REQUIRED COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS
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56:830:580
Research Methods (3)
This first-semester course covers designing, conducting, and
analyzing research, including issues of ethics, informed consent, control groups,
measurement, and data collection. Topics may include basic research
designs and statistical analyses, including experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational,
survey, and archival research, and associated statistical, computer, and
graphical techniques, with the goal of preparing students to design and carry out methodologically sound
research projects.
56:830:650
Statistics and Research Design (3)
This first-semester course focuses on the multivariate design issues students will
confront in applied research settings. The course covers between- and
within-subjects designs and mixed models, regression and covariance analysis,
and other univariate and multivariate techniques, relying on computerized data
analysis and graphical representation.
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CORE CONTENT COURSES
All students must also complete at least 2 of the following core content courses, each of which is typically offered once every two or three years on a rotating basis. These graduate-level courses will survey research in the relevant field of study and provide more depth than is available in undergraduate-level courses. In addition, all core content
courses will examine the research methods typically employed in their field of study.
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56:830:626
Graduate Developmental Psychology (3)
An examination of life span
developmental psychology with reference to classic theories (e.g., Piaget) and
recent theoretical and experimental advances. An exploration of typical human
development, including infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, with
emphasis on childhood social, emotional, and cognitive development.
This course counts toward the required two core courses.
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56:830:631
Graduate Personality Psychology (3)
Examines contemporary research in
personality psychology, focusing on historical and modern perspectives ranging
from Freudian theory to the Five Factor Model of Personality. Both
genetic and environmental influences on personality development will be
considered as will the role of gender and culture in the development of
personality. Applications of personality psychology in the study of
mental and physical health will be discussed.
This course counts toward the required two core courses.
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56:830:633
Graduate Cultural Psychology
Drawing on psychological theory and research, Cultural Psychology
examines how
culture shapes fundamental ways people perceive and think about the world, how culture shapes lifespan development, how culture shapes self and identity, and how culture shapes motivation and emotion. This course emphasizes building cultural competence by focusing on the implications of cultural psychology for immigration, for sexuality and close relationships, for multicultural identities, for prejudice and discrimination, and for mental health and psychological practice.
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56:830:635
Graduate Social Psychology (3)
This course covers major theories in social psychology (such as attribution theory, cognitive dissonance theory, and social identity theory) and important research findings (on such topics as persuasion, aggression, interpersonal attraction, and prosocial behavior). Theories and research are also applied to phenomena outside the laboratory, such as physical and mental health outcomes, conflict resolution, and attitudes about climate change.
This course counts toward the required two core courses.
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56:830:640
Graduate Abnormal Psychology (3)
Familiarizes students with the
different diagnoses, etiologies, and treatments of major forms of
psychopathology. Uses the DSM-V-TR classification system. Emphasizes the role of current research findings in understanding psychiatric disorders and appropriate treatment of disorders.
This course counts toward the required two core courses.
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56:830:648
Graduate Health Psychology
Focuses on understanding psychological processes
that influence health, contribute to our happiness, and provide a sense of
meaning in our lives. Topics discussed include: stress and coping,
personality and health, health behaviors, the context and providers of health
care, factors that promote happiness, strategies to improve happiness, and ways
individuals create meaning in their lives.
The changing health care environment and the need to understand the role
of individuals' lifestyles in determining their health and well-being is
emphasized.
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56:830:662
Graduate Cognitive Psychology (3)
Examines current theories and
research methods in cognitive psychology and may cover topics including pattern recognition, attention, multiple aspects of memory, language
comprehension, decision-making, thinking, and problem solving. Emphasis
will be on understanding some of these topics in depth rather providing a broad
survey of all.
This course counts toward the required two core courses.
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56:830:665
Graduate Physiological Psychology (3)
Examines current theories and methods in physiological psychology through the lens of contemporary issues. Following a broad overview of neurons, students study selected topics in-depth. Specific topics vary semester to semester. Examples include neurobiology of reward and addiction, sleep and circadian rhythms, reproductive behavior, language and music, stress and trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroplasticity, emotion regulation, learning and memory, cognitive-affective states, environmental neuroscience, and nutrition and exercise.
This course counts toward the required two core courses.
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REQUIRED COURSES FOR THESIS TRACK STUDENTS
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56:830:590
Independent Study: Thesis Proposal (3)
Designed to assist students in developing their thesis proposal through an
apprenticeship experience with a faculty member. Students are expected to meet weekly with their adviser, who will provide expert guidance on the
proposal. Admission to this class and the grade assigned for this class are determined by the faculty adviser in consultation with the Graduate Director (see Degree Requirements).
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56:830:690
Independent Study: Thesis Research (3)
Designed to assist students in completing their thesis research. Students are
expected to meet weekly with their adviser, who will provide expert guidance on
data collection, analysis, and write-up (in accordance with the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association and the Rutgers-Camden Thesis
Style Guide). Admission to this class and the grade assigned for this class are determined by the faculty adviser in consultation with the graduate director (see Degree Requirements).
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STRONGLY ENCOURAGED COURSE:
Readings in Psychology (described below) is a
1-credit course that meets for one hour a week. Students in both the Thesis Track
and the Content Track are strongly encouraged to take Readings in Psychology
for three semesters, as the speakers and topics change from semester to
semester. Three semesters of Readings will count the same as one 3-credit
elective course toward graduation requirements. If taken together with three 3-credit courses per semester (for a total of
10 credits in a semester) this would allow a graduate student to finish their 30 credits
of coursework in three semesters (though a fourth semester is typically needed to complete a thesis).
