Fairleigh Dickinson University An Overview of the Two New Jersey Psychology Departments

By Robert Griffo, PhD, Anthony F. Tasso, PhD, Robert E. McGrath, PhD Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) was founded in 1942 by Peter Sammartino, and just completed its 76th year of existence. It is the largest private institution in New Jersey, with over 11,000 students as of 2013. FDU’s recently inaugurated eighth president, Christopher Capuano, PhD, is a psychologist.

FDU Psychology faculty scholarship cuts across the broad areas within the field (e.g., experimental, social, clinical), encompassing quantitative, qualitative, theoretical, and educational modalities. With faculty working independently, as well as in collaboration with FDU colleagues and those scholars outside of the university, the breadth and depth of psychological research is covered.

A less than exhaustive overview of Fairleigh Dickinson psychology reveals that much is being accomplished. Danielle DeNigris and Katherine Viezel are independently engaged in the systematic study of autism in the classroom and language development. Diane Wentworth and a few FDU colleagues have assayed pedagogy via the empirical examination of technology in the college classroom, innovative means to teach General Psychology, as well as the effectiveness of a newer method of evaluating university professors’ teaching effectiveness. Robert Griffo recently published work on the assessment of situations and, along with Anthony Tasso, completed work on a scientific study comparing hypnotizability and non-hypnotic suggestibility. Tasso has also engaged in the examination of intimate partner violence as well as an educational piece on the integration of psychoanalytic approaches within a primary care setting. Robert Prentky is an internationally recognize forensic psychologist as the author of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol (J-SOAP), the most commonly used instrument in the country for this population. Robert McGrath is a recognized expert in the field of character and virtue measurement and intervention. Katharine Loeb is a nationally recognized expert in the field of eating disorders. Other faculty members have extensive research programs in neuropsychology (Lana Tiersky), cognitive processes (Ben Freer), clinical supervision (Meaghan Guiney), teaching reading (Jamie Zibulsky), substance abuse in college students (Steve Armeli), veganism (Cynthia Radnitz), the use of CBT in schools (Linda Raffaele-Mendez), sleep disorders (Ellie McGlinchey), and other topics.

FDU Psychology at the Florham campus offers both a general undergraduate major and a Behavioral Neuroscience concentration. The Metropolitan campus in Teaneck offers undergraduate tracks in Forensic Psychology, Mental Health, Organizational Behavior, Consumer Psychology, and Social Work as well as the general track. Both campuses are homes to chapters of Psi Chi (The International Honor Society in Psychology). In addition, the Florham department publishes a peer-reviewed undergraduate student research journal, the Journal of Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences (JPBS), in existence for over 50 years (since 1966), that allows undergraduate students from around the world to publish their research. In partnership with the College of Saint Elizabeth and Drew University, the Florham Campus also participates in the annual Tri-Collegiate Research Symposium that allows students from all three institutions to present their research.

Florham graduate programs

Our Industrial/Organizational Master’s Program has been in its current form going back to at least the 1980s. It has a traditional MA component or a combined 5 year BA-MA track.

Our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program became CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accredited in 2011. This degree enables students to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). It should be noted that although our CMHC program is housed in the Department of Psychology & Counseling, it technically is not psychology, but rather counseling (CACREP is linked with American Counseling Association, not APA).

Metropolitan graduate programs

There are six graduate programs available: • MA Program in Forensic Psychology. • MA Program in General/Theoretical

Psychology: This is meant as a general graduate degree. • MA + Certification Program in School

Psychology: This program is approved by the National Association of School

Psychologists. • MS Program in Clinical Psychopharmacology: This distance program is intended for psychologists who are interested in enhancing their knowledge of psychotropic medications, including in preparation for prescriptive authority.

It is one of only four programs in the country designated by APA as meeting their guidelines for training in preparation for prescriptive authority. • PhD Program in Clinical Psychology: This program is accredited by the

American Psychological Association. As the university’s only PhD program, it is the premier program in the university in terms of research productivity. • PsyD Program in School Psychology:

This program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists. It is available in two formats. The

Advanced PsyD Program is intended for current master’s-level school psychologists who would like to enhance their credentials. The 5-year program combines the master’s and doctoral levels of training in school psychology. ❖