Professor Scotty Hargrove, Chair
301 Peabody Building

Professors Gross, Landis, McGraw, and O'Dell
Associate Professors Barrios, Christoff, Lombardo, Mendolia, Sufka, and Weed
Assistant Professors Chen, Gohm, O'Neill, Sabol and Wilson

MASTER OF ARTS

The Department of Psychology does not offer a terminal master's degree. All graduate students must be accepted into the Ph.D. program and may receive the Master of Arts as one step in the doctoral program.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

The Department of Psychology offers programs of study in Clinical and Experimental Psychology (with areas of concentration in behavioral neuroscience, physiological, and social) leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. Completion of the clinical program requires a minimum of five years beyond the baccalaureate degree. This time is devoted to a combination of research, course work, and practica for clinical students. Comprehensive examinations also are required and will be taken following the completion of a master's thesis. Clinical students also must complete a one-year, full-time internship at an agency approved by the American Psychological Association. Students are not permitted to apply to internships prior to acceptance of a dissertation prospectus.

Admission Requirements
Applicants to the graduate programs in psychology must have completed a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution, and must have successfully completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of psychology courses. Undergraduate course work should include General Psychology, Psychological Statistics, and at least one laboratory course. Additional course work in Physiological Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and some course work in biology, physiology, and/or chemistry is preferred. In addition to Graduate School requirements, applicants must submit a score on the GRE subject test in psychology, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree at The University of Mississippi. Applications for admission are considered only once each year. All application materials must be received by January 15 for consideration for admission the following August.

Return to Top of Page

Course Descriptions

Psychology - PSY

501, 502. QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY. Topics treated are descriptive statistics, probability theory, hypothesis testing, linear regression, analysis of variance, experimental design, nonparametric and multivariate techniques, and computer applications. Prerequisite: for PSY 501, PSY 302; for PSY 502, PSY 501. (3, 3).

505. CONDITIONING AND LEARNING. The general field of human and animal learning including instrumental conditioning, classical conditioning, memory, and transfer. Prerequisite: 12 hours in psychology. (3).

506. HUMAN LEARNING AND COGNITION. Covers perception in the visual and auditory systems, pattern recognition and attention, features of the three major memory systems, the representation of knowledge in memory, the neurological memory, language, learning and cognitive development, problem solving and decision making, mechanisms of thought, and other related topics. (3).

510. HUMAN PHYSIOLOGICAL RECORDING IN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE. Practical and research applications of physiological recording techniques such as EEG, EMG, and EKG. Students will become familiar with actual recording procedures during the laboratory sequence. Prerequisite: PSY 528. (3).

511. THE NEURAL BASIS OF LEARNING AND MEMORY. The course will focus on habituation in the Aplysia; classical conditioning and the cerebellum; theories of hippocampal function - animal studies; temporal lobe amnesia in humans; memory impairments associated with Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. (3).

519. GROUP DYNAMICS. Factors affecting political and social efficiency. Prerequisite: PSY 321. (3).

523. TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS. Principles of test construction, scoring, and interpretation. Prerequisite: admission to the clinical program or consent of the instructor. Prerequisite or corequisite: PSY 501. (3).

526. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. An intensive review of the field of social psychology. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (3).

528. PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY. The neuroanatomical and neurochemical bases of behavior. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (3).

529. ADVANCED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY. Graduate-level survey of clinically relevant aspects of psychological development from infancy through adulthood. Undergraduates wishing to enroll are advised to consult the instructor. (3).

530. SINGLE SUBJECT AND SMALL GROUP RESEARCH DESIGN. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology and PSY 505. (3).

531. SENSATION AND PERCEPTION. A survey of classical psychophysical methods, signal detection theory, and sensory psychophysiology. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (3).

532. ATTENTION AND CONSCIOUSNESS. The seminar explores the nature and underlying mechanisms of attention and consciousness. Topics include theories of attention and consciousness, attention and duration judgment, philosophical perspective on consciousness, subliminal perception, implicit learning, and animal consciousness. Prerequisite: Graduate students in psychology and philosophy or permission of instructor. (3).

541. MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS I. Structural aspects of reduced function including genetic, glandular, neurological, and psychological considerations. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (3).

543. MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS II. Behavioral inadequacies including intellectual, social, motivational, emotional, and learning dysfunctions. Prerequisite: PSY 541. (3).

551. HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY. Historical development of psychology from classical Greece through twentieth century. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (3).

553. THEORIES OF LEARNING. Theories of Thorndike, Pavlov, Guthrie, Skinner, Hull, and Tolman. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (3).

555. PSYCHOLOGY COLLOQUIUM. Presentation of current research by students, faculty, and visiting psychologists. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (1). (Z grade).

561. CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING. The course will survey cross-cultural training programs designed to introduce people from one cultural background to ways of interacting effectively in a culture other than their own. (3).

