Program Requirements

GSPP is proud to offer the MA in International Disaster Psychology and is currently accepting applications for fall 2007 enrollment. The program requirements, coursework, and policies described below are subject to change. The information provided in these pages is for informational purposes only.

Master’s Program Design

The program is designed to be completed in seven academic quarters over two years. The University of Denver is on a quarter system, and students must attend fall, winter, and spring quarters of their first year and fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters of their second year. The program focuses on three knowledge and skill areas and provides the necessary training for an individual to work as a Master’s level mental health professional in agency and institutional settings or under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist. Training will cover trauma, multicultural issues, international law, and psychological interventions.

Master’s Program Requirements

All students are required to successfully complete all courses, consisting of 90 quarter hours of coursework The two year course of study is designed to provide training in the areas of: international law, trauma, multicultural issues, group dynamics.

During the two year full-time study, students are also required to complete 18 credit hours of community field placement and supervision. Students must spend a minimum of eight hours a week at their placement. Students will be required to travel abroad during summer quarter of their second year to gain international field experience. Students will be responsible for their own travel expenses.

Master’s Project

Students will be required to complete a Master’s Project as a prerequisite for graduation. The Master’s Project is a paper, either theoretical or research based in which students must incorporate their international experience into an academic paper of publishable quality.

International Field Experience

During the summer of the second year of enrollment, students will be required to participate in an international field experience. Currently, students will travel to either South Africa or Bosnia. Students in the program must have the ability to travel outside the United States, and may have to submit to criminal background checks. Students currently have to fund their own travel expenses, but housing is provided. During the international experience, students will work with local populations and be supervised on site.