Prevention Science Program, 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue St Paul, MN 55108 (612-625-1900; fax: 612-625-4227)

Prevention science is defined for the purposes of this program as the scientific study of systematic efforts to reduce the incidence of unhealthy or maladaptive behavior, and to promote health and adaptive behavior in populations across the life span through designing and evaluating interventions, and utilizing knowledge about them more strategically. The fundamental assumption of this free-standing minor is that future researchers and scholars will be most able to meet the challenges and changes occurring in society and in their chosen professions and disciplines if their training is comprehensive and transdisciplinary. Prevention science is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field and this program will increase opportunities for the University's academic researchers to partner with communities to address the complex issues facing society. Six areas of concentration will be offered. Students will be expected to select one as a major emphasis. Areas of concentration are: 1) promotion of mental health and well being across the life span; 2) interventions in education, health, and social services; 3) social policy; 4) family and community studies (early stage research, needs assessments, action research); 5) methodology; 6) individualized concentration. For more information about these areas of concentration, visit http://www.preventionscience.umn.edu.

Other requirements to be completed before admission:

Students must have gained admission to a master's or doctoral degree-granting program, and have prepared a minor program of coursework approved by the director of graduate studies in prevention science. Students are required to make formal application to the program. Doctoral students must apply prior to submitting their graduate degree plan for approval. Instructions and form can be found at http://www.preventionscience.umn.edu.

The master's and doctoral minors are developed in consultation with, and should be approved in advance by, the director of graduate studies for prevention science. The purpose of the minor is to provide students with interdisciplinary training in prevention science; therefore, all students will be required to fulfill the elective requirements for the minor by taking courses outside their major. Courses counting toward a student's major may not be counted toward the minor.