599. CLINICAL STAFFING. Case presentation of clients seen in practicum. Prerequisite: admission to clinical program and 12 hours of psychology. (May be repeated for credit). (1). (Z grade).

Return to Top of Page

601. SEMINAR. New developments in psychology. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology or consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

605. ADVANCED STATISTICS. Design and analysis of behavioral experimentation with emphasis on analysis of variance, multivariate methods, and related techniques. Prerequisite: PSY 502. (3).

606. METHOD AND THEORY IN PROGRAM EVALUATION. A survey of methods used in the evaluation of social programs. Theoretical and methodological issues are stressed. Prerequisites: 501, 502 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. (3).

609. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. Prerequisite: PSY 505. (3).

610. TECHNIQUES OF ASSESSMENT I: COGNITIVE TESTS. Administration, scoring, and interpretation of individual and group tests. Prerequisite: admission to the clinical program or consent of the instructor. (3).

611. TECHNIQUES OF ASSESSMENT II: PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT. Introduction to methods of assessing personality and psychopathology including projective techniques, structured tests, and interviewing. Prerequisites: consent of director of clinical training and admission to the clinical program or consent of the instructor. (3).

614. BEHAVIOR THERAPY. Application of learning theory to clinical problems Prerequisites: consent of director of clinical training and admission to the clinical program or consent of the instructor. (3).

616. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. This course involves the study of drugs used for the treatment of mental disorders, as well as drugs of abuse. Topics include drug effects in humans, mechanisms of drug action, animal-based research directed toward understanding the neural basis of drug action, and animal models used in preclinical drug testing. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

617. INDIVIDUAL EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology and consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit). (1-3). (IP or letter grade).

621. SEMINAR. Readings, reports, and discussions of special topics. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology and consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit). (1-3).

622. CLINICAL ASSESSMENT PRACTICUM. Conduct of psychological assessments in a field placement setting. Prerequisite: Admission to the clinical program, grades of at least "B" in PSY 523, PSY 610, and PSY 611. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

623. CLINICAL PRACTICUM I. Involves participation on a treatment team in the Psychological Services Center. Prerequisite: admission to the clinical program and recommendation of the clinical faculty. (3). (Z Grade).

624. CLINICAL PRACTICUM II. Involves participation on a treatment team in the Psychological Services Center. This course is required of all second-year clinical students. Prerequisites: standing as a second year graduate student in the clinical program. (3). (Z Grade).

625. CLINICAL PRACTICUM III. Involves participation on a treatment team in the Psychological Services Center. This course is required of all third-year clinical students. Up to three hours may be taken. Prerequisites: two semesters of PSY 624. (3). (Z Grade).

626. CLINICAL PRACTICUM IV. Involves participation on a treatment team in the Psychological Services Center. This course is required of all fourth-year clinical students. Up to three hours may be taken. Prerequisites: two semesters of PSY 625. (1-3). (Z Grade).

627. THEORIES OF PERSONALITY. History of personality theory development with emphasis on current writers and research in the field. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology. (3).

628. CLINICAL PRACTICUM V: FIELD PLACEMENT. Consultation, program planning and evaluation in a community mental health center, mental retardation center, or other field setting. Clinical students are required to take a minimum of three semesters, two of which must be completed consecutively at the same agency. Prerequisites: admission to the clinical program and approval of the clinical faculty. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

629. ADVANCED ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY. Prerequisites: 12 hours of psychology and admission to the clinical program or consent of the instructor. (3).

631. THEORIES OF PSYCHOTHERAPY. Overview of past and current approaches to therapy, with particular attention to understanding and integrating diverse theoretical systems. Prerequisites: PSY 629 and admission to the clinical program or consent of the instructor. (3).

633. BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN. Correlates and remediation of problem behaviors and emotional disturbances in children and adolescents. Prerequisite: PSY 629. (3).

637. SEMINAR IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY. Readings, reports, and discussions of topics relating to the experimental foundations of clinical psychology and methods and problems in personality research. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology and consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit). (3-6).

641. ISSUES AND ETHICS IN HUMAN RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. Readings, reports, and discussion of current issues, problems, and ethical procedures in research, teaching, and professional practices. Prerequisites: 12 hours of psychology and admission to the clinical program or consent of the instructor. (3).

647. PROBLEMS IN PSYCHOLOGY. Individual study and reading, preparation of literature surveys and technical manuscripts, other individual projects. Prerequisite: 12 hours of psychology and approval of topic by staff. (May be repeated for credit). (1-3).

697. THESIS. (1-12).

797. DISSERTATION. (1-18).

798. PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP. One calendar year of supervised, full-time, on-the-job experience in an internship facility. Clinical internships are to be taken at APA-approved facilities or their equivalent. Nonclinical internships are to be arranged in consultation with the student's major professor. Prerequisite: completion of departmental requirements and approval of the department chair. (1-3). (Z grade).

Return to Top of Page