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Preparing for the Master of Science in Mental Health Practice program

The Master of Science in Mental Health Practice (MS MHP) program instructs and trains future Community Mental Health Assistants (CMHA) in four disciplines:

  • The basic medical science including anatomy, physiology, neurobiology, and pathology
  • Pharmacology and psychopharmacology
  • Psychology and psychiatric diagnosis
  • Direct Patient Care

Few undergraduate academic programs fully prepare MS MHP students for all four disciplines taught in this program. Prospective MS MHP students from counseling and social work programs often require additional post-baccalaureate study preparation in the basic sciences. Prospective MS MHP students from biology and chemistry backgrounds often require additional post-baccalaureate study preparation in psychology and statistical analysis in the social sciences. Prospective MS MHP students who completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or a bachelor’s degree in neurology or neurological sciences will have met all prerequisite requirements. Students who study biological sciences or chemistry as part of a pre-professional health program may also be program-ready if they elected to take psychology courses.

Here is a guide to essential prerequisites for study and recommended levels of preparation for study.

Essential prerequisite coursework

The Master of Science in Mental Health Practice prepares graduates for advanced clinical roles that include prescribing authority. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete undergraduate coursework that provides the foundations to study safe psychopharmacologic prescribing, clinical reasoning across organ systems, Interpretation of laboratory data, Interprofessional medical collaboration, and understanding the mental health impact of abnormal physiology.

Essential foundational prerequisite coursework for successful admission includes:

  • One foundational course in biological science with lab (3 or 4 semester hours)
  • One intermediate-level biological sciences course in the following biological sciences fields: Anatomy, Physiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Human Biology (3 semester hours)
  • Foundational general chemistry course sequence (two courses), minimum of one course with the required lab (6 or 8 semester hours)
  • Biochemistry course (3 semester hours) or completion of in-depth study of pharmacological mechanism subject matter in a chemistry or pharmacology course (3 semester hours)
  • Statistics course (3 semester hours) or completion of in-depth study of foundational statistics in a mathematics course
  • Introductory Psychology course (3 semester hours)
  • Intermediate Psychology course (such as Abnormal Psychology) (3 semester hours) or completion of in-depth study in social sciences or behavioral health coursework

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience are considered to have fulfilled all essential prerequisite requirements.

Prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application, but must be completed with grades of “C” or better to matriculate to begin MS MHP study.

NEOMED does not have a policy determining how recent prerequisite coursework must be completed. Candidates who completed coursework greater than three years ago should use judgement as to whether they consider their knowledge base in a subject area sufficiently recent and comprehensive enough to undertake advanced health professions study.

Additional recommended prerequisite coursework

Recommended: ~9 semester credit hours
Applicants are encouraged to complete coursework that supports understanding of human biological systems, disease processes, and medication effects.

Recommended coursework includes:

  • General Biology
  • Human Anatomy and/or Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Pathophysiology or other upper-level biological sciences

This preparation supports clinical reasoning, recognition of medication side effects of medication, and integration of medical and psychiatric care.

Recommended: ~6 semester credit hours
Applicants are encouraged to complete foundational chemistry coursework that supports understanding of pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and drug interactions.

Recommended coursework includes:

  • General or Inorganic Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Health-science–focused or accelerated chemistry sequences

Recommended: ~6 semester credit hours
Applicants should demonstrate foundational knowledge of psychological processes and mental health.

Recommended coursework includes:

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology / Psychopathology
  • Developmental or Lifespan Psychology
  • Behavioral Health or Mental Health coursework
  • Biological Bases of Behavior or Behavioral Neuroscience

Coursework completed within psychology, nursing, social work, counseling, public health, or related disciplines may satisfy this preparation.

Recommended: ~3 semester credit hours
Applicants are encouraged to complete coursework that introduces biochemical or pharmacologic mechanisms relevant to mental health treatment.

Recommended coursework includes:

  • Biochemistry
  • General or Systems-Based Pharmacology
  • Pathophysiology with pharmacologic emphasis

This preparation supports graduate-level psychopharmacology and prescribing coursework.

Recommended: ~3 semester credit hours
Applicants should demonstrate basic quantitative literacy necessary for evidence-based practice.

Recommended coursework includes:

  • Elementary or Introductory Statistics
  • Behavioral or Social Science Statistics
  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology with applied statistical content

A bachelor of science degree in the field of biological sciences or a bachelor’s degree in psychology paired with a pre-medical preparation path are excellent choices. A bachelor of science degree in neurology or neurological sciences is also a great choice.

How to apply for admission

  1. Candidates may apply for admission through the GradCAS centralized application system. Start your application in GradCas.
    1. Create an account to begin.
    2. Search for programs at “Northeast Ohio Medical University.”
    3. Select “Master of Science in Mental Health Practice.”
  2. Candidates must request official transcripts from every community college, college, and university they attended, whether or not a degree was received from that school. This would include any college work completed while in high school. Send all transcripts and admission materials in support of the application to GradCas and not to NEOMED.
  3. Candidates must upload a current professional resume (or CV) at the time of application. The resume should list employment history and may include any research, presentations, and licenses held.
  4. Candidates will be asked to upload a response to the following prompted question, “Why do you want to apply for this (MS MHP) program?”
  5. Candidates who successfully screen into the applicant pool will receive an invitation to complete an interview assessment. This interview assessment is by invitation only and should be completed within two weeks of receiving the invitation.
  6. Candidates will receive an acceptance decision following a review by the MS MHP faculty admission committee. In most cases, they will have 2 weeks to decide to accept.

Admission guidelines

In addition to fulfilling the essential prerequisite requirements, most accepted candidates will have the following credentials:

  1. All candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree at the time of matriculation to enter the MS MHP program. Degree completion may be in progress at the time of application, provided that the degree is awarded before matriculation to the MS MHP program.
  2. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better from their bachelor’s degree-granting university is recommended. Grade averages below 3.0 are considered on an individual basis.
  3. As the MS MHP is a licensure program, all candidates must be free of significant infractions that may result in the denial of licensure. Infractions must be disclosed at the time of application. All accepted candidates must complete a criminal background check (CBC) after acceptance before matriculating to the MS MHP. Infractions that rise to a level of licensure concern or undisclosed infractions may result in admission rescission.
  4. No standardized examination is required for admission.

Graduate transfer credit

Candidates with completed graduate coursework may qualify for transfer credit that may remove degree requirements and fulfil course competencies. A maximum of nine (9) semester hours may be transferred toward degree completion. Graduate transfer credit is only available upon the review of course completion and not life or professional experience. Candidates interested in graduate course credit are to reach out to the MS MHP program director through the NEOMED admissions office following application for admission and delivery of all official transcripts.

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