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56:830:703
Readings in Psychology (1)
Students attend weekly presentations and
discuss important topics in psychology. The course involves presentations from faculty and graduate students in the Psychology Department, as well as from other Rutgers-Camden departments, and other universities, research centers, and businesses. It is designed to familiarize
students with the breadth of content and methods in psychology and provide
opportunities to think critically about areas in psychology beyond one's
immediate context and specialization.
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ELECTIVE COURSES
(taught on an occasional basis)
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56:830:636
Psychology of Emotions (3)
Classic and contemporary
theories and research about emotions. Topics include phenomenology and physiology of emotions; emotional
expression and behavior; emotion and motivation; the causes, effects, and
functions of emotions; relationships among emotions; and emotional pathology and
regulation.
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56:830:638
Survey Research Methods (3)
This course teaches how to do
several different types of survey research. It covers topics such as the
purposes of survey research, modes of data collection, reliability and validity
in measurement, questionnaire construction, interviewing and questionnaire
administration, sampling, methods of minimizing and correcting for nonresponse,
survey data coding and analysis, and the reporting of survey research results.
Students are guided through the design of open-ended and closed-ended questions
or a small-scale survey research project.
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56:830:644
Pediatric Psychology
Pediatric
psychology, simply stated, is health psychology in a pediatric medical
setting. This interdisciplinary field
integrates child clinical psychology with pediatrics to understand the
developing child both within the medical setting and in their own environment
to support optimal health and psychosocial development. The changing landscape
of health care and medical advances in the care of children with many
life-threatening illnesses results in many health conditions transitioning from
terminal illnesses to chronic conditions, and with it, a generation of children
growing up within the medical system.
This course will explore cross-cutting treatment targets in pediatric
psychology, common medical conditions, and controversies in order to expose students to
both the clinical and research base of the field of pediatric psychology.
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56:830:645
Psychology of Aging
This course gives a broad overview of the field of psychology of aging/gerontology. The focus on later life will be examined from a multidisciplinary perspective, using a lifespan developmental framework. It covers fundamental theories, major topics, and characteristic methods in the psychology of aging. Topics include changes in physical, cognitive, social, and personality functions; mental health issues; retirement; long-term care; death and dying; and successful aging.
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56:830:674 or 675
Special Topics (3)
Selected topics in psychology reflecting the specific research interests of individual faculty instructors.
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56:830:677
Evolutionary Psychology
Why do people think, act, and feel the way they do? Evolutionary psychology asks whether the same evolutionary forces that selected for our anatomy and physiology also shaped our basic psychological traits. It is informed by findings from psychology, biology, genetics, neuroscience, psychiatry, and physiology. In this course we will use an evolutionary lens, asking whether human experience and behavior can be explained as adaptations that maximized the reproductive potential of our ancestors over the course of evolutionary history. Some specific topics include: altruism, parental investment, short-term and long-term mating strategies, emotion, cognitive states, religion, mental health, and art.
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56:830:701
Research in Psychology (3)
Students conduct original research in psychology with a psychology department faculty member who agrees to supervise the research project. This course is specifically for research that is not a student's thesis work. It may be taken by Thesis Track students as an additional research project with the student's thesis adviser, or with another psychology department faculty member) or by Content Track students who find a psychology department faculty member willing to supervise the project.
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COURSES IN OTHER GRADUATE SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS AT RUTGERS-CAMDEN
With approval obtained in advance of enrollment from the Psychology Department Graduate Director, students may take psychology-related graduate classes offered elsewhere in the University and use credits earned in these courses as electives to meet requirements for the Psychology M.A. degree. For details on the content of any of the courses below (and any other courses that may be psychology-related), interested students should consult the catalog listings and course schedules for the department that offers each course.
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56:163:615
Using Archival Data to Study Children (3)
Offered by the Department of Childhood Studies
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56:219:531
Applied Data Mining and Machine Learning
Offered by Masters in Data Science program
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56:645:565
Time Series and Forecasting (3)
Offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
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56:645:567
Statistical Models (3)
Offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
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56:792:504
Social Determinants of Health
Offered by the Prevention Science program
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56:792:602
Design for Causal Analysis
Offered by the Prevention Science program
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56:824:708
Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables (3)
Offered by the Department of Public Policy and Administration
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56:824:709
Quantitative Methods II (3)
Offered by the Department of Public Policy and Administration
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56:824:718
Data Management (3)
Offered by the Department of Public Policy and Administration
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56:824:725
Geographic Information Systems in the Public Sectors (3)
Offered by the Department of Public Policy and Public Administration
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Psychology Department Courses to be Taken As Needed
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56:830:800
Matriculation Continued (0)
According to Graduate School-Camden policies, all students in degree programs must maintain status in the school by registering each fall and spring semester. Continuous registration may be accomplished by enrolling in standard course offerings (typically at least 3 credits), including research courses, or by enrolling in this course of 0 credits.
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56:830:6xx
Additional Content Courses
Some undergraduate courses may be cross-listed at the 600 level for graduate students who are expected to perform additional academic work to satisfy graduate requirements.
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