Program Overview

MA International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health

The Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health program trains graduate students to become highly competent and committed mental health professionals. The program provides master's-level training in general clinical psychology, with specialized knowledge and experience in the trauma, disaster, and global mental health fields.

Program Overview

The program meets a clear need for specialized knowledge and experience to work in the trauma, disaster, and global mental health fields. Students provide mental health services, train and consult with agencies, develop emergency preparedness and response plans, and monitor and evaluate psychosocial interventions domestically and abroad. Students also develop a background in global mental health, a field that focuses on methods for increasing the mental health workforce in low-resource communities, addressing stigma regarding mental illness and mental health care, and expanding beyond treatment models that are based on a Western understanding of disease and recovery.

Areas of Instruction & Training

Students take courses consistent with a Clinical Psychology Master's Program, including:

• Ethics
• Clinical Interviewing
• Psychopathology & Diagnosis
• Lifespan Development
• Group Interventions
• Psychotherapeutic Models
• Substance Abuse
• Psychobiology
• Family Therapy
• Research Methods
• Statistics
• Multiculturalism and Diversity In addition, students have specialized coursework in the following areas:
• Trauma interventions
• Disaster Mental Health
• Gender-Based violence
• Crisis intervention
• Grief and Loss
• Program Evaluation
• Global Mental Health
• Cross-Cultural Analysis
• Intercultural Practice
• Public Policy
• Assessment

Program Structure

The program includes an integrated academic and practicum curriculum that provides students with expertise to pursue a variety of career options in the mental health field domestically and abroad.

• Designed to be completed in 7 quarters over 2 years
• Includes 90 quarter hours of course work
• Local practicums & an international internship
• Experience in our campus-based community clinic

Faculty

The program is led by a team of experienced faculty, including:

• Judy Fox, PhD, Professor and former director of the Master's Program in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health
• Tiamo Tamale, PhD, Clinical Professor and Director of the Trauma Disaster Recovery Clinic
• Gwen Mitchell, PsyD, Associate Professor and Co-Director
• Laura Ramzy, PhD, Assistant Professor
• Bryan Rojas-Araúz, PhD, Assistant Professor
• Maria Vukovich, PhD, Associate Research Professor and Co-Director

International Internship

During the summer between their first and second year, students spend eight weeks applying theory to practice in the global context. International internships are arranged by MAIDP with organizations whose missions focus on a variety of mental health and psychosocial issues relevant to individuals and communities affected by disaster and trauma.

Interdisciplinary Global Mental Health Innovation

IGMHI provides community-engaged, culturally responsive, trauma-informed services to support communities worldwide facing adversity and trauma related to climate change, armed conflict, crises, migration, human rights, and violence.

Practicums

Our program offers more than a hundred practicum options in the Denver metro area and greater front range.

Community Resources

The Trauma & Disaster Recovery Clinic at DU provides comprehensive psychological services to alleviate the effects of traumatic experiences and foster resilience as well as personal, family, and community growth.

Peace Corps Fellows

We are proud to partner with the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program to support returning Peace Corps volunteers to continue their dedication to community service while developing essential professional skills.

• Benefits for returned Peace Corps volunteers:
  • Application fee waiver
• Scholarship Information: GSPP has one Coverdell Fellowship to award per year.
• Eligibility and requirements: Applicants must indicate in the online admission application to the program that they are a returned Peace Corps volunteer and wish to be considered for a Coverdell Fellowship and upload a copy of their official Description of Service from the Peace Corps.

Admission Requirements

We invite you to learn more about our program's application requirements and deadlines.

APA Accreditation

The Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health (MAIDP) at the University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) of the American Psychological Association (APA) for master's-level education and training in health service psychology.

• Initial Accreditation Date: April 24, 2024 Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association.