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PSY/480

Elements of Clinical Psychology

3 credits

Total credits

5 weeks

Course length

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Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

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Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Course level: Upper Division

This course is intended to provide the beginning psychology student with an overview of the theory and practice of clinical and counseling psychology. The course includes reference to major theories of personality, assessment, and psychotherapy. Topics include psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and biological theories of normal and abnormal psychological processes and the assessment of behavior, abilities, and personality. Therapies covered include a variety of psychoanalytic approaches and humanistic, biological, cognitive-behavioral, and child and family therapies.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

What you'll learn

Course skills and outcomes

  • Differentiate clinical psychology from other types of psychology.
  • Summarize the history and evolving nature of clinical psychology.
  • Explain the role of research and statistics in clinical psychology.

  • Compare and contrast four approaches in clinical psychology.
  • Identify the strengths and limitations of psychological assessment instruments.
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of psychological testing instruments for various populations.

  • Explain the interdependent roles of biological, psychological, and social factors in human behavior.
  • Explain how clinical interventions are used.

  • Compare and contrast clinical work in a variety of environments.
  • Explain the legal and ethical issues associated with clinical psychology.
  • Define professional boundaries, boundary crossings, and boundary violations.
  • Explain how culture influences approaches to assessment and treatment.

  • Explore contemporary issues in clinical psychology.
  • Discuss the future of clinical psychology as a profession.

Why UOPX

Why take courses at University of Phoenix

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Next Steps

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Transfer Credits

Credit Transfer

Need to transfer credits to another college or university?

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept our transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can complete your course, and request your official transcript be sent to your school. That’s it!

How to request your transcripts

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.