Psychology - Catalog - Norfolk State University

Dr. Karen Y. Holmes, Department Head
(757) 823-9055

The Department of Psychology offers the Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology through the Virginia Consortium which is jointly sponsored by Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University. The Psychology Department also awards several undergraduate degrees which include the Bachelor of Arts Degree with concentrations in General Psychology, Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education, and Teacher Certification in Special Education. The Psychology Department plays a significant role in the overall mission of the University by contributing to the development of students in the behavioral sciences.

The major aims of the Department are as follows:

To provide a flexible, relevant, and fundamentally sound curriculum for students majoring in psychology.
To prepare students thoroughly to render services initially as entry-level professionals, teachers, and behavioral scientists.
To provide a thorough behavioral science background for students whose expertise can be utilized in related human service fields of employment.
To prepare students to work as professional psychologists.

Psychology Programs

Psychology Courses

CPS 632 Intellectual Assessment (3 Credits)

This course provides the student with training in theories of intelligence and psychometric properties, administration, scoring, and interpretation of major individually administered intelligence tests for children, adolescents, and adults. Emphasis is placed on the Wechsler scales with exposure to other instruments. Students are expected to write interpretive reports on all practice administrations. Relation of assessment data to clinical disorders and special education eligibility decisions, ethical issues in test use, and general history of intellectual assessment and interpretation will be discussed.

CPS 635 Multicultural Issues in Psychology (3 Credits)

The course covers issues relevant to diverse, populations to enhance student development of, cultural humility and improved cultural , competence in clinical practice. The course, reviews conceptual and theoretical foundations as, well as individual and systemic influences, that contribute to mental health.

CPS 700 Clinical & Ethical Practice (3 Credits)

This course introduces basic therapy skills to clinical psychology students and explores the ethical framework which guides the profession of psychology.

CPS 703 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (3 Credits)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most heavily researched form of psychotherapy and has been shown to be effective for a wide range of conditions. This course presents the basic theoretical concepts and techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The main focus of the course is on gaining an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of CBT and developing CBT skills for therapy.

CPS 791 Independent Study (3 Credits)

This course is an elective available to qualified students to be scheduled independently in consultation with the supervising instructor.

CPS 814 Research in Clinical Psychology (1-4 Credits)

Individual project under guidance of a research advisor.

CPS 895 Clinical Practicum (3 Credits)

This course assigns a student to a practice setting to learn the skills of a clinical psychologist under close supervision in mental health settings.

CPS 896 Advanced Practicum (3-6 Credits)

This course is part of a focused study. The student is supervised in the development of advanced skills in clinical psychology in a practice setting.

CPS 899 Clinical Dissertation (1-6 Credits)

This course is coordinated with practica and electives during the third year to provide the student with an opportunity to develop an area of concentration. The dissertation presents the results of applied research.