PSYCHOLOGY
When students apply to the general MA program they will be asked to indicate whether they are applying to the concentration in Trauma Psychology. Students who are accepted to the general program must complete the following requirements for a Concentration in Trauma Psychology. It is the students' responsibility to make certain, in concert with their advisor, that they have met all of the requirements for the concentration including finding a mentor who is able and willing to supervise a trauma related thesis. Students are encouraged to contact the Director of the CU Trauma, Health & Hazards Center (Dr. Charles Benight at benight@uccs.edu) with any questions about the program or its requirements.
Core faculty and research interests:
Students in the Trauma Psychology concentration are required to complete all components of the graduate curriculum, including:
Clinical students in the Trauma Psychology concentration will take two proseminars, one of which will be the Proseminar in Trauma Psychology and one from the list below. Experimental students in the Trauma Psychology concentration will take the Proseminar in Trauma Psychology and can choose two other courses from the list below. Aside from the required proseminar, the particular proseminar(s) chosen will vary from student to student depending on their interests. Each of the proseminars can be linked into the domain of Trauma Psychology in that people experience trauma at different stages in life, it affects cognitive processing, has an impact in social functioning, and influences individuals differently depending on their personality
Students accepted into the Trauma Psychology concentration will need to meet with their Trauma Psychology advisor once a year to make certain that their program of study meets all concentration requirements.
Research Thesis: Students in the Trauma Psychology concentration will be required to complete a research thesis in this area and be supervised by a relevant faculty member.
Core faculty and research interests:
- Charles C. Benight, Ph.D. (Social Cognitive Theory and Trauma Recovery)
- Tom Pyszczynski, Ph.D. (Terror Management Theory and Trauma)
- Mike Kisley, Ph.D. (Cognitive Processing and Trauma)
- Robert Durham, Ph.D. (Sex Offenders and Abuse Issues)
- Sandy Wurtele, Ph.D. (Sexual Abuse Prevention)
- Roger Sambrook, Ph.D. (Psychology of Terrorism)
- Eve Gruntfest, Ph.D. (Disaster Warning Systems)
Students in the Trauma Psychology concentration are required to complete all components of the graduate curriculum, including:
- coursework in research and the scientific method (PSY 581 Research Statistics and Methodology I; PSY 582 Research Statistics and Methodology II; and PSY 603 Research Practicum)
- coursework in the knowledge base of psychology: the proseminar series (including a proseminar in Trauma Psychology, explained below); and
- a research thesis on a Trauma Psychology topic.
Clinical students in the Trauma Psychology concentration will take two proseminars, one of which will be the Proseminar in Trauma Psychology and one from the list below. Experimental students in the Trauma Psychology concentration will take the Proseminar in Trauma Psychology and can choose two other courses from the list below. Aside from the required proseminar, the particular proseminar(s) chosen will vary from student to student depending on their interests. Each of the proseminars can be linked into the domain of Trauma Psychology in that people experience trauma at different stages in life, it affects cognitive processing, has an impact in social functioning, and influences individuals differently depending on their personality
- PSY 610-3: Proseminar: Developmental
- PSY 611-3: Proseminar: Cognition
- PSY 612-3: Proseminar: Neuropsychology
- PSY 613-3: Proseminar: Social
- PSY 614-3: Proseminar: Personality
- PSY 642-3: Proseminar: Aging
- HSCI 630: Sexual Assault: Implications for Health Care Delivery
- HSCI 634: Psychosocial Aspects of Forensic Science
- HSCI 637: Violence and Human Rights Issues
- GEO 455: Disasters and Society
- PAD 340: Public Administration and Homeland Security
- PAD 440: Understanding Terrorism
- PAD 441: Introduction to First Responder Organizations
Students accepted into the Trauma Psychology concentration will need to meet with their Trauma Psychology advisor once a year to make certain that their program of study meets all concentration requirements.
Research Thesis: Students in the Trauma Psychology concentration will be required to complete a research thesis in this area and be supervised by a relevant faculty member.