Clinical Science Emphasis
- Helen Harton, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Phone: (319) 273-2235 Office: Baker 357 - Seth Brown, Ph.D. Phone: (319) 273-6091 Office: Baker 340
- Elizabeth Lefler, Ph.D. Phone: (319) 273-7637 Office: Baker 442
- Sunde Nesbit, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Clinical Science Emphasis
Phone: (319) 273-6776 Office: Baker 439 - John Somervill, Ph.D. Phone: (319) 273-3748 Office: Baker 322
The University of Northern Iowa, Department of Psychology, offers a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in clinical Science. Combining empirically supported, scientifically based clinical training with a solid foundation in clinical research methodology, the program prepares students to 
apply for doctoral programs or pursue jobs at the Masters level operating under appropriate supervision. Clinical practicum and research opportunities allow students to work with child, adolescent and adult clinical populations in a variety of settings. Clinical faculty members are dedicated to research and actively involve students in ongoing and new areas of study.
The clinical science emphasis follows the scientist/practitioner model and focuses particularly on research and scientific method. While faculty members may differ in terms of methods of research, therapeutic focus, and areas of study, there is agreement that scientific inquiry should form the foundation of clinical psychology and the education received in this program. An empirical approach is emphasized by all faculty members, and applying research-based evidence to answer applied clinical problems is an essential part of the program.
All faculty within the University of Northern Iowa Department of Psychology are available for possible research collaborations. In addition, the clinical faculty specifically provide opportunities for research in the following areas:
- Psychological Assessment
- Psychometrics
- Mental Illness Stigma
- Childhood Psychopathology
Interdisciplinary Areas
- Psychology & Law
- Eyewitness Lab
- BioPsych Lab
Training during the first year is intensive and requires a dedicated focus on coursework and learning the foundations upon which practicum placements depend. Research training after the first year is focused in the thesis area chosen by the student, though ongoing research opportunities will continue to be available. Professional skills are developed through intensive practice and supervision within the program and through supervised activities in facilities within the community.
The first three semesters of training are highly structured with all entering clinical students taking the same required courses; in the fourth semester, the selection of an elective allows the students to differentiate from their peers. Professional development and identity is strongly encouraged, with multiple opportunities for conference presentations, membership in professional organizations, and discussions of current topics in the field of clinical psychology.
Curriculum
Fall -- First Year (10 credits)
- 6401 Cognitive and Intellectual Assessment (3cr)
- 6402 Research and Practice of Psychotherapy (3cr)
- 6001 Advanced Statistics (3cr)
- 6285 Readings in Psychology (Harton; 1cr)
Spring -- First Year (13 credits)
- 6002 Research Design (3cr)
- 6405 Personality Assessment (3cr)
- 6409 Clinical Ethics (3cr)
- 6406 Adult Psychopathology (3cr)
- 6285 Readings in Psychology (thesis advisor; 1cr)
Fall -- Second Year (9 credits)
- 6407 Evidence Based Treatment (3cr)
- 6299 Thesis Research (3cr)
- 6408 Clinical Practicum (3cr)*
Spring -- Second Year (9 credits)
- Advanced Child Psychopathology (3cr)
- Thesis Research (3cr)
- Elective (3cr)
Total Credits: 41
*196 practicum hours will be required for this course, and these will be spread across two semesters at placement
Required Classes
- PSYCH 6001(3cr). Advanced Statistics: Review of elementary descriptive and inferential statistics, analysis of variance and covariance models, multiple linear regression and the generalized linear model, and specialized topics in multivariate analysis.
- PSYCH 6002 (3cr). Research Design: Covers the planning and execution of psychological research. Topics include research design, measurement, ethical issues, sources of artifact and bias, data evaluation, and interpretation.
- PSYCH 6285 (2cr). Readings in Psychology: A survey of the psychological literature within a particular area supervised by a faculty member. Designed to lead to a thesis topic.
- PSYCH 6299 (6cr). Thesis: An independent research project supervised by a faculty advisor and a committee of faculty members, resulting in a manuscript consisting of a substantial literature review, methodology description, statistical report and analysis, and discussion. The thesis is orally defended in a public forum.
- PSYCH 6401 (3cr). Cognitive and Intellectual Assessment: Introduction to the nature, use, and interpretation of tests for assessing intelligence and other cognitive functions in varied populations.
- PSYCH 6402 (3cr). Research & Practice of Psychotherapy: Reviews the major theoretical approaches to psychological treatment, relevant empirical and clinical issues, and facilitate proficiency in counseling microskills.
- PSYCH 6405 (3cr). Personality Assessment: Overview of theoretical and empirical issues in the measurement of personality.
