Degree Requirements and Course Contents

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

SAMPLE COURSE PROGRAM

Applied Developmental Psychology Specialization Sample Course Program

*Mandatory Course , **Elective Course

Couple and Family Therapy Specialization Sample Course Program

*Mandatory Course , **Elective Course

DESCRIPTION AND CONTENTS OF COURSES

PSY 500 Area Practicum**: The main objective of this course is to support and complement the theoretical knowledge learned in the Applied Developmental Psychology Master’s Program with hands-on experience and application in the field. Through this course, students have an opportunity to gain awareness in the field, make observations, and experience how theories can be put into application. Another objective of this course is to help students take on responsibility and provide them a job experience opportunity.

PSY 501 Research Methods*: This course covers introduction to major scientific concepts, literature search, problem finding, theory construction, hypothesis construction and testing, and experimental design. Lecture and discussion.  

PSY 504 Problems, Theory, and Methods in Psychology**:This course is designed to have discussions of recent literature by faculty and other invited speakers and help students generate research ideas and integrate the various methodological approaches in their research and applied work.

PSY 511 Social and Emotional Development**: This course examines contemporary theory and research relevant to the development of social cognition, self, gender, social relationships, and moral development, as well as comprehension, expression and regulation of emotions. Topics will be examined in relation to the social and cultural contexts in which the growing individual interacts. Special emphasis will be given to the implications of theory and research on social and emotional development for applied settings. Lecture, discussion, videotapes. 

PSY 512 Cognitive Development**: This course will review current research and theoretical issues about cognitive development in children from infancy to adolescence with a focus on early childhood.  Major research areas that will be covered are perception, language, memory, executive functioning, reasoning, social cognition, and atypical cognitive development.  Interfaces with socio-emotional development will also be emphasized.

PSY 513 Applied Developmental Psychology **: This course examines how developmental theory, research and methodology can be utilized to promote well-being of individuals across lifespan. Special emphasis will be given to discussion, design and evaluation of intervention programs that target children and families with an aim to promote social, emotional and cognitive development of children.

PSY 516 Family and Child Policies **: This course will focus on the interface between the science of psychology and social policy development regarding family and children. In this course, the role of psychology in social policy making will be discussed; social policies, from Turkey and from the world, that have been implemented to promote the well-being of families and optimal child development will be examined. 

PSY 517 Play Therapy and Interventions for Children**: This course examines theory, research, and practice in the intersection of play, development, and therapy. The course is developmentally-based, providing students with theoretical and research knowledge about age-appropriate play. The course has a strong applied component as well in which interventions from the play therapy literature is examined and practiced by students with children and families. Lecture, discussion, role plays, videotapes.

PSY 518 Developmental Assessment **: Developmental Assessment class aims to endow graduate students with skills to assess preschool children’s social, emotional, and cognitive capabilities to identify their developmental levels. In this class, focus will be given to formulating, standardizing, conducting, and reporting comprehensive developmental evaluations.

PSY 530 Selected Topics in Couple and Family Therapy I **: This course is designed to create an advanced approach to couple and family therapy. Through the course, students will encounter different theoretical and methodological approaches to couple and family therapy, both classic and contemporary, and be asked to critically evaluate as well as integrate their theoretical basis and methodological approach. Focus will be on a specified topic in one of the general domains of couple and family therapy field.

PSY 531 Foundations of Couple and Family Therapy**: This course focuses on the theory, research, and practice of family/systemic therapy and its applications in different settings. Basic principles of systems theory and its applications to families will be covered. Foundational models will be examined in line with the historical developments in the field. Exercises such as the family genogram, case formulations, and role-plays will be employed to further focus on family interactional patterns, cultural patterns, and the issues of self-of-the therapist and family-of-origin. Lecture, discussion, videotapes.

PSY 532 Contemporary Theories of Couple and Family Therapy**: his course focuses on the contemporary models of family therapy theory, research, and practice and their applications in different settings. The course will build on foundational models and continue covering different contemporary family/systems theory and practice models, mainly postmodern models. Students will gain knowledge of current research evidence relative to family/systemic therapy and interventions. Several different evidence-based models of family therapy such as (multidimensional family therapy, functional family therapy, emotion-focused therapy) will be discussed. Students will also learn different family forms and discuss the importance and impact of culture, mainly diversity issues such as social class, ethnicity, religion, and gender. Lecture, discussion, role plays, videotapes.

