Grad School--UVI

Dawn,

Attended UVI, BA in Psy. ---- what questions can I answer for you. 🙂

When I graduated .... there was only graduate level courses in business and education??? Does UVI offer a graduate degree in Psychology or Spanish presently??

Are you transfering for a year?? Going with a BA to persue a masters or PHD????

--Islander

HI

Thanks for your response...

I have a BA in Spanish and Psychology and would like to pursue something at the graduate level in Psych. I noticed they offer a Masters of Arts in Education for School Psychologist, but no other studies along the line of Psych. that I could find...

Any thoughts...or information on the school itself?

As far as work what are you doing with your BA in Psych? Are you thinking of anything further?

Thanks!

Hello Dawn,

I enjoyed UVI, the small classes - having the professors know you - you could go talk to them in their offices for more assistance, very friendly small school atmosphere. There is a beach within walking distance - LOL!! The students are friendly. It is not a party school in any way shape or form. I felt the career services department lacked greatly in terms of getting information out to the students about any services they did offer - and also in their ability to advise you on job possibilities. Overall I think the education is good that the school provides; their really strong department in my opionion is the Science Department - very good, all the other departments are good. I am not sure I would necessarily recommend (you) persuing a graduated degree there - particularly since your field is not really offered on that level. If you are interested in living in the Virgin Islands, then perhaps apply to be a Spanish elementary teacher or teacher's assistant and work for a year, enjoy the island and then persue your graduate degree at a mainland college that offeres programs and options in your field. If you want to continuously be in school then take one class at UVI in the evenings.

I have not persued any jobs or further degrees in the psych. field.

--Islander

Do you know if there substitute teaching opportunities on the island? If so, do you happen to know what it would pay?

Thanks for the info!

I found your description to be very similar to my undergrad setting, which is appealing to me...I think as a Grad student, too, I would be more apt to seek out the offerings of the University services. Whereas an ungrad may overlook the opportunities if they are not presented right to them...

As for teaching or being an assistant...would a teaching certificate be required??

YOu have been very helpful, thank you!

Chad,

Go to

http://www.vinow.com/move/employment/ there you will find employment general information, you will also find in the first paragraphs a link to a wage/occupation chart that will give you ideas of wages earned in the VI

Then go to
http://www.teachislands.vi that is the government site for education and it includes a chart with wages for teachers based on experience/years

Then go to the private school web sites to see if they have any openings:

http://www.vimontessori.org/ Montessori
Antilles School http://www.antilles.k12.vi.us/

--Islander

You are welcome Dawn,

Here is some size of school info.

"The University maintains high academic standards through a faculty dedicated to excellence in higher education -- and committed to the University itself. The teaching faculty is comprised of 111 highly qualified full-time members, of which about 60 hold doctoral degrees in their disciplines. Faculty members represent diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and come from the United States, the Caribbean, and several countries around the world. UVI's current enrollment of 1,299 full-time and 1,564 part-time students come from the Virgin Islands, twenty-one U.S. States, and fifteen other countries, mainly islands in the Eastern Caribbean. As a small institution, the university is able to maintain small classes and ensure close contact among students, professors, and faculty advisors. "

The small size is appealing yes and beneficial in terms of professors getting to know the students and assisting them in their persuits.

I think you are right, perhaps at an undergraduate level students may not seek out the Career Services Office as much - this however was not the case in my case.... I have been to career offices/counselors at other schools... there really was no real comparison. In my experiences at UVI, often times when I went to the office, it was closed or had no-one who could really answer questions and provide assitance there. Several times when I asked when I should return I was told - "I don't know when there will be someone there to help you" or another trip I inquired about GRE booklets - they were locked in the office, and no one there could get in the office nor did they know when someone who could would be back???? Now don't get me wrong there are professors that really try and help get you in the direction you need to be - and I think this makes up for the issues at the career/student help offices.... things may have changed however since I was there. The UVI library bulletin board did a great job at keeping flyers posted about what was going on and to keep students aware of opportunities, so did division secretarties and professors for bulletin boards in the respective buildings.

As for teaching... a BA is sufficient at some schools for elementary level and sometimes high school as well. Take a look at the web sites I posted for Chad above.

What you might do is contact Dr. Annette Shuck in the Division of Education at UVI. She could answer more questions about the school psychology program... as this is not really in the psy department it is part of the Edu department... she might be able to discuss with you intership oppurtunities that exisit through the university and local sites. Also for information - there is a need for school psychologist in the Virgin Islands if you intention would be to persue this degree and remain in the islands. Here is the contact info I got from the uvi web site : ashuck@uvi.edu and telephone (340)693-1324

Good Luck.
--Islander

Wow! Thank you for all the information you provided!

Depending on if I would get in to UVI and how I acclimated to VI, I think I would definitely be interested in pursuing a career in school psychology on the Island.