Master of Arts in Psychology

This course introduces students to the Master of Arts in Psychology program at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Students will navigate student success resources to support development of graduate-level communication and research skills. Students will critically examine relationships between psychological concepts, applications, and research while applying ethical principles and professional standards in discussions and assignments. Finally, students will discuss historical and contemporary issues in psychology surrounding diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belongingness.

This course will cover developmental and contextual experiences of humans across the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on issues and questions that have dominated the field over time and continue to provide impetus for research. Interactions will focus on articles that describe and illustrate current theories and trends. Students will read selected research articles and self-select additional readings related to weekly topics and personal interest. These topics include theoretical trends and foundations in research, policy and ethics, health and wellness, human developmental context, and end-of-life issues.

This course provides a comprehensive examination of the science of social psychology as well as how it is applied to manage and aid the understanding of contemporary social issues. Topics include social quandaries encountered in the fields of mental and physical health, the workplace, the education system, and the legal system. Students will study seminal theories and research that informs the practical application of social psychology to real-life situations. Students will also apply social psychology theory and research to explain current social issues.

This course provides an overview of the basic concepts and principles of the major theories of personality. The importance of the interaction between environment and genetics will be stressed. Cultural influences as well as personality disorders will be considered. Students will be challenged to begin to build their own construct of personality development by synthesizing existing theories and research.

This course introduces students to multiple dimensions of learning and cognition, which range from the basic processes underlying learning to the contexts that promote self-regulation and metacognition. As the foundation of cognitive psychology, learning and cognition encompasses many topics including attention, memory, categorization, problem solving, epistemology, language acquisition, and recognition of diversity. During the course, students will study a broad range of content through an eclectic collection of peer-reviewed articles focusing on the different aspects of learning and cognition. This course highlights main findings, established facts, and skills in learning and cognition that are applicable to a wide range of contexts.

Students will explore the biological bases of human behavior, cognition, and emotion while learning how to apply biological theory and research to psychology and daily life. Students will discuss relationships between nervous system anatomy, neuronal communication, and biopsychological research methods with topics including sensation, perception, movement, emotions, learning and memory, language, drug effects, psychological disorders, and neurological diseases.  Course activities include options for students to complete standard assignments or explore specific topics of their choice. Prerequisites: PSY 600, PSY 605, PSY 610, PSY 615 and PSY 620.

The course emphasizes neural physiology, neurotransmitter systems, and the neurotransmitter-receptor mechanisms that underlie the efficacy and side effects of psychoactive and illicit drugs. In addition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomic processes will be reviewed as they relate to clinical treatment and abuse. Methods of researching psychoactive agents of treatment and abuse, historical, and ethical considerations will also be addressed. Prerequisite: PSY 625

This course presents the concepts of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research designs and methods, as well as issues involved in the ethical conduct of research. Students will be challenged to select appropriate research designs and methodologies for various research questions. The course will culminate in a detailed research proposal on topics chosen by the students.

The course includes an overview of individual and group approaches to testing in psychology. Students will review psychological assessments utilized to evaluate personality, intelligence, achievement, and career-related interests and skills in a variety of work settings. The course will provide students with opportunities to analyze psychometric methodologies typically employed in the development and validation of psychological and educational tests. Students will apply knowledge of psychological measurement principles to testing and assessment data with an emphasis on ethical and professional interpretation. Issues and challenges related to testing and assessment with diverse populations will be integrated into the course. Prerequisite: PSY 635.

This course introduces students to the scientific study of psychological symptoms and disorders. Students will draw from theoretical and historical perspectives to build their understanding of diagnostic methods and evidence-based treatment methods for psychological disorders. Additionally, students will examine sociocultural factors that impact presentation, maintenance, and treatment of psychopathological symptoms and the use of diagnostic manuals in applying diagnostic criteria.

Students will examine models of health, stress, and wellbeing and evaluate their applications in diverse community and occupational settings, with attention to disparities and inequities that serve as barriers to health and wellbeing. Students will explore evidence-based behavioral change and health communication strategies to promote equitable access and information-sharing in their communities and workplaces. Prerequisite: PSY 645.

The capstone course is the culminating educational experience for the Master of Arts in Psychology. In this course, students will integrate and apply what they have learned throughout the program to meet competencies as outlined in the program learning outcomes. Students will be exposed to a holistic view of psychology as a discipline, and they will be encouraged to think critically about the broader themes that link various subfields of psychology. Students will reflect on the experience of the program as a whole and will consider how the program’s themes apply to a variety of civic and professional settings. The capstone affords students a final opportunity to practice and demonstrate the skills they will need to succeed after graduation.