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Mental Health Undergraduate Certificate

Do you have a passion for helping others? Do you want to learn how to better understand mental illness and how to work with those it affects? Completing a Mental Health certificate as a stand-alone credential or adding it to your major at the University of Central Missouri is a great way to follow your passion while gaining clinical experience and skills that are required for mental health-related careers.

Our was created as a collaboration between the Criminal Justice and Criminology, Human Development and Family Science, Psychological Science, and Social Work programs at UCM. Built based on feedback from those currently working in corrections, mental health and juvenile justice, it’s designed to enhance skills that are crucial to the daily operations performed by professional law enforcement, corrections officials, probation and parole officers, social workers, psychologists, counselors and/or health care providers.

A high-quality and accessible certificate program

Thanks to our combination of online and on-campus class options, you can earn your Mental Health certificate on your terms. Working professionals can take all classes 100% online and be finished in one year. Current undergraduate students can take classes online or in person on the Warrensburg campus. Create a schedule and learning environment that best fits your needs and supports your goals.

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Only undergraduate program of its kind in Missouri

A certificate

12-credit-hour program

A laptop

Available 100% online

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Complete in as little as 1 year

 

What you will study

Experience a career-driven education as you earn your Mental Health certificate at the University of Central Missouri. You’ll gain knowledge on tracking how individuals with mental illnesses have been treated through time (including processing through the criminal justice system), identifying the etiology and diagnosis of mental illnesses, the role and impact of substance use, and assessing possible treatment paths.

The 12 credit hours of study include three required 3-hour courses in Criminal Justice and Mental Health Systems, Abnormal Psychology and Addiction and the Family. The remaining three credits are elective and can be selected from courses pertaining to multicultural approaches, youth services, health, social work and more. Upon completion of this certificate, you will be able to:

  1. Explain how people with mental illness are treated within all components of the criminal justice system.
  2. Discuss problems or issues regarding the treatment of people with mental illness within the criminal justice system and generate possible solutions.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of theories and techniques of individual, conjoint and group psychotherapy in prevention and treatment of substance use disorders.
  4. Articulate the contextual and systemic dynamics in substance use treatment and prevention (e.g., gender, age, socioeconomic status, culture/race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, spirituality, religion, larger systems and social context).
  5. Identify recent research findings on the proposed etiologies of particular mental disorders and therapeutic interventions commonly used to treat them.

 

Excellence in Mental Health

  • A Best Criminal Justice & Corrections School in Missouri (College Factual, 2023)
  • A Best Value College for Social Work (College Factual, 2022)
  • A Most Focused College for Human Development & Family Studies in the Plains States Region (College Factual, 2022)
  • Psychology curriculum that meets the standards and goals set by the American Psychological Association

 

Unique learning opportunities in mental health

Combine our Mental Health certificate coursework with your undergraduate degree program for even more experiential learning and professional development opportunities.

  • Hands on learning: Part of your experience will include visits to self-help groups and treatment/recovery programs. One elective option includes clinical experience at an agency such as a school or hospital. Classes also offer field trips to places like the Glore Psychiatric Museum or a youth corrections facility.  
  • Student life: Even from a distance, you can get involved in any of our related student groups such as the Association of Social Work Students, Council for Human Development and Family Science, Juvenile Justice Association, NAMI On Campus, Pre-Family and Marriage Therapy Club, Psychology Club and more.
  • Accessible faculty: Whether in class, a field placement, or participating in a research project, you will always be in contact with your UCM faculty.

 

What can you do with a certificate in Mental Health from UCM?

The current demand for mental health professionals is high. Whether you’re a current undergraduate or a working professional, adding this certificate to your toolkit prepares you to begin or advance in a variety of growing careers, such as:

  • Addiction counselor
  • Clinical caseworker
  • Education specialist 
  • Probation and parole officer
  • Social service specialist
  • Support care assistant
  • Direct support professional
  • Developmental assistant
  • Youth services specialist
  • Correctional officer
  • Nurse

Exciting careers with a certificate in Mental Health

Use the interactive tool below to gather insights about job outlooks and potential salaries with a Mental Health certificate from UCM.

 

 
 


 

Financial assistance options for your Mental Health certificate

We believe that nothing should get in the way of your career goals, especially not the cost of your education. That’s why the University of Central Missouri provides you with a variety of options to help finance your undergraduate education

In addition to university-wide scholarships and grants, you may qualify for scholarships through your major field of study. Visit your major’s program page to learn more about the scholarships available to undergraduates in your bachelor’s degree program. You can learn more about program-specific scholarships at the .

 

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Explore programs related to mental health

The Mental Health certificate can be earned as a stand-alone credential or pairs well with any field that interacts with the public, such as:

 

 

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