Multicultural Concentration Competencies

1. Cultural Awareness and Knowledge of Self and Others

Students demonstrate awareness of how dimensions of culture and identity influence the beliefs, values, and assumptions of themselves and others, which consequently shape perceptions and interpersonal interactions.  Students should also be familiar with theory and research related to multicultural psychology and diversity issues.

2. Culturally Appropriate Skills in Applied Psychological Practices

Students incorporate cultural awareness and knowledge into psychological skills in a variety of settings, including clinical, school, consulting and organizational settings.[node:summary]

3. Research

Students are able to design and conduct research using methodology that incorporates issues of culture and diversity, as well as to critically evaluate research with respect to multicultural issues.

4. Organizational Change, Program Planning, and Policy Development

Students are engaged in activities that promote diversity in organizations, including GSAPP, and facilitate the development of culturally informed policies. 

Requirements 

A.  Practicum Activities (Required)
Student should be involved with at least 3 of the following 7 activities in practica. These can be done over several practica amounting to a total length of time of one year.

1. Psychological interventions with individuals, groups, families, couples from diverse backgrounds (e.g. age, SES, ethnicity, race, sexuality, etc)
2. Assessments with individuals, groups, families, couples from diverse backgrounds (e.g. age, SES, ethnicity, race, sexuality, etc)
3. Participate in didactic presentations on cultural competence
4. Supervision incorporating cultural competence
5. Outreach with culturally diverse groups
6. Provide consultation/training to other professionals around cultural issues
7. Plan, development, or evaluate programs to provide culturally informed psychological services

This practicum must be supervised by a professional with appropriate credentials and experience and is subject to approval by the Multicultural Concentration Program Faculty Sponsors based on a brief student proposal of the practicum. 
B.  Multicultural Supervision Course: 2 Semesters (Required)
Two semesters, one class meeting per week.  The supervision will allow for case presentations and peer supervision of individual, couple, and/or group cases seen at various practica. 
C.  Courses (Required)

1. Core courses currently required for all GSAPP students -- choice of one of the following:
   1. Psychological Interventions With Ethnic Minority Clients and Families
   2. Diversity and Racial Identity
   3. Psychodynamic Therapy With Diverse Populations
   4. Treatment At-Risk Ethnic Minority Adolescents in Clinics and Schools 
       
2. Systems Theory & Analysis (required of all students)
    
3. Choice of one of the following (not including one that has already been covered above)
   1. Psychological Interventions With Ethnic Minority Clients and Families
   2. Diversity and Racial Identity
   3. Psychodynamic Therapy With Diverse Populations
   4. Gender And Psychotherapy, and Gay, Lesbian And Bisexual Issues (2 courses for total of 3 credits)
   5. Program Planning and Evaluation
   6. Integrative Perspectives on Trauma
   7. Treatment At-Risk Ethnic Minority Adolescents in Clinics and Schools
   8. Crisis Intervention

*In addition, students are encouraged to obtain didactic instruction outside of GSAPP courses through attendance at conferences (e.g. Teacher's College Winter Roundtable, Boston Culture Conference, GSAPP Culture Conference).
D.  Multicultural Dissertation or Research (Required)
A multicultural psychology dissertation or research experience is required to build students' competency in multicultural research, which is one of the four major competencies of the concentration. The research experience may be met via a literature review on a multicultural topic, and the review can be done as part of a course requirement, such as the term paper for the Diversity and Racial Identity course. Or, the research experience may be met via participation in a research project with a faculty member or supervisor who has a multicultural focus. A dissertation should include a topic that is related to multicultural issues and be approved by the Multicultural Faculty Sponsors. 
E.  Organizational Change and Policy Development (Recommended)
Students are encouraged to apply their knowledge and skills in promoting culturally informed organizational practices and policies.  This may be done through various activities, such as taking on leadership roles in Student Groups at GSAPP, participating in the Committee on Diversity, or planning and evaluating programs around diversity, developing and implementing projects or policies related to culture and diversity at GSAPP, in their practica, or in their workplace. 
F.  Further Learning (Recommended) 
Students are encouraged to engage in further learning by:

• Immersion in foreign language
• Participation in research projects involving multicultural issues
• Community service/volunteer work