavior before or at the same time they take this course. (2 credits)
BH 528 Verbal Behavior
Prerequisite: BH 400. In this graduate seminar, students will read and discuss Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior from theoretical and experimental perspectives. This seminar is appropriate for anyone with a basic understanding of radical behaviorism and reinforcement theory and who also wished to explore the behavior analysis of language. Please note that this seminar will not heavily emphasize the use of a verbal behavior analysis in applied settings. (1 credit)
BH 529 Behavior Analysis of Instruction
By emphasizing the critical features of effective instruction, this class will provide students with an overview of several evidence-based instructional arrangements derived from behavior analysis. Students will learn the research base that supports each feature of effective instruction, as well as the literature base related to each instructional arrangement covered in the class. (2 credits)
BH 561 Canonical Writings of B.F. Skinner
By studying several of Skinner’s important works, this graduate seminar will provide students with an introduction to topics related to Skinner’s radical behaviorism including selection as an important change process, the behavior analysis of language, and the role of private events within radical behaviorism. (1 credit)
BH 591 Practicum I
BH 592 Practicum II
BH 593 Practicum III
Prerequisites: BH 400, 405, 415, 416, 423, 429 and 445. This applied experience is an opportunity for a student to demonstrate understanding of key concepts in clinical psychology and counseling in a work setting. Training includes a variety of activities that a clinical professional counselor is expected to perform, such as interviewing and intakes; individual, group, and family counseling; and staff/case conference time. The training experience requires a minimum of 1,000 hours over a minimum of 12 months of on-site supervised training, including at least one hour of individual supervision per week. (2 credits each – 6 credits total)
BH 997 Practicum Maintenance
Prerequisite: Program approval. Students must register for Practicum Maintenance every semester while on practicum if their practicum extends past BH 593. Students are considered as enrolled half-time during this period. (0 credits)
BH 998 Thesis Maintenance
Prerequisite: Program approval. If thesis is not completed by BH 506 students must register for Thesis Maintenance every semester thereafter until completion. Students will be expected to meet regularly with their thesis chair to set necessary deadlines and to monitor progress. Students are considered as enrolled half-time during this period. (1 credit)
Updated: September 5, 2007
