Violence Prevention & Response

Certificate Program Director: Marc Pilisuk, Ph.D.

The last 30 years have seen an upswing in violence - and in new efforts to keep it away from our cities, families, schools, and communities. But what violence prevention methods really work? How can they best be implemented? Answer these questions and gain practical experience making this world a more peaceful place.

This certificate combines practical intervention skills with an understanding of the psychological and social roots of violence and its counterpart, nonviolence. Students in this area may choose specialization in a particular area of violence (e.g., domestic violence, youth violence) or they may examine the issue of violence prevention more broadly.

The Practical Value of a Certificate in Violence Prevention and Response

This certificate is designed for professionals (e.g., police officers, nurses, doctors, psychotherapists, teachers, educational administrators, consultants, judges, social workers, etc.), paraprofessionals (e.g., those working in the courts on a paraprofessional basis), and community activists who desire to work to create effective strategies for identifying, reducing, and/or eliminating violence in a variety of settings. Completion of this certificate will enable potential employers or other organizations to identify you as someone who has specialized, graduate level knowledge in the area of violence prevention and response.

Certificate Description

The certificate's lead faculty member will help students choose a meaningful set of courses for meeting their educational goals. The Violence Prevention Certificate at Saybrook requires 16 units of coursework, including four three-credit courses, a professional practicum, and an integrative or capstone paper. Required Courses: STR 6510, 6515, 6530, and one approved elective

Practicum

A three-credit practicum equivalent to one month of full-time effort is required. While each learner is responsible for creating his or her own practicum, Saybrook faculty members are available to provide ideas and guidance. The practicum must be directly involved with violence prevention or response to a specific issue.

Integrative Paper or Project

The final activity in the certificate program is the writing of a culminating paper that integrates and advances the learning gained from the four courses and the practicum.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this certificate, students will:

• Have enhanced capacity to design violence prevention programs, guide successful intervention efforts, and conduct program evaluation research on these problems
• Understand theories about the origins of violence and non-violence
• Be familiar with theories of the origin of youth violence and intimate partner violence and be able to critically evaluate them
• Have a clear understanding of how different interventions relate to specific theories of violence
• Appreciate the cultural, ethical, political, economic and psychological aspects of the perpetration of violence and abuse

Learning/Teaching Approach

Learning will take place through an individualized advising format. The director of the certificate will work with students to plan their courses and to help guide them in developing a professional practicum. For their courses, students will work one-on-one with instructors on a reading list and will write three essays for each course.

The professional practicum is planned with a advisor. The practicum is tailored to the professional needs of the student. For example, the practicum may involve hands-on training and practice in domestic violence counseling or working in a school violence prevention program with a specialized community-based organization or public health or social service agency.

The final part of the certificate is an integrative paper. Its purpose is to give the learner an opportunity to draw together the most important aspects of the four courses and the practicum experience, to assess strengths and identify further learning needs, and to develop a specific plan for continuing personal and professional development in the area of violence prevention and response.