DOCTORAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
COMPETENCY I CLINICAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS (21 hours)
A. Experimental Foundations (3 hours)
The student will cite and interpret research topics from the literature of the experimental analysis of behavior. The student should select one course from the following:
PSY 6100: Conditioning and Learning 3 cr.
PSY 6110: Current Research in Experimental Analysis 3 cr.
B. Individual Differences (6 hours)
The student will cite, interpret, and discuss the basic concepts of individual differences and apply this knowledge to a variety of service delivery situations. The student should sign up for both courses.
PSY 6200: Analysis of Abnormal Behavior 3 cr.
PSY 6210: Developmental Psychopathology 3 cr.
C. Cognitive Basis of Behavior (3 hours)
The student will cite, interpret, and discuss theoretical issues in the cognitive basis of behavior and apply this
knowledge to a variety of service delivery situations. The student should select one course from the following:
PSY 6740: Verbal Behavior 3 cr.
PSY 6580: Social and Cognitive Development in Children* 3 cr.
* Social and Cognitive Development can count either for the social
requirement or the cognitive requirement, but not both.
D. Biological Basis of Behavior (3 hours)
The student will cite and interpret the physical, biological, and pharmacological changes that produce alterations in behavior. The student should select one course from the following:
PSY 5260: Human Drug Use and Abuse 3 cr.
PSY 6120: Advanced Physiological Psychology 3 cr.
PSY 6130: Behavior Pharmacology and Toxicology 3 cr.
PSY 6970: Advanced Topical Studies in Psychology 3 cr.
(NeuroPsychology)
E. Social Foundations and System Analysis (3 hours)
The student will develop, implement, and evaluate various social, organizational, educational, and service delivery programs according to a system analysis approach. The student should select one course from the following:
PSY 6510: Applied Behavior Analysis: A Systems Approach 3 cr.
PSY 5740: Cross Cultural Psychology 3 cr.
PSY 6580: Social and Cognitive Development in Children* 3 cr.
* Social and Cognitive Development can count either for the social
requirement or the cognitive requirement, but not both.
SWRK 6300: Social Change/Comm Analysis 3 cr.
SWRK 6310: Human Behavior Social Environment 3 cr.
F. History (3 hours)
The student will examine the historical antecedents of current theories of behavior. The following course is required:
PSY 5950: History of Psychology 3 cr.
G. Ethics (3 hours)
PSY 6050: Professional and Ethical Issues in Psychology 3 cr.
COMPETENCY II METHODOLOGY (6 hours)
The student will implement and interpret the statistical analysis of data. The following two courses are required
PSY 6080: Research Methods in ABA 3 cr.
PSY 6340: Advanced Statistics 3 cr.
COMPETENCY III CLINICAL CORE (21 - 22 hours)
The student will cite, interpret, and practice various clinical assessment and therapy approaches, and discuss the application of these approaches to the solution of a variety of Psychologically based clinical and societal problems.
A. Assessment (10 hours)
The three courses below are required.
PSY 6810 or CECP 6510: Personality Assessment 4 cr.
PSY 6880: Advanced Behavioral Assessment 3 cr.
PSY 6830 or CECP 6500 Intellectual Assessment 3 cr.
B. Therapy (11-12 hours)
The student should enroll in the three required courses and one elective (selected based on consultation with faculty mentor to match professional interests).
Required Courses (9 cr)
PSY 6610: Psychotherapy: Theory and Methods 3 cr.
PSY 6640: Behavior Therapy 3 cr.
PSY 6690: Child Behavior Therapy 3 cr.
Elective Options (2-3 hours)
PSY 6590: Treatment of Anxiety Disorders 3 cr.
PSY 6630: Marital Therapy 3 cr.
PSY 6650: Behavioral Approaches to Treatment 3 cr.
PSY 6660: Family Therapy 3 cr.
PSY 6680: Analysis and Treatment of Developmental
Disabilities 3 cr.
