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33 University of the Virgin Islands COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS and SOCIAL SCIENCES Mission Consistent with the mission of the University of the Virgin Islands, The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences seeks to produce students who are self-directed problem solvers with the ability to apply critical thinking to the study of the various disciplines of the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Master of Arts in Psychology - Counseling Concentration Description The Master of Arts in Psychology with a counseling concentration at the University of the Virgin Islands is designed to provide students with the necessary academic knowledge base, problem solving skills, and experiential opportunities to work in a variety of social service and counsel- ing settings. This graduate psychology program prepares practitioners to use the science of psychology for the promotion of human well-being, specifically in the provision of psychologi- cal services to children, adolescents, and families in the mental health and judicial systems, in schools, and in a wide variety of other applied community settings in the territory. The scientist-practitioner model provides the philosophical foundation for the program; and successful students will complete a rigorous theoretical and empirical academic foundation in human development, research methods, testing and measurement in counseling, and psycho- pathology (including the biological influences on human functioning), in addition to completing a significant fieldwork experiential component. Competency in the efficient and effective delivery of comprehensive psychological services to individuals at all developmental levels, and families from all cultural backgrounds in the community is a strong programmatic focus. These services may include vocational and psychological assessment and intervention, substance abuse, depression, suicide and crisis intervention/prevention, and as-needed consultative services for “at-risk” individuals and families to promote and enhance their well-being. Consistent with these goals, the Master of Arts in Psychology program with concentration in counseling at the University of the Virgin Islands is firmly grounded in the priorities and stan- dards advanced by both the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association of Virgin Islands Psychologists (AVIP). Admission Criteria 1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university 2. Undergraduate and graduate grade point average(s) of 2.5 or above, as reported on official transcript(s) mailed from issuing institutions. 3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam general test. 4. Completed application form and nonrefundable application fee. 5. Three letters of recommendation. Ideally, two of these should be from former teachers, and should address the applicant’s ability to perform at the graduate level, as well as relevant experiences he or she has had with the applicant. 6. A written statement of intent. 7. A plan of study approved by both the student’s advisor and the program director should be in place before the student begins formal coursework. In addition, students are required to have completed undergraduate coursework in lifespan human development, biopsychology, personality, and two semesters of statistics/methods. Students lacking sufficient background in these areas will be required to complete the appropri- ate coursework or demonstrate competency within the first year of study after admission to the program. Overview The program of study consists of the following three areas: 34 1. Psychological and Biological Foundations 2. Counseling Foundations and Methodology 3. Interventions and Problem Solving in Psychological Counseling Overall, the Master of Arts in Psychology with a Counseling Concentration comprises a mini- mum of 54 to 60 credits divided as follows: 1. Academic coursework (48 credits) 2. 600 hour supervised internship (6 credits) 3. Option A – Thesis (6 credits) or Option B – Comprehensive Examination Core Courses Credits PSY 503 Classic and Contemporary Approaches to Personality 3 PSY 520 Human Growth and Development throughout the Life Span 3 PSY 530 Research Methods in Applied Settings and Program Evaluation 3 PSY 534 Abnormal Psychology 3 PSY 540 Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice 3 PSY 541 Psychological Counseling: Orientation and Ethics 3 PSY 542 Social and Cultural Contexts of Counseling 3 PSY 550 Drugs and Human Behavior 3 PSY 630 Psychometrics 3 PSY 635 Psychological Testing 3 PSY 640 Psychological Counseling with Individuals 3 PSY 641 Psychological Counseling with Children and Adolescents 3 PSY 642 Psychological Counseling with Groups 3 PSY 643 Family Systems Counseling 3 PSY 644 Community Mental Health Counseling 3 PSY 645 Counseling in Vocational and Career Development 3 PSY 695-696 Internship in Psychology 6 Thesis Students selecting the thesis option register for PSY 697-698 Thesis in Psychology. In order to qualify for registration, students must have: 1. Successfully completed all core coursework. 2. B average in all graduate courses. 3. Approval from the program director as a potential candidate for thesis work, through the evaluation of the quality of graduate work, student workload, and other factors. 4. Submitted a written application one semester before completion of graduate course work, selected a topic, and received the support of a faculty member to be an advisor for the thesis. Comprehensive Examination Students not completing a thesis must pass a comprehensive examination. All core courses must be successfully completed before students can take the comprehensive examination. Master of Public Administration Description Master of Public Administration program (MPA) at the University of the Virgin Islands seeks to increase the accessibility to graduate-level learning of administration at various levels of govern- ment (local, state and federal) as well as non-profit and quasi-governmental organizations. The Graduate Bulletin 35 MPA program is designed to prepare students for leadership and management careers in all levels and functions of government, in community service agencies, non-profit organizations and in the business community. This program consists of required core courses and a range of elective course options. Admission Criteria In addition to meeting the general admission requirements, applicants seeking admission to the Master of Public Administration program must have successfully completed two semesters of Statistics, Quantitative Methods or Economics. Students lacking sufficient background in these areas will be required to complete the appropriate coursework or demonstrate competency within the first year of study after admission into the program. Overview The Master of Public Administration degree program consists of four basic academic requirements: 1. Core courses which are required for graduation. 