WARRENSBURG, MO – The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is the first institution in the state of Missouri to offer a professional certificate specifically for mental health at the undergraduate level. The certificate is available starting this fall as a stand-alone credential or part of a related degree program at UCM.
Approved by the Board of Governors in December 2023, the Mental Health certificate is an interdisciplinary offering from four academic programs at UCM: Criminal Justice and Criminology, Human Development and Family Science, Psychological Science, and Social Work.
Built based on feedback from those currently working in corrections, mental health, youth services and juvenile justice, the certificate is designed to enhance skills that are crucial to the daily operations performed by law enforcement professionals, probation and parole officers, social workers, psychologists, counselors and/or health care providers. Additionally, individuals pursuing education or nursing will benefit from gaining skills that help them differentiate problems caused by mental health issues from other behaviors or illnesses.
“Agencies have been requesting training and information on mental health matters for many years,” says Lynn Urban, professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. “We are excited to bring them this opportunity and help our current students prepare for these career paths.”
The certificate’s 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 can be selected from courses pertaining to multicultural approaches, youth services, health, social work and more.
Those who would benefit from this certification include working professionals, individuals looking for a career change and current undergraduates majoring or minoring in related areas. The program is offered 100% online, and students who are on campus can choose a hybrid option.
For those who choose the hybrid option, part of the certification 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.
Those earning the certificate fully online can get involved in related student groups such as the Association of Social Work Students, Council for Human Development and Family Science, Juvenile Justice Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Pre-Family and Marriage Therapy Club, Psychology Club and more.
Upon completion of this certificate, students and professionals will be able to explain how individuals with mental illnesses have been treated over time (including processing through the criminal justice system), identify causes and diagnoses of mental illnesses, understand the role and impact of substance use, and assess possible prevention and treatment paths.
For more information or to register, visit https://www.ucmo.edu/