PSY 6970: Treatment of Sexual Problems 3 cr.
PSY 6970: Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 2 cr.
COMPETENCY IV RESEARCH (21 hours)
The student will develop, implement, and conduct research and effectively communicate the data and the interpretation of the data in a written document of publishable quality. Furthermore, the student will present the findings and defend the research design at the time of the oral examination. Prerequisite for dissertation: master’s thesis.
PSY 7000 Master’s Thesis or PSY 7100 Master Project 6 cr.
PSY 7300: Doctoral Dissertation 15 cr.
COMPETENCY V PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP (20-31 hours)
The student will complete two practicum experiences over a three year period. In the typical case, Practicum I is to be completed in the Psychology Clinic and will take place over two academic years. Practicum II will be completed in one or more community agencies and will generally take place in the fourth year (except for students entering with a MA degree).
PSY 6980: Clinical Practicum in Psychology I 12 cr.
(Prerequisites: PSY 6640 and PSY 6690)
PSY 6990: Clinical Practicum in Psychology II 7cr.
(Prerequisite: PSY 6980)
PSY 7320: Doctoral Clinical Internship 1-10 hrs
Students are expected to apply to internships that are APA approved. Before an internship placement is made, the Psychology Department requires that the internship site provide a training document that spells out what is expected of the intern in terms of clinical skills, professional knowledge, previous practicum experience, and what the site will provide in terms of types of duties, hours spent in duties, supervision, and adjunctive training opportunities. The purpose of the internship is to develop competency beyond that which the student has already acquired.
For approval of an internship site, the following criteria will be given careful consideration.
1. Provides contact with a variety of clients and/or patients.
2. Provides supervision by several psychologists with appropriate professional credentials.
3. Provides adjunctive training, such as in-service programs, case conferences, professional seminars, library facilities.
4. Provides for collaborative work with other psychology interns and representatives of other disciplines.
5. Provides a range of professional activities, such as assessment, therapeutic interventions, consultation, supervision, program evaluation, research.
6. Provides opportunity for the development and practice of professional skills compatible with the behavioral and cognitive behavioral orientation of the clinical Psychology training program.
7. Availability of other disciplines – social workers, etc.
COMPETENCY VI COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
The student will demonstrate the ability to interpret, integrate, and discuss the research data and the application procedures of behavior therapy and clinical Psychology in a scholarly manner. This examination must receive satisfactory completion including rewrites within 3 months of initial sitting.
Previous course work, professional experience, and library facilities serve as the basis for the development and execution of this requirement.
Method of Evaluation: The student will complete the examination prepared by the doctoral committee in one primary area of study. The area of study is defined by the candidate in consultation with the student’s advisor and the dissertation committee as a reading list of academic texts and professional journals.
Criterion: Completion of an examination, 4-6 hours taken within a contractual period specified by mutual consent of the student and the dissertation committee.
COMPETENCY VII RESEARCH TOOL (12 hours)
(6 hours completed in Comp II)
This competency area consists of two research tools. The first research tool consists of two methodology/statistics courses in the basic program requirements (e.g. PSY 6080, PSY 6340). The second research tool must be a two-course sequence selected from those available more generally in Departmental doctoral programs and described in the “Doctoral Program Requirements.” These courses may be taken within the Psychology Department or from another department if approved by the student’s advisor and the Clinical Committee. The courses should provide the student with a specific skill that is directly relevant to their future research endeavors (e.g., statistical analysis). Courses within the Department of Psychology which qualify as fulfilling this research tool include two from among the following:
PSY 6350: Correlation and Regression Analysis
PSY 6360: Experimental Design and Analysis (II)
PSY 6370: The Design and Analysis of Quasi-experiments
And Observational Studies
It is possible that a student may take one course from among the above listed options and one from another department in fulfilling this research tool requirement, with the approval of the advisor and the Clinical Committee. It is also possible that a student might identify a two course sequence that will provide them with a valuable research skill (e.g., visual basic programming skills) and petition the Clinical Committee to have the sequence count as the second tool.
