Web address: www.newpaltz.edu/idmh
The Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) supports a SUNY New Paltz interdisciplinary undergraduate minor in disaster studies. The minor focuses on events of natural, technological and human-induced origin and on how these affect individuals, communities, organizations, and the nation. It is designed to recognize the multi-disciplinary nature of both research and practice in disaster studies. Courses highlight scholarship and practice related to disaster and trauma mitigation and prevention, response, support, recovery, treatment, and policy formulation and planning, as well as the implications of these events at the individual, group, organizational and community level. Those completing the minor will become certified responders for the American Red Cross.
Interdisciplinary Minor in Disaster Studies (18 credits)
I. Required core courses.........................................6 credits
DIS333 Disaster Psychology (3)
DIS492 Practicum in Disaster Response (3)
Practicum will emphasize preparation, crisis intervention, and response to potential emergencies and disasters. Students will spend eight (8) hours per week in the field at a designated site. Under advisement, students will have the opportunity to give service to the American Red Cross or to the county or New York State Emergency Management offices. All students will meet as a group with the practicum coordinator for discussion and group supervision. During practicum it is expected that students will make themselves available for emergency response in the event of a local disaster.
II. Additional core courses.......................................9 credits
Students are encouraged to complete at least one core course that focuses on
developing multicultural competence.
Choose at least three (3) courses from Category II:
ANT214 Principles of Cultural Anthropology (3)
BLK100 Introduction to Black Studies (3)
BLK271 Black Sociology (3)
BLK285 Introduction to African Psychology: A Cultural Approach (3)
GEO201 Human Geography (3)
GEO231 Geography of Hazards (3)
The following Category II courses have prerequisites or restrictions:
ANT403 Religion and Culture (3)
CMM359 Communication Among Cultures (3)
GEO341 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3)
POL301 State & Local Politics (3)
POL310 Public Management (3)
POL319 Politics and Media (3)
PSY332 Mental Health Professions (3)
PSY384 Health Psychology (3)
PSY392 Internship (3) - repeatable course
PSY394 Crisis Intervention (3)
SOC350 Introduction to Human Services (3)
III. Elective courses...............................................3 credits
Choose at least one (1) course from the Category III list below or one
additional course from Category II above.
BUS250 Principles of Management (3)
CMM202 Interpersonal Communication (3)
SOC220 Social Inequality in the U.S. (3)
The following Category III courses have prerequisites or restrictions:
BLK420 Counseling Underrepresented Students (3)
CMM358 Conflict Management (3)
PSY221 Social Psychology (3)
SOC323 Death in American Society (3)
SOC370 Sociology of Families (3)
SOC431 Mass Media and Culture (3)
