University of Denver’s International Disaster Psychology Program Receives Full APA Accreditation

DENVER, CO — The University of Denver’s Master of Arts in International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health (MAIDP) program has officially been granted full accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Commission on Accreditation (CoA), making it one of the first master's programs in the nation to earn this prestigious distinction. 

The accreditation, effective as of April 24, 2024, affirms that the MAIDP program meets the APA’s rigorous Standards of Accreditation for Master’s Programs in Health Service Psychology (SoA-M) and reflects the CoA’s professional judgment that the program provides high-quality training in clinical psychology, rooted in cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care, and global mental health practice. 

“This milestone is a reflection of our faculty’s deep commitment to preparing future clinicians to meet complex mental health challenges in both domestic and global contexts,” said Dr. Gwen Mitchell, Program Director of MAIDP. “We’re honored to join the ranks of four other APA-accredited master’s programs and proud of the impact our students and alumni are making around the world.” 

The MAIDP program blends academic rigor with immersive fieldwork, including Global Mental Health Internships – spanning sites in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and underserved communities in the U.S. It also features a Medicaid-approved community-facing trauma recovery clinic (the Trauma Disaster Recovery Clinic) and partnerships with organizations serving displaced and underserved populations. Graduates go on to work in diverse sectors including humanitarian aid, refugee services, integrated care, and global mental health policy and advocacy.

This recognition follows an intensive multi-phase review, including a self-study, on-site visit, and multiple rounds of documentation and clarification. The CoA deemed the MAIDP program in substantial compliance with all accreditation standards, granting it a full 10-year accreditation term with the next site visit scheduled for 2034. 

To learn more about the MAIDP program and its APA accreditation, visit https://psychology.du.edu/maidp.