Diversity Concentration in Graduate Study in Psychology
Approved 1/07 by the Graduate Executive Committee
This minor allows students to document some expertise in cultural diversity, sexual minorities, and gender studies. The diversity concentration is open across program areas and specific coursework is individually determined by supervisory committees within the guidelines set forth for the concentration. The list of courses is updated regularly by the Sarata Committee on Diversity and changes can be recommended to that committee by any graduate student or faculty member. Students can track their progress towards the Graduate Diversity Minor requirements (outlined below) using this worksheet.
Goals:
1. Promote diversity training and research among faculty and graduate students,
2. Attract a wider range of students into the applicant pools for the graduate programs.
3. Allow students to document their work on their CV to make them more competitive for post-docs, jobs and clinical internship.
Requirements:
The Diversity Concentration consists of extended study in areas of psychology and related fields dealing with cultural diversity, gender, and/or sexual orientation. It is expected that students primarily focus on one of these three areas but it is possible to combine areas such as focusing on ethnic minority women. Students are expected to complete 15 credit hours and a comprehensive exam. The 15 credit hours would be drawn from the courses on the attached list. Occasionally, courses not on the list can be used, at the discretion of the supervisory committee. Usually this will occur when a special topics course is offered. (Please alert the chair of the Sarata Committee on Diversity if a course not on the list is used to determine whether it should be added.) At least 6 hours must be from outside of the Department of Psychology and at least 6 hours must be inside the Department of Psychology. No more than 6 hours can be readings courses. No more than 6 hours can be at less than the 900 level. The student’s proposed list of courses must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee with consultation from the chair of the Sarata Committee on Diversity and form a meaningful plan of study. Typically this will occur as part of the supervisory committee meeting in which the doctoral plan of studies is approved. The comprehensive exam consists of an oral presentation, such as a colloquium, or brown bag presentation. The format and content of the presentation should be consistent with the student’s overall educational program (e.g., a research talk for psychologists, a lecture/teaching demonstration for an advanced undergraduate class, a clinical workshop). Details of the presentation must be approved by the supervisory committee within the following guidelines.
1. The presentation must demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge in the area of the minor.
2. The presentation must demonstrate integrative or creative work appropriate for the doctoral level. This could include presentation of original research, critical analyses of an important theory or problem, or synthesis and integration of the existing literature, for example.
3. The presentation must be open to the entire faculty and graduate students of the Department and be widely advertised in the Department.
4. The student must provide a written record of the presentation (e.g., annotated PowerPoint slides) to the faculty evaluating the comprehensive exam.
5. At least 2 members of the supervisory committee (or 2 faculty in the Department of Psychology that they designate) must be present for the entire presentation and provide a brief written evaluation to the student and the supervisory committee that includes a recommendation of whether the comprehensive exam is passed. These two faculty members may seek the input of other faculty who are present. At the discretion of the supervisory committee, a paper of appropriate depth and scope can be substituted for the presentation.