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The institute’s new Ph.D. in Criminal Justice opens
opportunities in the areas of research, academia, and
management to those who are ready to advance their
career as well as to individuals considering a career
change. The program facilitates choice for students and
fosters the development of specialized expertise.
A number of new degree programs will soon be offered.
The new B.S. in Human Services Administration is
designed for a broad range of students and working
professionals with an interest in enhancing the quality
of life of individuals and families in need through the
development and administration of agencies involved
in service delivery. Successful degree completion will
prepare students to work in an administrative capacity
in nonprofit agencies, schools, health care centers, and
other community-based organizations.
The M.A. in Gerontology was developed from the
perspective that human beings require meaning and
purpose in order to experience life with a sense of well-
being as they grow older. The program is designed to
prepare future leaders in the field of aging. The program’s
emphasis is on growing knowledge and skills, while
challenging attitudes about aging that limit the potential
of older lives in the 21st century.
The M.S. in Developmental Disabilities is designed
to prepare researchers, advocates, administrators, and
policy makers to be leaders in community-based or
governmental agencies that address the confluence
of issues associated with developmental disabilities
throughout the life span. In addition, this degree will
provide professionals from disciplines such as nursing and
education with the necessary skills to be effective leaders
and to advance in their fields.
The institute’s major grant-funded research and clinical
projects include the work of an internationally renowned
team of scientists who have joined the university as
co-directors for research on substance use and health
disparities. They are the recipients of numerous grants
from the National Institutes of Health, among other
sources, and are currently managing more than $12
million in federal funding. In addition, the institute
has received grant funding to work in partnership with
the United Way of Broward County and the Veterans
of Foreign Wars Stone of Hope Project to offer mental
health and outreach services to returning veterans
and their family members within a community-based
wraparound system of care. This program builds upon
research in the area of veterans’ assistance conducted by
human services faculty members in collaboration with
local organizations, such as Stone of Hope, the Fort
Lauderdale Vet Center, and Broward County Elderly
and Veterans’ Services Division. Other services to the
community include assessment and therapeutic services
provided to children, adults, and families, including U.S.
veterans and survivors of torture referred through Gulf
Coast Jewish Community Services, Florida Center for
Survivors of Torture.
The institute is also home to the university’s
postdoctoral residency program, an initiative which
allows participants to rotate through several schools and
centers so that they can build experience and expertise
in a range of academic and clinical areas. The program’s
philosophy is that sound clinical practice is based upon
scientific research and empirical support. Its training
model follows the scientist practitioner approach. The
postdoctoral residency program is a member of the
American Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and
Internship Centers (APPIC).
The institute for the Study of Human Service, Health,
and Justice places a strong focus on the development of
ethical leadership and an improved quality of life. The
academic disciplines under its umbrella have become
increasingly complex and sophisticated. The institute’s
dual focus on teaching and learning, as well as on major
research and clinical service initiatives, is a superior basis
for academic excellence.
The Mailman Segal Center
for Human Development
The Mailman Segal Center for Human Development
(
MSC) is a multidisciplinary demonstration and
training center for education and research in the field
of human development with a focus on early childhood,
autism across the life span, and family studies. The
center has direct service programs, adult academics,
clinical services, training, practicum and internship
opportunities, community outreach, research, and
grants and contracts.