Risk and Prevention

Curriculum

The Risk and Prevention (R&P) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education consists of two programs focused on the promotion of healthy child and adolescent development:

1. A master's degree (Ed.M.)
2. An elective Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS)

The R&P master's program is a self-contained program that trains prevention specialists in effective interventions to reduce risk and increase resiliency among urban youth. The Ed.M. program can also serve as a foundation year for those who wish to pursue adjustment or school counseling licensure in the Certificate of Advanced Study program. Each of the two programs requires one year of full-time study: 8 courses (32 credits).

Risk & Prevention Courses 2007-2008

Degrees Offered

• Ed.M.
• C.A.S.

Master's in Education (Ed.M.), Risk and Prevention

The Risk and Prevention Master's Degree Program is dedicated to the practical application of contemporary research on risk, resilience, prevention programming, and counseling for children and adolescents in both school and community settings. R&P is uniquely interdisciplinary, drawing from urban education, developmental and applied psychology, public health, and non-profit program development and evaluation. Students explore a wide range of issues, including the influences of early attachment, violence and trauma, gender and sexuality, resilience, and motivational factors as they relate to educational and psychological processes and prevention practices. The heart of the program is a year-long practicum (school or community setting) or research experience sequence. Our approach considers risk and resilience within the cultural contexts in which they occur, with a focus on constructing developmental approaches to prevention, intervention, and counseling that honor cultural diversity. Special emphasis is placed on the roles that relationships play in the processes that foster resilience and recovery.

Ed.M. Requirements

Of the 8 courses required for the Risk & Prevention Program, students must enroll in:

H-331 Risk and Resilience in Social Contexts from Birth to Young Adulthood: Strategies of Prevention and Intervention (fall, 4 credits)

AND

One of the following year-long practice or research:

1. Childhood Practicum (year-long, 8 credits)

• H-380A Childhood Pre-Practicum I: Developmental Interventions for Children in
  School and Community Settings: Frameworks for Counseling and Prevention
• H-380B Childhood Practicum II: Developmental Interventions for Children in School and Community Settings: Frameworks for Counseling and Prevention

2. Adolescent Practicum (year-long, 8 credits)

• H-381A Adolescent Pre-Practicum: Developmental Interventions for Adolescents in School and Community Settings: Frameworks for Counseling and Prevention
• H-381B Childhood Adolescent Practicum: Developmental Interventions for
  Adolescents in School and Community Settings: Frameworks for Consultation,
  Leadership, and Systemic Change

3. Research – Childhood (8 credits)

• H-396 Research Experience in Risk and Prevention: Childhood Focus (year-long, 4 credits)
• S-005 Introduction to Educational Research (fall, 4 credits)

4. Research – Adolescent (8 credits)

• H-397 Research Experience in Risk and Prevention: Adolescent Focus (year-long, 4 credits)
• S-005 Introduction to Educational Research (fall, 4 credits)

The year-long practicum courses (385KB pdf) are 8 credits and include the site placement and the connected didactic course. The placements require a commitment of 16 hours per week.

The year-long research experience courses are 4 credits. If you are using the research experience to fulfill your program requirements then you must also take S-005 Introduction to Educational Research in the fall. The research placements require a commitment of 8 hours per week.

Although Risk & Prevention students may choose from a variety of courses offered at the schools of Harvard University, drawing from a multidisciplinary base including the fields of education, psychology, law and public health, at least 16 credits (four courses) must be earned from HGSE courses.

Certificate of Advanced Study in Risk & Prevention Counseling (C.A.S.)

A Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) in counseling is offered to graduates of the Risk and Prevention master's program who wish to meet initial Massachusetts licensure requirements in adjustment/school social work or school guidance counseling. A 20-hour-per-week advanced practicum in an educational or community setting is offered to provide licensure-based training opportunities. Massachusetts maintains reciprocal agreements for these licenses with many other states. For more information on licensing including links to resources, visit the licensure page.

The CAS consists of two semesters of full-time coursework (32 credits) structured explicitly to meet either adjustment/school social work or guidance counseling licensure requirements. Because the CAS is designed explicitly as the second year of a two-year licensure-based education and training sequence within the Risk and Prevention Program, applications will be accepted only from students who have graduated with the R&P master's degree. Alumni who apply for the CAS should note that adjustment/school social work licensure requires two academic years of practicum training. Program directors are available to offer individual advice to alumni applicants.

CAS Requirements

All counseling students must complete two years of study (64 credits) within Risk and Prevention: the first-year counseling track leading to the master's degree followed by the second CAS year. Both guidance and adjustment/school social work students are required to complete the Risk and Prevention core course, the prepracticum course (adolescent or childhood), and a first-year 450-clock hour practicum, as well as required courses in individual counseling, group counseling, career counseling, multicultural counseling, cognitive/psychological assessment, and research. Additional requirements for adjustment/school social work counseling students include a 600-clock hour advanced practicum and two additional courses (in psychopathology and professional ethics). Guidance counseling students are strongly urged to participate in the advanced practicum, especially if they wish to practice in another state (for example, California requires two years of practicum experience for school guidance licensure).

Each course = 4 credits
Each year requires 32 credits

*Must be taken in the designated year. All other courses for guidance or adjustment can be taken in either first or second year.

Year 1: Ed.M. 32 credits

Year 2: C.A.S. 32 credits

Each course = 4 credits

*Must be taken in the designated year. All other courses required for counseling licensure may be taken in either the first or second year.

Cross-Registration

Many HGSE students choose to take courses at other Harvard graduate schools (aka, cross-registering), including the Harvard Business School (HBS) and the Kennedy School of Government (KSG). Harvard's schools operate on different schedules. Therefore, remain mindful of school's individual calendars and deadlines: start of classes, vacations, and exams.

For more information about cross-registering at other Harvard schools, please visit: https://crossreg.harvard.edu/

HGSE Course Catalog

For more information about HGSE course offerings, view the entire HGSE course catalogue