2. Elective courses with the following options: field of study graduate course, specialization track, thesis and professional career experience 3. A comprehensive examination. The Master of Public Administration program requires a total of 36 credit hours. All MPA candi- dates must take and pass all eight core courses (24 credits) and any four elective courses (12 credits, 6 of which may be the thesis option). Core Requirements Credits PUA 500 Introduction to Public Administration and Public Affairs 3 PUA 520 Administrative Theories and Practices 3 PUA 521 Public Policy and Program Seminar 3 PUA 526 Quantitative Methods for Public Administration 3 PUA 527 Administrative Law 3 PUA 531 Group Processes and Leadership 3 PUA 533 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector 3 PUA 534 Budget Management 3 In completion of the MPA program, students can choose from the core elective or the spe- cialization elective requirements. MPA students must complete four core elective courses (12 credit hours) from the courses listed below. As an elective course option, MPA students are permitted to take one graduate course within a field of study that is relevant and applicable to the discipline of Public Admin- istration. This option requires approval by the MPA Program Director. Core Electives Credits PUA 523 Recent Developments in Public Administration 3 PUA 524 Comparative Administration 3 PUA 528 Labor/Management Relations 3 PUA 532 Government, Business and Society 3 PUA 536 Selected Topics in Public Administration 3 PUA 535 Public Program Development, Project Design and Grantsmanship (Capstone Course) 3 PUA 550 Social Entrepreneurship in the Public & Non-Profit Sector 3 University of the Virgin Islands 36 Credits PUA 540 Administration of Community Policing: Criminal Justice and Homeland Security 3 PUA 541 Criminal Intelligence: Strategic Thinking and Analysis 3 PUA 542 Law and the Legal System 3 PUA 544 Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice 3 PUA 548 Ethics in Public Administration 3 PUA 546 Administrative Public Service Internship 3 PUA 552 Public Relations and Communication in Administration 3 Specialization Elective Course Option in Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Security and Legal Intelligence (CPSLI) This elective option provides an opportunity for students to specialize in the areas of criminal justice, public safety, security and legal intelligence. Students must take any five specialization elective courses (15 credits hours). CPSLI focuses on providing students with an administrative foundation and structure for the justice, security, safety and legal sectors. This specialization will also ground students with strategies and approaches to intelligence gathering and analysis that are necessary for crime prevention/reduction, safety concerns and community policing. As a specialization elective course option, MPA students are permitted to take one graduate course within a field of study that is relevant and applicable to the discipline of public administration and area of specialization. This option requires approval by the MPA program director. Specialization Elective Courses Credits PUA 540 Administration of Community Policing: Criminal Justice and Homeland Security 3 PUA 541 Criminal Intelligence: Strategic Thinking and Analysis 3 PUA 542 Law and the Legal System 3 PUA 544 Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice 3 PUA 548 Ethics in Public Administration 3 PUA 552 Public Relations and Communication in Administration 3 PUA 536 Selected Topics in Public Administration 3 Thesis The thesis will serve as an option to two elective courses, not as an option to the comprehen- sive examination. The thesis will afford those students who so wish an opportunity to explore and express their research and writing abilities. Before signing up for thesis, students must: 1. Have completed 30 graduate credits, including PUA 500, Introduction to Public Administra- tion and Public Affairs, and PUA 526, Quantitative Methods for Public Administration. 2. Have been approved by the coordinator of the MPA program as a potential candidate for thesis work through evaluation of graduate work, student workload, and other factors. 3. Have discussed a potential topic and received the support of a faculty member to be an advisor for the thesis. Students must follow the existing rules pertaining to thesis requirements. Professional Career Experience Option (up to 6 elective credits) The Professional Career Experience option provides students with opportunities for exposure to administrative professional work performance within the field of public administration. This op- tion provides students with a chance to work closely with an instructor and mentor. The option requires students to take PUA 546 (Administrative Public Service Internship). Graduate Bulletin 37 University of the Virgin Islands Administrative Public Service Internship (PUA546) requires a minimum of 300 hours (20 hours per week for 15 weeks) at a public or non-profit organization. Students will be required to ob- tain placement independent of the MPA program. As most internship positions are non-paying, student will be responsible for supplementing their income. With permission from the MPA program director, students will be able to register up to two elective courses within consecutive course terms. MPA Students with a minimum of two years administrative or managerial career experience at a government agency or nonprofit may seek a waiver from the internship requirements. Students desiring such an exemption