Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Applied Clinical Neuropsychology (Face-to-Face)

PSY 7400-01

Course: PSY 7400-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 30832

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the science and practice of clinical neuropsychology. This specialized subfield of Clinical Psychology aims to assess and interpret the relationship between nervous system function, cognition, emotion and behavior; and to apply this knowledge to the design of individualized patient interventions. Students will gain an understanding of the field through review of adult and pediatric cognitive and neurological disorders. The psychosocial adjustment of patients living with each disorder and the dynamics among individuals involved in their care are additional themes of emphasis. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach integrating information from several subfields of medicine (neurology, neuroradiology and psychiatry) and psychology (cognitive, abnormal, developmental, biological, health psychology). The initial stage of the course will include an overview of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurodevelopment. Next, assessment and evaluation will be covered by cognitive domain (e.g., executive function, language) and taught through both didactic (e.g., lecture, discussion, article review) and “hands-on” approach (e.g., direct practice with classmates). The succeeding lectures will examine the presentation of specific disorders including neuropathology, symptoms, and treatment. Ethical and diversity-related considerations will be examined and incorporated throughout the course. Registration Restriction(s): PsyD students only

Required Texts


Ogden, J. (2012). Trouble in Mind: stories from a neuropsychologist's casebook. OUP USA.
-Available HERE as a free ebook through SUU library.

Stucky, K., Kirkwood, M., Donders, J., & Liff, C. (Eds.). (2020). Clinical neuropsychology study guide and board review. Oxford University Press.
-Available HERE as a free ebook through SUU library.

*Additional required readings (i.e., research articles) are listed in the course schedule. and will be posted on Canvas.

*Supplemental and Optional Resources such as additional articles, videos, and tutorials will also be posted on Canvas.


Learning Outcomes

By the end of this semester, students will be able to:
Critical Thinking
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic psychometric principles and test theory and their relevance to neuropsychological testing and assessment.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of contextual factors on test interpretation.


Integrative Learning
  • Facilitate the presentation and discussion of clinical cases, demonstrating case conceptualization and recruiting perspectives from peers.
  • Demonstrate beginning proficiency and emerging competence regarding the interpretation of testing and the written communication of assessment results.

Intercultural Competence and Knowledge
  • Demonstrate cultural responsiveness and diversity awareness by integrating knowledge learned throughout the course to the selection of testing materials, administration, interpretation and feedback to clients.

Ethical Reasoning
  • Integrate and demonstrate knowledge learned from reviewing the Ethical and Legal Standards of Psychological and Educational Assessment into the provision of assessment services and treatment recommendations in psychological report writing.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements and Assignments
Class Participation

We will meet once weekly to discuss assigned readings, review test materials and protocols, and engage in case-conceptualization discussions. In addition to brief lectures on key points, the course will employ a seminar format. This will require active discussion and contributions from each of you. You are required to attend each class meeting with the assigned readings completed and fully prepared for discussion.

Neuroanatomy Assignment
In the first part of this class, we will be learning about neuroanatomy. Some of this learning will be delivered through Virtual/Augmented Reality applications within SUU’s specialized VR classroom. There will be instructor led “brain labs” and related assignments. More details will be provided in class and/or on Canvas.

Article Discussion/Presentation
In small groups (2-3), you will be required to become the “expert” on one research article over the course of the semester. The article will be selected from the required readings list in each cognitive domain (i.e., attention/executive function, memory, language, and visuospatial/motor). Your group will prepare an article overview presentation and guided discussion of the article (approximately 30 minutes total).

Case Study Presentation
In small groups (2-3), you will present the assigned case study from the Trouble in Mind: stories from a neuropsychologist's casebook to the class including the underlying cause, symptoms/impact (cognitive, social, emotional), and treatment. You will also locate and include a recent academic article related to the neuropsychology of this case.

Assessments:Mini-Labs [4]


During the applied assessment weeks you will pair up with a classmate and practice administering the assessments covered in that class. You will work together to score the assessment and complete a brief write-up of the results. More details will be provided in class and/or on Canvas.

Other Specific Diagnoses Presentation
You will be paired up to present on one of the chapters listed in Week 13. These will be brief presentations (10-15 minutes) in which you will summarize and present the content from the chapter. Because these are short you do not need to locate any additional information beyond what’s in the text. More details will be provided in class and/or on Canvas.

Final Assessment Report

At the culmination of the semester, you will complete a final neuropsychological assessment report. You will be provided with a client history and raw scores from which you will convert to standard scores to write up the results and clinical conceptualization (including any specific considerations for your client based on individual factors). You will also review the literature to find a recent research article to help you create a treatment recommendation. More details will be provided in class and/or on Canvas.

Course Outline

Week Topic
1 Introduction to Neuropsychology

2 Neuroanatomy & Cellular Communication

3 Neuroanatomy & Cellular Communication Continued

4 Important Issues in Neuropsychological Assessment
 
5 Attention, Working Memory, and Executive Function: Neuroanatomy

6 Attention, Working Memory, and Executive Function: Assessment

7 Memory: Neuroanatomy

8 Memory: Assessment

9 Language: Neuroanatomy

10 Language: Assessment

11 Visuospatial & Motor:

12 Visuospatial & Motor: Assessment

13 Mood, Additional Diagnoses, and Other Considerations

X Thanksgiving Break

14 Ethics, Cultural Considerations, Report Writing, and Feedback

15 Final Report Due

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Extensions & Make-Ups
In the event of a University-approved absence or a significant medical problem, you must contact the instructor prior to the due date to discuss arrangements for making up a missed exam, presentation, or other graded requirement. Written documentation (e.g., official university notice, note from a licensed physician) will be required for any make-up work. Personal events such as family vacations, weddings, or oversleeping do not constitute acceptable reasons for missing an assignment or exam. No exceptions will be made to this policy.

Punctuality, reliability, and accountability are essential components of your professional responsibilities. In the clinical environment, meeting deadlines, being present, and fulfilling commitments are not only academic expectations but also ethical obligations to your clients, colleagues, and the profession. Missing assignments, assessments, or clinical duties without valid justification undermines the standards of practice and professional conduct expected in healthcare settings.


Just as in professional practice, repeated or unexcused lapses in meeting obligations may have serious consequences, including loss of trust, missed opportunities, or impact on your ability to practice. The standards you uphold here reflect the standards you will be expected to maintain in your career.


Attendance Policy

See PsyD Student Handbook for full Attendance Policy
  • Students who miss class FOR ANY REASON will write a brief (≈ 1 page, single-spaced) reaction paper summarizing your reflections on the assigned readings. The paper must be submitted as soon as possible after the missed class period. Be advised: Failure to complete the paper within two days after return will result in a 2-point deduction of your class participation grade.

  • Additionally, I expect you to attend every scheduled class period and to be on time. If you choose to use a laptop or tablet to take notes, please restrict your use of these devices to course-related activities during our class meetings.

Course Fees

See PsyD program manual for tuition information.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.