Academics
General InformationGraduate Programs
The faculty of the Institute has endeavored to systematically develop a program of studies for both the clinical and general psychology degree programs that reflects a thorough education and training in the science of psychology (both general and clinical psychology), as well as a coherent reflection of how a Catholic understanding of the person, marriage, and family life provide a foundation for, and can be integrated with, psychological studies.
Students are provided graduate education in the basic science of psychology through courses on the history and various systems of psychological thought, personality and psychotherapy theories, statistics, and psychopathology (in the M.S. degree programs), which is built upon by courses on research design, human development, learning, cognition, social, and biological aspects of psychological functioning (in the Psy.D. Program).
Students in the clinical psychology programs also are provided graduate level education and training in the specifically clinical aspects of psychology through courses on the assessment and treatment of psychological problems. The assessment course sequence includes courses on interviewing, administration of standardized tests, and interpretation of test results (in the M.S. in Clinical Psychology degree program), which is built upon by advanced training with additional assessment procedures (in the Psy.D. Degree program). The treatment course sequence includes training in adult therapy, child therapy, and marital therapy (in the M.S. in Clinical Psychology degree program), which is built upon by advanced courses in these areas, as well as family therapy and group therapy (in the Psy.D. degree program). In addition, doctoral students are educated regarding other occupational roles such as teacher, consultant, and supervisor.
Finally, students in all degree programs are provided graduate level education in the theological and philosophical underpinnings of psychology from the perspective of a Catholic anthropology. This is accomplished in two ways. First, each of the psychology content courses includes commentary and/or critiques regarding how the area is best understood from a Catholic view of the human person. Second, the curriculum includes an Integrative Studies component which focuses more heavily on a theological and philosophical understanding, while still being directed towards the application of this knowledge by psychological professionals. The Integrative Studies sequence includes courses covering metaphysics, interpretation of texts, theological anthropology, comparative religion, and moral theology (in both the M.S. in Clinical Psychology and the M.S. in General Psychology degree programs), which is synthesized at the doctoral level through a seminar that integrates theory and research, and a course that integrates the clinical aspects of psychological, ethical and spiritual development.