Overview

The major in Community and Applied Psychological Studies (CAPS) focuses on the promotion of healthy development and well-being. It prepares students to work with people in multiple contexts and settings:

  • health and human services
  • schools, universities, and community programs
  • government and non-government agencies
  • grass-roots movements
  • socially responsible business and entrepreneurial organizations

By exploring the scholarly and practical interconnections among individualinterpersonalsocial, and community approaches to change, students learn to identify barriers to well-being and to implement effective change-oriented strategies and policies. CAPS coursework emphasizes theoryresearchand skills. It culminates in a practicum in a setting related to students’ area of interest and prepares them for both graduate studies and careers.

CAPS students must declare an approved second major or a minor either in the School of Education or through any other school or college.

Curriculum Requirements

Community and Applied Psychological Studies

Major Requirements 39-42 Credits
EPS 201Psychosocial Change and Well-being3
EPS 270Lifespan Human Development3
EPS 291Community and Character Development3
EPS 311Group Processes and Development3
EPS 321Understanding Human Service Organizations3
EPS 361Community Psychology and Development3
EPS 371Applied Social Research Methods3
EPS 411The Psychology of Diversity (Or EPS 412, EPS 430 to fulfill the diversity requirement)3
or EPS 412 Migration, Well Being, and Human Development
or EPS 430 Creating Belonging Through Dialogue
EPS 440Listening and Helping Skills.3
EPS 452Community Program Development and Evaluation3
EPS 578Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum3-6
EPS 579Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum Seminar3
And choose (1) course from EPS electives list: EPS 280, EPS 306, EPS 340, EPS 365, EPS 411, EPS 412, EPS 420, EPS 430, EPS 462, MGT 304, EPS 504, EPS 5873
General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
Quantitative Skills:
EPS 351Introduction to Statistics and Research Design 13
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
STEM Cognate9
Other Required Courses
MTH 101Algebra for College Students (or elective)3
Minor15
General Electives36
Total Credit Hours120
1

This course fulfills the Quantitative Skills requirement.

Suggested Plan of Study

Community and Applied Psychological Studies

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
EPS 201 Psychosocial Change and Well-being 3
EPS 270 Lifespan Human Development 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
MTH 101 Algebra for College Students (or elective) 3
UMX 100 The University of Miami Experience 0
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EPS 311 Group Processes and Development 3
CAPS Elective 3
STEM Cognate 3
WRS 106 First-Year Writing II 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Two
Fall
EPS 291 Community and Character Development 3
EPS 361 Community Psychology and Development 3
EPS 351 Introduction to Statistics and Research Design 3
Minor Course 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EPS 321 Understanding Human Service Organizations 3
EPS 411, 412,
The Psychology of Diversity (or EPS 412, EPS 430)
or Migration, Well Being, and Human Development
or Creating Belonging Through Dialogue
3
Minor Course 3
Minor Course or General Elective 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Three
Fall
EPS 371 Applied Social Research Methods 3
A&H Cognate 3
Minor Course 3
Minor Course 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EPS 440 Listening and Helping Skills. 3
Minor Course 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall
EPS 452 Community Program Development and Evaluation 3
Free Elective 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
EPS 578 Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum 6
EPS 579 Community and Applied Psychological Studies Practicum Seminar 3
Minor Elective (if needed)  
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120

Mission

The major in Community and Applied Psychological Studies (CAPS) seeks to train leading thinkers, professionals, and future scholars in the pursuit of innovative, scientific, and practical approaches to the promotion of healthy development and well-being. Students are exposed to scholarly and applied knowledge bases regarding the interconnectedness of personal, interpersonal, institutional, and community change, barriers to healthy development and well-being at these levels, and strategies and policies that promote well-being in individuals, families, and communities.

Goals

The CAPS major prepares students to enter competitive graduate programs and to work with people in multiple contexts and settings, including: 

  • health and human services
  • schools, universities, and community programs
  • government and non-government agencies
  • grass-roots movements
  • socially responsible corporations.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the field including intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, and community development and well-being; common barriers to well-being at various ecological levels; and strategies to promote healthy development and well-being in individuals, institutions, and communities.
  • Students will demonstrate reflective and critical thinking skills.
  • Students will demonstrate superior and skillful writing proficiency using language and grammar accurately, efficiently and effectively.