Courses Available
The Detroit Initiative offers three undergraduate psychology courses.
These classes are also cross-listed with American Culture.
Fall Term: Empowering Families and Communities
Winter Term: Community Research
Spring Term: Practicum in the Multi-Cultural Community
Summer Term: Practicum in the Multi-Cultural Community
Each class contains an internship
component, where students spend 2-4 hours each week working with
a community-based organization in Detroit. At these sites, students
participate in such activities as tutoring or supervising children
in after-school or summer programs, working on community education
projects or on community research projects, and even doing outreach
into the community. Internships are well supervised by the instructor
and program staff, as well as by a staff person at the community-based
organization.
Please click here for a complete list of
courses.
Independent Study
Do you have a talent, skill, or interest that you’d like to share with others? Are you interested in community research or program development?
Independent Study courses are a great way to stay involved in the Detroit Initiative, while developing your skills and sharing these skills or interests with community organizations. Students may design their independent study according to their interests, or work with one of our Community Partners to design an independent study that benefits an individual community organization.
Independent Study courses also provide opportunities for students to develop and apply their research skills. Students may work with UM-DI faculty or staff, or a community partner, to develop a research project that is both interesting and benefits the community.
Psychology 404 and 405/Amcrican Culture 388: Field Practica: Credit/No Credit
American Culture 389: Reading Course in American Culture
Psychology 323: Field Practicum in Research Techniques: Credit/No Credit
Psychology 200: Independent Study in Psychological Issues (1-4 credits). graded
Psychology 327: Faculty Directed Early Research for Psychology as a Social Science (1-4 credits). Graded.
Psychology 423: Faculty Directed Advanced Research for Psychology as a Social Science (1-6 credits) Graded.
Please check the web page on Independent study courses for more information on enrolling on these courses.
Work-Study
The Detroit Initiative has several projects that employ students
eligible for Work-Study. Some of these projects are research based,
and others are geared toward service learning. Either way, the Detroit
Initiative work-study positions are challenging, interesting, and
fun. UM-DI work-study opportunities are changing all the time, but
in the past students have worked with community technology projects,
on community based research projects, and assisted with administrative
aspects of the UM-DI.
Skills & Abilities gained through
working with the UM-DI:
| Gathering information |
|
Technology |
|
Teaching |
|
| Literature reviews |
|
Prevention/Intervention |
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Facilitating groups |
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| Working with research subjects |
|
Cultural Arts |
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Cultural competence |
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| Compiling/Recording data |
|
Youth |
|
Flexibility |
|
| Data analysis |
|
Community-based |
|
Empowerment |
|
| Evaluating research results |
|
After-school programs |
|
Teamwork |
|
| |
|
Faith-based programs |
|
Spanish Language Skills |
|
| |
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Grant-writing |
|
|
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Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)
Students may choose one or more research activities to become involved
with during the academic year. Please see the UROP project book
for a description of community-based research projects available
through the Detroit Initiative
Graduate School or Career Preparation
| Social Work |
Community Based Organizations |
| Public Health |
Educational settings |
| Urban Planning |
Sports or Recreational Programs |
| Public Policy |
Human Services |
| Clinical/Community Psychology |
Technology and Training |
MSW Internships
The Detroit Initiative has many MSW internship opportunities. MSW
students studying Community Organizing, Management of Human Services,
or Social Policy and Evaluation from the Communities and Social
Systems or Children & Youth practice areas will find excellent
field placement opportunities with the Detroit Initiative. The Detroit
Initiative offers individual and group supervision to MSW students,
who will find excellent support, guidance, and resources within
the Detroit Initiative. For more information about Detroit Initiative
Field Placement opportunities, please see Projects
of the Detroit Initiative.
