Master of Arts in Psychology, Criminology and Justice Studies Specialization

ORG 6300 Human Development (3 credits)

This course explores the major theories of adult development related to emotions, personality, cognitive functioning, social and family influences, and physical functioning. Current theoretical approaches and research related to adult development are emphasized as well as practical applications in the therapy setting.

ORG 5270 Mental Health & Psychopathology in the Workplace (3 credits)

This course acquaints the student with both normal and abnormal behavior evident in the workplace. The focus of the course is creating a healthy culture in the workplace, maintaining a healthy work/life balance, and managing stress. In addition, students learn the common mental disorders and personality disorders manifested in an organizational setting and how to exercise leadership to bring about positive change.

ORG 6530 Theories & Techniques of Counseling & Psychotherapy (3 credits)

This course is an overview of the psychodynamic, cognitive/behavioral, and existential/humanistic schools of psychology, as well as corresponding models of counseling and frequently used assessment and therapeutic techniques. The primary focus in the course is on the development of both skills and rationale in the application of intervention strategies to treatment and case management.

ORG 6499 Cultural Diversity and Individual Differences (3 credits)

This course provides a systematic review of the wide range of cultures and individual differences and the ways in which cultural mores, ethnocentrism, and factors such as matters of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, customs and cultures impact behavior of the individual themselves and of those around them. Through this course, students better understand themselves and others, in terms of perceptions and behaviors.

ORG 5400 Statistics & Psychometrics (3 credits)

This course emphasizes statistical concepts related to distributions and methods most appropriate to data and theories in psychology. The focus is on a quantitative approach to the concepts and methods of statistical inference. Topics include sampling, frequency distributions, estimation, and testing. Statistical techniques in analysis and interpretation of experimental data include estimation and testing, analysis of variance, experimental designs, linear regression, and correlation. Various statistical models are discussed including analyses of variance, covariance, and multiple regression; non-parametric statistics; components of variance; and designs and analyses for multi-factor experiments. Emphasis is placed on the role quantitative methodologies play in the quest to discover what the world is like.

ORG 6405 Applied Research in Organizational Leadership (3 credits)

This course is designed to give the student hands-on knowledge of the practices employed in analyzing organization and program data sets. Whether the data is provided as quantitative in nature, primarily through the use of surveys, questionnaires, or outcome data, or qualitative, through interviews or focus groups, students will be able to critically analyze the information in order to provide the appropriate feedback to the requesting entity. Students will be prepared to communicate the research and analysis processes to others and execute an appropriate article on the matter.

ORG 6520 Professional Ethics, Standards of Practice & Law (3 credits)**

This course is a study of the ethical and legal issues confronting the practicing psychologist. Topics related to clinical methodology, standards of practice, and inter-professional relations are explored. Students learn principles of ethical decision making, standards for human and animal use in research, and standards of care specified by state and federal laws. Emphasis is placed on exploration of the emotional impact that major ethical and legal dilemmas have on decision making. Students also master the current code of ethics of the American Psychological Association and other professional codes of ethics, such as the code of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy or the code of the American Counseling Association. This course must be taken at University of the Rockies and may not be transferred from another institution.

ORG 5571 Traditional Criminological Theories (3 credits)

This course introduces students to traditional theories of crime to facilitate an understanding of the causes of criminal behavior. Emphasis will be placed on the origins of traditional, interdisciplinary, and theoretical frameworks as they relate to delinquency, deviant behavior, and other types of crime. Specific types of criminal behavior will be used to explain and evaluate the various theories. Additionally, issues concerning societal problems will be discussed in relation to divergent theoretical views.

ORG 5574 Criminal Justice Organizations & their Functions (3 credits)

In this course, the criminal justice process and its components are examined. Students will become familiar with the different organizations that the justice system comprises. The complexity of criminal justice processes functioning as a dynamic system of interrelated yet separate parts will also be studied. In addition, students will be introduced to the distinctions between the adult criminal justice and the juvenile justice system to gain an understanding of the different ways in which offenders are dealt with in each system.

ORG 6570 Victimology: Theory, Research & Policy (3 credits)

To broaden the student's understanding of criminal events, this course explores the impact of crime on victims, both in relation to the criminal event itself as well as its aftermath, when criminal justice agencies become involved. The student is also introduced to various viewpoints on trauma effects of victimization, responses to victimization, and media intervention. In addition, the course examines the role and participation of victims in the processing of criminal cases.

ORG 6572 Law Enforcement & Communities (3 credits)

This course introduces students to traditional policing strategies as well as to new movements and trends in policing. The role of communities in policing, the interaction of police with communities, and their collective impact on the effectiveness of policing strategies will be examined. In addition, the range of possible consequences related to various policing strategies used in communities will be covered.

ORG 6574 Law & Society (3 credits)

In this course students explore the links between the application of law and its impact on society. Major course topics include how laws are developed, the evolution of the legal system, and the impact society has on the creation and changing of laws. The ways in which the law plays a role in creating social change will also be analyzed. Additionally, constitutional issues that guide and constrain criminal processes will be addressed.

ORG 6580 Correctional Philosophies & Strategies (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the various theoretical, philosophical, and historical foundations for the punishment of offenders. Theoretical perspectives will be linked to strategies developed to deal with offenders. Further, the rationale behind these linkages will be explained and analyzed from a historical perspective. Students will be required to perform a critical examination to compare the relative merits and drawbacks of each philosophical approach and to assess how these approaches affect the ways in which offenders are dealt with in society.

Comprehensive Exam