PSY 533 Couple and Family Therapy Skills and Practice**: The course will provide the students with the knowledge regarding clinical experiences starting from the initial interview to termination session. In addition, students will learn necessary skills to conduct several therapy techniques such as microcounseling skills as well as assessment techniques and effective treatment planning strategies. The students will also learn how to keep necessary clinical documentation and specific clinical issues such as confidentiality and privacy issues. Students will have several role-playing activities to practice the skills that they learn in the current course. The role-plays are primarily designed around couple issues and couple therapy. Lecture, discussion, role plays.

PSY 534 Psychopathology and Assessment**: This course focuses on the major psychological disorder from a lifespandevelopment perspective. The definitions and diagnostic criteria for major disorders will be critically reviewed. The vulnerability, risk, and protective factors will be covered. Research on the biological, genetic, family, social, and cultural influences associated with childhood, adolescence, and adult psychological problems will be examined. Overall, the course will focus on the psychological problems in the context of human development, relationships, and the family. Lecture, discussion, videotapes.

PSY 535 Couple Therapy**: This course is designed to build on theories and systemic concepts from the foundation and contemporary of couple therapy courses, with focus on the assessment and treatment of couple relationships. Students will study and critically evaluate various theoretical approaches and research studies related to couple therapy. Diversity in couple forms and developmental stages of couple relationships will be recognized throughout the course. In addition, students will learn skills essential to the treatment of couples. Lecture, discussion, role plays, videotapes.

PSY 536 Professional Ethics**: This course will examine the literature on the ethical practice of couple and family therapy and psychotherapy in general. Legal issues related to working with individuals, couples, and families will be covered. The students will be familiar with both international and national code of ethics relevant to the practice of psychotherapy. Lecture, presentations and discussion. In addition, substantive amount of time is dedicated to the ethical principles in group supervision and practicum courses (PSY 590, 593, 594), individual supervision courses (PSY 592, 595, 596) each semester for three semesters, and in the Couple and Family Therapy Skills and Practice course (PSY 533).

PSY 537 Selected Topics in Couple and Family Therapy II**: This course is designed to create an advanced approach to couple and family therapy. Through the course, students will encounter different theoretical and methodological approaches to couple and family therapy, both classic and contemporary, and be asked to critically evaluate their theoretical basis and methodological approach. Focus will be on a specified topic in one of the general domains of couple and family therapy field.

PSY 590, 593, 594 Practicum and Group Supervision I, II, & III**: The aim of this course is to apply theoretical knowledge to therapy situations with individuals, couples, and families. Students work closely with a supervisor who follows their progress with different modes of systemic supervision (live, recording, case discussion). Students will gain experiences in therapeutic contact, assessment and diagnosis issues, treatment planning, therapeutic interventions, case management, and assessment of their intervention outcomes. Group supervision also provides opportunities to receive feedback from peers, to act as part of a therapy team, and to exchange constructive feedback.

Students will continue to work closely with a supervisor to further build on their theoretical knowledge and systemic therapy skills. Students will gain experiences in assessment of a diversity of problems, conceptualization, treatment planning, interventions, termination, and assessment of intervention outcomes with a diversity of clients.

In this course, students further advance the application of their theoretical knowledge and systemic therapy skills while gaining experiences in direct contact with a variety of clients at both on-site and outside practice settings. 

PSY 592, 595, 596 Individual Supervision I, II, & III**: Students meet individually with their supervisors to further build on their couple and family therapy skills and case conceptualizations. They are expected to report on the intakes and assessments they conducted, treatment plans, client progress, and interventions. Students are expected to bring recorded sessions to demonstrate their skills and strengths as well as areas of development. Self-of-the-therapist development is also an integral part of this course.

Students will continue to meet individually with their supervisors in order to advance their understanding and experience of different family/systemic therapy models and interventions. They will continue practicing with clients to gain diverse experiences with individuals, couples, and families.

Students will further receive individual supervision on their therapeutic skills and case conceptualization from their individual supervisors. They will gain therapy experiences with a diversity of problems and forms of couples and families. They will also focus on current self-development and future self-development goals.

PSY 680 Graduation Project*:This course involves a critical examination of a specific research topic in psychology. Students focus on a research question and analyze empirical studies conducted on the basis of theory and methodology employed.