Method of Evaluation: Satisfactory completion of the required courses and a clear demonstration of competence in tool use in the preparation, implementation, and dissemination of research data. Research tools should be selected in conference with the student’s dissertation committee.
Criterion: Completion of the paper and recommendation of a grade of “Satisfactory” by the dissertation committee.
FACULTY
Galen Alessi (Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1974)
email: galen.alessi@wmich.edu
Dr. Galen Alessi is a Professor of Psychology and a fully licensed psychologist in Michigan and Maryland, as well as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in behavioral pediatrics in the department of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Medical School. He also completed the post-graduate one-year intensive training program in Family Therapy at the Family Therapy Institute of Washington, D.C. His main research interests are in marital and family therapy, strategic behavioral therapy, and behavioral pediatrics.
R. Wayne Fuqua (Ph.D., University of Florida, 1977)
email: r.wayne.fuqua@wmich.edu
Dr. Wayne Fuqua is a Professor of Psychology and the Chair of the Psychology Department. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He teaches courses in behavioral medicine, behavioral approaches to treatment, and behavior analysis research methodology. His research interests include: the management of health risk behaviors; treatment of habit disorders; developmental disabilities; and functional assessment and analysis. He is the director of the Behavioral Medicine Lab and a frequent contributor to behavior analysis and behavior therapy journals.
Scott Gaynor (Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 2000)
email: scott.gaynor@wmich.edu
Dr. Scott Gaynor is an Associate Professor of Psychology and a licensed clinical psychologist. He completed his internship and an NIMH post-doctoral fellowship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. He teaches courses in child development, psychopathology, and psychotherapy. Dr. Gaynor also directs the Behavior Research and Therapy Laboratory, which conducts treatment process and outcome research (often with children and adolescents).
Linda A. LeBlanc Director of Clinical Training
(Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1996)
email: linda.leblanc@wmich.edu
Dr. Linda LeBlanc is an
Associate Professor of Psychology and a licensed psychologist. She completed
her internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine Kennedy Krieger Institute.
She teaches courses in child development, child behavior therapy, and aging. Her primary clinical activities and research interests are with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities focusing on technology based interventions for language and social behavior and aging individuals with dementia.
Amy E. Naugle (Ph.D., University of Nevada-Reno, 1999)
email: amy.naugle@wmich.edu
Dr. Amy Naugle is
an Assistant Professor of Psychology.
She completed her clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium in
Charleston, SC. Prior to coming to WMU, Dr. Naugle completed a NIMH post-doctoral fellowship at the National Crime Victim's Center, Medical University of South Carolina. Her primary research interests include
investigating psychological and interpersonal factors associated with physical
and sexual victimization, assessment, training, and psychotherapy outcome
issues related to Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP).
C. Richard Spates , (Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1976)
email: richard.spates@wmich.edu
Dr. C. Richard
Spates is a Professor of Psychology and a licensed clinical psychologist in the
State of Michigan. His primary
clinical activities and research interests are with individuals with anxiety
disorders in general and particularly those related to traumatic stress. He is a Diplomate of the American
Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and a Board Certified Expert in
Traumatic Stress. He is currently the director of the WMU Anxiety Disorders Research
Laboratory. He is also a consultant to the
V.A. Medical Center of Battle Creek, and the Michigan Department of Community
Health's Bureau of Clinical and Medical Services.
Lester W. Wright Jr. (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 1995)
email: lester.wright@wmich.edu
Dr. Lester Wright
is an Associate Professor of Psychology.
His primary clinical and research interests are in the area of human sexuality and deviant behavior. He completed his internship at the University of Mississippi Medical School/ Jackson VA Consortium and then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University. He is currently
the director of the Clinical Studies Laboratory, an out-patient clinic and
research center for individuals requiring assessment and/or treatment of sexual
problems.