must be registered for PUA 546 (Administrative Public Service Internship) and submit an internship waiver form and supplementary documents. Please note: Students must contact the MPA director to seek approval for completing the ca- reer experience option. The MPA director will determine eligibility for internship, waiver eligibility and the number of credits and terms that will be awarded to applicant. Comprehensive Examination All candidates must take and pass the MPA comprehensive examination. The examination will be offered during the fall and spring semesters. Students should take the comprehensive examination as scheduled near the end of the semester when all core courses have been completed. Master of Social Work Description The Master of Social Work (MSW) program seeks to prepare professional social workers who are uniquely qualified to understand and meet the needs of underserved individuals, families and communities in the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean diaspora, and passionately advocate for social policies and programs that promote their well-being. Through such professional activities, the social work program contributes to a viable workforce trained in evidence-based and ethical practices that assures a thriving society for generations to come in local, regional and global environments. The MSW program provides a generalist social work education in the first year and a special- ization with children, youth and families in the second year. The overall curriculum is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of trauma-informed practices across the life span from a Caribbean cultural perspective. There is an emphasis on working with populations who have been exposed to intergenerational trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and natural disasters in the territory. Moreover, all of the coursework and field experiences include an explicit focus on social institutions such as child welfare and the needs of people belonging to the Caribbean diaspora. Admission Criteria In addition to meeting the general UVI admission requirements, applicants seeking admission to the MSW Program must meet the following admission criteria: 1. Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional ac- crediting association. Degrees from outside the United States must be recognized through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES), or the degree must be from a program that is covered under a memorandum of under- standing with international social work accreditors. 2. Possess at least a 2.7 (on a 4.00 scale) cumulative undergraduate grade point average as reported on official transcripts from issuing institutions. Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 2.5 will not be considered for admission. 38 3. Completed application form and nonrefundable application fee. 4. Three letters of recommendation. One letter should be from a former professor, and another letter from a professional who can address the applicant’s ability to perform at the graduate level, as well as relevant experiences he or she has had with the applicant. 5. A written personal statement. 6. A resume. 7. Interview: Applicants may be asked to interview with the Admissions Committee before a final decision is reached. Overview The Master of Social Work program requires a total of 61 credit hours. All MSW candidates must take and pass all 15 core courses (45 credits) and 900 hours of supervised field practi- cum experience (16 credits). The core courses include one elective course. In the second year of study, students take spe- cialized courses focused on children, youth and families. Core Requirements: Generalist Practice Credits SWK 510 Social Work as a Profession 3 SWK 511 Lifespan Development and the Social Environment 3 SWK 512 Research and Social Problems 3 SWK 513 Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups 3 SWK 521 Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice 3 SWK 522 Organizations, Neighborhoods and Communities 3 SWK 523 Social Welfare Policy 3 SWK 524 Agency and Community Development 3 Core Requirements: Specialized Practice Credits SWK 531 Specialized Practice I: Child Neglect and Abuse 3 SWK 532 Organizational Policy and Leadership in Human Service Programs 3 SWK 533 Psychopathology and Clinical Interventions 3 SWK 534 Elective 3 SWK 541 Specialized Practice II: Juvenile Delinquency, Prevention, Development, and Intervention 3 SWK 542 Specialized Practice III: Child Welfare 3 SWK 543 Evaluation Research of Social Problems, Services and Interventions 3 Field Practicum Experience In the field practicum courses, students are prepared for post-graduate employment through a series of experiences in community agencies. Students are paired with Field Supervisors who are professionals with at least two years of post-MSW experience. Students have field practicum experiences totaling 900 hours. Activities in the field are sequenced to lead to independent practice, beginning in the initial setting with practice simula- tions and service learning in community agencies, continuing on with shadowing and supervised direct practice. The field experience is integrated across the curriculum, including conducting a research project as part of field practicum experience, and assignments paired to practice courses. The field experience uses closely monitored experiences in community settings to allow stu- dents more direct experience. This approach is designed to increase student readiness for the more specialized upper level practice associated with children, youth and families. Graduate Bulletin 39 Required Practicum Courses: Generalist Practice Credits SWK 514 Foundation Practicum in Caribbean Settings I 3 SWK 525 Foundation Practicum in Caribbean Settings II 3 Required Practicum Courses: Specialized Practice Credits SWK 535 Advanced Practicum in Caribbean Settings I 5 SWK 544 Advanced Practicum in Caribbean Settings II 5 Comprehensive Competency Achievement All candidates must complete and pass all courses and field internship experiences. Through- out the duration of the program, students are evaluated on the CSWE 2015 EPAS competen- cies. Passing the courses and field experiences will ensure achievement of the competency requirement. University of the Virgin Islands