Graduate Certificate: Mental Health

Program Overview

The Mental Health Certificate prepares students for advanced, evidence-informed practice with individuals, families, and communities experiencing acute crisis, persistent mental distress, and complex mental health conditions. Grounded in biopsychosocial, ecological, trauma-informed, and antiracist frameworks, the certificate equips students with the assessment, diagnostic, and intervention skills necessary for ethical and effective mental health practice across diverse service settings.

Through focused coursework in crisis intervention and trauma response, mental health and mental illness, and psychopathology and clinical practice, students develop competencies in DSM-informed assessment, differential diagnosis, crisis response, and clinical decision-making. Emphasis is placed on understanding the social, cultural, environmental, and structural factors that influence mental health, access to care, and treatment outcomes. Graduates are prepared to practice mental health, healthcare, community, school, and crisis-oriented settings while promoting mental health equity, client safety, and recovery-oriented care.

Admission to the Certificate Program

Admission to the certificate program is granted to individuals who apply and meet the standards for admission to a graduate program. The certificate is awarded upon successful completion of all coursework with a minimum grade of “C” and an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above.  No transfer credits may be used.