- PSYCH 6406 (3cr). Psychopathology: Reviews diagnostic issues and covers the major mental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
- PSYCH 6407 (3cr). Evidence-Based Treatment: Overview of current strategies and techniques for modifying child and adult behavior disorders based on a cognitive-behavioral approach.
- PSYCH 6408 (3cr). Clinical Practicum: Supervised field placement in a mental health or other agency offering psychological services.
- PSYCH 6409 (3cr). Clinical Ethics: Review of critical ethical and professional issues related to practice of clinical psychology, including changing roles of psychological assessment, intervention, and research; role of ethics in research, and importance of multicultural awareness.
- PSYCH 6410 (3cr). Advanced Child Psychopathology and Evidence Based Treatment: An overview of diagnostic and assessment issues in the most common types of childhood psychopathology, as well as an in-depth examination of evidence-based treatments for these disorders.
Approved Electives
- PSYCH 5004 History and Systems of Psychology
- PSYCH 5102 Drugs and Individual Behavior
- PSYCH 5103 Sensation and Perception
- PSYCH 5104 Introduction to Neurology
- PSYCH 5204 Psychology of Aging
- PSYCH 5303 Health Psychology
- PSYCH 5304 Organizational Psychology
- PSYCH 5305 Industrial Psychology
- PSYCH 5404 Psychology of Human Differences
- PSYCH 5502 Motivation and Emotion
- PSYCH 5503 Conditioning and Learning
- PSYCH 5504 Memory and Language
- PSYCH 5505 Cognitive Psychology
- PSYCH 5604 Principles of Psychometrics
- PSYCH 5606 Special Topics in Social Psychology
- PSYCH 5607 Psychological Anthropology
- PSYCH 5608 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective
- PSYCH 5704 Practicum in Teaching Psychology
- PSYCH 5705 Research Experience in Psychology
- PSYCH 6003 Graduate Practicum in Teaching Psychology
- PSYCH 6006 Research in Psychology
- PSYCH 6201 Evolution, Brain and Social Behavior
- PSYCH 6202 Social and Cognitive Development
- PSYCH 6203 Personality
- PSYCH 6204 Advanced Social Psychology
- PSYCH 6205 Advances and Developments in Social Psychology
- PSYCH 6285 Readings in Psychology: Individualized readings.
- PSYCH 6289 Seminar
Clinical Faculty
(Graduate Students may do research and theses with any of the graduate faculty in the Department of Psychology.)
Seth Brown
(Ph.D., U. New Mexico)
Associate Professor
General research interests include severe mental illness (particularly schizophrenia) and health behaviors. Current research focuses on the determinants of and the reliability of measuring physical activity among college students, which will be extended to individuals with severe mental illness.
Elizabeth Lefler
(Ph.D., Oklahoma State University)
Assistant Professor
Research interests include Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); early identification of childhood psychopathology; assessment and treatment of disruptive behavior disorders; and gender, age, and ethnicity differences in disruptive behavior disorders.
Sunde Nesbit
(Ph.D., Purdue University)
Assistant Professor
Areas of research interest are conceptualization and assessment of anger; cognitive responses to anger-provoking situations; and factors contributing to driver aggression.
John Somervill
(Ph.D.,U.Arkansas)
Professor
General research interests are depth perception as it relates to driving safety. Past research interest has involved social reactions to persons with disabilities.
Faculty with related interests
(Ph.D., U. of Missouri)
Professor
Evolutionary psychology, cross cultural investigations of sex differences. Relationship jealousy and relational aggression.
(Ph.D., Florida Atlantic U.)
Professor and Graduate Area Coordinator
Primary research areas are attitudes and social influence, particularly using dynamical systems approaches. Specific research projects include how important vs. unimportant attitude change and the implication of those changes for groups and how subcultures emerge within groups of interacting individuals. Another line of research examines the relationship between political orientation and different manifestations of racism. Other research interests include attraction, relationship satisfaction, jealousy, pro-social behavior, cooperative learning, and attitudes toward immigrants.
Carolyn Hildebrandt
(Ph.D., U. California, Berkley)
Professor and Department Head
Current research projects include studies of social and biological reasoning in children and adolescents, children's understanding of physical and psychological harm, and children's and adolescents' representations of pitch and rhythm in music.
(Ph.D., U. of Nevada-Reno)
Professor
Her general research interests are in the situated nature of social cognition. Current research focuses on criminal appearance stereotypes, the source of those stereotypes, and how those stereotypes impact memory and decision making in a variety of legal contexts.
(Ph.D., U. of Nevada-Reno)
Professor
His general reserach interests are facial recognition and eyewitness identification.