University of Denver - Graduate School of Professional Psychology

About this program

The MA-International Disaster Psychology program is designed for those who wish to provide effective mental health and psychosocial services to individuals and communities in the US and globally who are affected by traumatic events, acute and chronic civil conflict, natural disasters, and health-related pandemics. The two year program is designed to provide training in such areas as international disaster psychology, disaster mental health, trauma interventions, cross-cultural psychology, group interventions, psychopathology and resilience, crisis intervention, loss and grief, clinical interviewing and psychotherapy and refugee mental health. Our program is recognized for 'Innovative Graduate Training' by both the American Psychological Association & the National Council of Schools in Professional Psychology, and is the first master's program of its kind in the nation. We provide foundational skills in clinical psychology combined with the specific skills needed to work in the field of trauma and disaster globally. Our program includes a variety of Denver-based field-placements as well as international internships that are central to our training model of combining theory and practice. 

We have recently launched our in-house training clinic, the Trauma and Disaster Recovery Clinic, serving the larger Denver community. Our students and faculty work together creating a collaborative learning environment that fosters professional development.

• Year partnership began: 2014
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): 2

Application requirements

Application Application fee ($65) Official GRE scores Two-Three letters of recommendation Essay Responses An official transcript from all institutions attended Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Admissions process

General admission process plus proof of acceptance to the Coverdell Fellows program.

Degrees awarded

Master of Arts - International Disaster Psychology

Benefits and opportunities

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $13,500

Cost savings details

The cost savings is awarded to admitted applicants and is spread out over the course of the 2-year program.

Internship

Community Based Field-Placement: During fall, winter, and spring terms of both their first and second years, students are required to complete community field-placements and supervision in the Denver area. A variety of field-placement sites are available, including local non-governmental and state agencies providing direct mental health care, case management, policy and grant writing, disaster planning and preparedness,and disaster relief services. Agencies serve diverse, underserved populations and age-groups, including refugee and low-SES individuals, many of whom have been affected by trauma and disaster. Students spend a minimum of ten hours a week at their placement. 

International Internship: During the summer between the first and second year of enrollment, students engage in an 8-week international internship, providing a rich opportunity to apply theory to practice in the global context. International internships are arranged by the program with non-governmental and governmental agencies whose missions focus on a variety of mental health and psychosocial issues relevant to the needs of individuals and communities affected by disaster and trauma. While the locations of our internships vary each summer, in recent years students have interned in Ghana, Liberia, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Nepal, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Panama and Belize.

Other opportunities

All applicants are considered for work-study, departmental scholarship options, and possible graduate assistantship options.

Jobs for alumni

Our graduates work in a variety of professional settings providing direct services to populations affected by trauma including refugees and trafficking victims and other who experience grief and trauma, training and consulting with community, non-governmental and government agencies to promote psychosocial wellness of affected populations, developing emergency preparedness and response plans, and monitoring and evaluating psychosocial interventions. With comprehensive and specialized training in this emerging field of international disaster psychology, our students are prepared to make a difference in the world. Please also check out our alumni directory to learn more: http://www.du.edu/gspp/alumni/maidp_name.html

Example employers include, but are not limited to: 

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Administration for Children and Families
• Office of Refugee Resettlement U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Population
• Refugees and Migration Center for Disaster and Extreme Preparedness 
• Peace Corp 
• Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 
• African Community Center Agency 
• New Orleans Aurora Mental Health Disaster Team 
• Children's Hospitals Eating Recovery Centers 
• Johns Hopkins School of Public Health 
• Jewish Family Services 
• Juvenile Assessment Centers 
• National Center for Traumatic Stress Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response 
• SAMHSA-DTAC Veteran's Administration Medical Center
• International Medical Corps 
• International Mental Health Psychosocial Programs Family & Children Services 
• Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners Office of Behavioral Health

Nontraditional options