Business Administration - John F. Kennedy University

College of
Professional Studies
College of Professional Studies Course Descriptions
opportunities to practice basic attending skills such as empathy,
listening, reflecting, focusing, and confrontation. They will also
practice skills related to cultural sensitivity and the maintenance of
confidentiality. In addition, students will integrate basic attending
skills, diagnostic interviewing, and appropriate structural elements
(e.g., informed consent, summarizing, etc.) into a cohesive and
complete clinical session. Prerequisite: PSd 7007
PSd 7015 adult Psychopathology i 3
This course examines the way in which individual psychopathology
is classified, described, diagnosed, and assessed. The diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, 4th edition (text
revision) (dSM-Iv-Tr) of the American Psychiatric Association is
utilized as a core organizing text for the purposes of diagnostic
classification. Students are expected to become familiar with the
structure, content, and clinical use of this manual and learn to apply
formal diagnostic classification to specific case examples. This
course will emphasize the process and problems of individual
assessment and diagnosis that arise within the practice of clinical
psychology. Students will be introduced to the historical, political,
and contextual issues regarding the diagnosis and categorization of
human experience.
PSd 7016 adult Psychopathology ii 3
This course continues to examine the way in which individual
psychopathology is classified, described, diagnosed, and assessed.
The diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, 4th
edition (text revision) (dSM-Iv-Tr) of the American Psychiatric
Association is utilized as a core organizing text for the purposes of
diagnostic classification. Students are expected to become familiar
with the structure, content, and clinical use of this manual and learn
to apply formal diagnostic classification to specific case examples.
This course will emphasize the process and problems of individual
assessment and diagnosis that arise within the practice of clinical
psychology. In addition, students learn the fundamentals of
treatment planning and the use of the dSM-Iv-Tr’s Outline for
Multicultural Formulation as a process for providing contextual
information in psychodiagnosis. Prerequisite: PSd 7015.
PSd 7025 Child and adolescent issues:
Psychopathology and Treatment 3
This course includes an exploration of the symptoms, diagnosis and
treatment of child and adolescent psychopathology. Child and
adolescent development are considered from a range of theoretical
perspectives. The strengths and limitations of existing theoretical
and clinical approaches to pathology with regard to cultural and
related variables are examined. Students will learn assessment and
evaluation, treatment interventions, specific therapeutic techniques,
and parent and collateral contact skills. Prerequisite: PSd 7016 and
PSd 7225.
PSd 7035 Practicum i 2
Students are placed for eight hours per week in settings, generally
schools or community mental health agencies, that allow them to
engage in an ethnographic observation/participation of individu als
and groups that are culturally different from the students in
significant ways. The goal is to enhance cultural competence by
broadening the student’s exposure and appreciation of “others,”
while gaining an in-depth understanding of his or her own
assumptions, stereotypes, and biases.
PSd 7046 group Process 1
Students function as a group during the three quarter-IPS. They
reflect upon the group dynamics of their practicum placement, their
own collective experience within the IPS and the range of
perspectives encountered in their assigned academic reading, and
an exploration of cultural differences in a group context.
PSd 7047 Multicultural awareness in
Professional Psychology 2
This part of the IPS curriculum focuses on theories of diversity and
the history of racism and other “isms.” Students examine the effects
of power and privilege—or lack thereof—on psychologi cal
functioning. Students will be encouraged to develop self-awareness
and a heightened sensitivity to their own values, cultural identity,
and biases to understand how these serve as both resources and
barriers to the effective delivery of mental health services to diverse
populations.
PSd 7052 Writing like a Psychologist 1.5
This course is designed to ground first-year doctoral psychology
students in the principles of effective, appropriate, professional
communication. Topics addressed will include ethics in writing,
issues of cultural diversity relevant to the process of professional
writing, an introduction to the dissertation process, and research
writing skill acquisition. Students are expected to participate in class
discussions and to turn in weekly writing assignments.
PSd 7104 Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior 3
This course provides students with an overview of Social Psychology
and other domains of psychological research addressing the nature
and influence of culture, with an emphasis on social psychology
research and theory relevant to multiculturalism, social justice and
professional ethics. The course will also address some key pieces of
organizational psychology research which could also be classified
as social psychology.
PSd 7107 Biological Bases of Behavior 3
This course offers a practical, clinically relevant approach to
understanding the involvement of biological factors in normal and
abnormal thoughts, feelings, and actions. The course is structured
so that basic concepts of neuronal and synaptic activity lead to
discussions of basic life processes like sleep/ arousal and internal
regulation. discussions and demonstrations follow of the
mechanisms underlying sensori-motor systems, learning and
memory, and the higher cortical functions. Emphasis in the course
is on functional neuroanatomy as it relates to these processes and
to individual and cultural differences. The course establishes the
ground work for later courses in psychopharmacology, health
psychology, and neuropsychology. The material is presented with
an evidenced-based emphasis, but consideration of alternative
perspectives is also made when relevant.
PSd 7108 Cognitive and affective Bases of Behavior 3
This course provides students with an overview of classical and
recent research in the areas of cognitive psychology and theories of
emotion with an emphasis on the relevance of these models and
findings to diversity-competent clinical practice and research.
142 College of Professional Studies Courses JOHn F. KEnnEdy UnIvErSITy