Cooperative Program with the
New England Center for Children
Hamilton College students interested in applied psychology and education of students with special needs have the opportunity to spend either the Fall or Spring Semester at the New England Center for Children. This facility, located near Boston, offers courses in applied behavior analysis and provides students with supervised experience working with children with autism. Interested students should consult with the chair of the Department of Psychology. Applications are available outside of Science 316, and they should be submitted to the chair of the Department of Psychology by February 15 for the Fall Semester and by October 1 for the Spring Semester. An article on the program was recently published in the Hamilton Alumni Review.
Semester Program (4 credits) PSY 295 Applied Behavior Analysis
EDU 395 Clinical Teaching Intensive Special Needs (2 credits)
and a choice of one of the following:
PSY 296 Programmed Learning
PSY 396 Systematic Inquiry in Applied Research
PSY 297 Biological Basis of Mental Retardation
Course Descriptions
Education Course
EDU 395N Clinical Teaching Intensive Special Needs. Each student is assigned full-time teaching responsibilities, under supervision, in a setting with learners with intensive special needs. Includes extensive practicum experience with a focus on teaching and case management. Papers and attendance at weekly seminars required. Course available to students enrolled in the cooperative program at the New England Center for Children.
Psychology Courses
PSY 295N Analysis of Behavior: Principles and Classroom Applications. Introduction to behavior modification and operant techniques, including clarification of more commonly used terms, with specific reference to application in the classroom. Overview of procedures and practices that have been successful in schools, communities, and work settings. Field work required. Course available to students enrolled in the cooperative program at the New England Center for Children.
PSY 296N Programmed Learning. Reviews the history and theoretical and experimental bases of programmed instruction and errorless learning. Emphasizes the detailed analysis of stimulus control - its measurement and ways to produce it. Course available to students enrolled in the cooperative program at the New England Center for Children.
PSY 297N Biological Basis of Mental Retardation. Considers the relationship between biological malfunction of the brain in particular and the defective learning ability and other behavioral abnormalities that constitute mental retardation. Aims toward as comprehensive a survey as time permits. Includes actual case presentations as illustrative examples. Course available to students enrolled in the cooperative program at the New England Center for Children.
PSY 396N Systematic Inquiry in Applied Research. Requires each student to collect a comprehensive bibliography on a significant topic in applied behavior research and to complete a thorough review via written and oral presentations. Emphasizes the integration and analysis of experimental findings and theoretical foundations of the research area, the critical evaluation of current research, and the identification of potentially fruitful future work. Course available to students enrolled in the cooperative program at the New England Center for Children.
Note: For Psychology concentrators, the PSY 295, 296, or 396 can count towards the applied psychology concentration requirement and PSY 297 can count towards the biological psychology requirement. All courses designated PSY can count as electives for the concentration in Psychology; EDU395 will count for college credit but not toward the Psychology concentration.