Psychophysiology, M.S.

Core Degree and Requirements

Applied Psychophysiology is the sub-specialty of psychophysiology which uses knowledge of the biological bases of various behaviors in conjunction with numerous psychological techniques to help people moderate illness-related symptoms and optimize their behavior in the sports, educational, and business environments.

Applied Psychophysiologists are professionals who develop and use behavioral assessments and interventions based on such areas as behavioral genetics, hormonal influence on behavior, individual differences in perception, and abnormal physiological patterns. They assist clients in recognizing and altering problems caused by these biological underpinnings. Common psychophysiological intervention techniques include biofeedback, relaxation training, hypnosis, neurofeedback, and stress management among others.

The Department of Psychophysiology, within the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences at Saybrook University, provides a Master of Science in Psychophysiology to prepare graduates to enter doctoral programs in psychophysiology and to pursue careers in a professional practice informed by a scientific understanding of mind and body. 

This master’s degree program teaches students to assess and assist (a) reasonably well functioning people to perform better through behavioral control of their physiological systems, and (b) people with ailments caused by moderate dysfunctional patterns in their physiological systems.  Students in our program learn to be research-oriented professionals, who use knowledge of the biological bases of behavior to assess their clients’ behavioral and physical problems and then correct them through physiologically-oriented behavioral interventions. The degree takes 2 - 3 years to complete including the completion of a research based thesis. Students attend three in-person meetings each year they are enrolled in the program. Each is about five days long. Two of the meetings are Saybrook University-based residential conferences and one is the annual meeting of the field’s professional society The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.

The 37 credit masters of science in psychophysiology degree is intended for people with undergraduate degrees who need basic skills in psychophysiology and associated areas in order to either (a) become proficient in the basics of psychophysiology to enter fields such as optimal functioning, or (b) transition into Saybrook’s applied psychophysiology doctoral program. Typical required and elective courses include Foundations of Psychophysiology; Psychophysiological Recording, Assessment and Intervention; Basic Hypnosis; Optimal Functioning; Basic Biofeedback; Basic Neurofeedback; Psychophysiological Research; and Basic Bioscience. Students cannot take courses given in the doctoral program except as required courses or those fulfilling the elective requirement.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Assess and appraise knowledge of the biological basis of behavior and accurately relate and interpret behavioral dysfunctions to underlying biological dysfunctions.
    
2. Evaluate and interpret psychophysiological recording methodology and set, monitor, recognize and consistently perform correct recordings utilizing psychophysiological equipment.
    
3. Create, organize, and conduct independent psychophysiological research studies utilizing accepted design and analysis techniques so that students recognize common mistakes in published studies involving design and analysis and can teach others how to do so.
    
4. Explain and assess the physiological and stress responses underlying both behavioral and physiological sequences impacting optimal functioning, in order to design and conduct appropriate training utilizing psychophysiologically based techniques to optimize functioning in business, education, sports, and (when appropriately licensed) clinical environments.
    
5. Explain and integrate ethical principles and professional practice standards, as promulgated by the field’s professional organizations, within the field of applied psychophysiology.

Degree Requirements

• Core Curriculum

• RES 1500 - Research Literacy for Practitioners 3 credit(s) *
• APH 5121 - Methodology in Psychophysiological Research 3 credit(s)
• APH 5122 - Data Analysis in Psychophysiological Research 3 credit(s)
• APH 4101 - Essentials of Bioscience 3 credit(s)
• APH 4201 - Essentials of Pathopsychology 3 credit(s)
• MBM 5500 - Ethics in Healthcare 3 credit(s)
• APH 5051 - Fundamentals of Psychophysiology 3 credit(s)
• APH 5622 - Basic Training and Education in Biofeedback 3 credit(s)
• APH 5101 - Psychophysiological Recording, Assessment, and Interventions 3 credit(s)
• APH 5515 - Graduate Colloquium 1 credit(s)
• APH 4514 - Master’s Thesis 3 credit(s)

• Foundational Course Requirements

• (The skills may be attained through prior course work or review classes)

• APH 5001 - General Biology 1 credit(s)
• APH 5002 - General Psychology 1 credit(s)
• MBM 5507 - Graduate Level Academic Writing 3 credit(s) (only if needed)

• Elective Course Requirement

• The two elective requirement can be satisfied by a transfer course or a course offered by

• the Department of Psychophysiology such as optimal functioning in the sports environment.

• Total Other Elective Courses: 6 credit(s)