Mental Health Policy, Economics and Services Certificate Program
OVERVIEW
The certificate program introduces current issues in mental health policy including economic evaluation of mental and substance disorders and their treatments; access to mental health care treatments and utilization patterns; and mental health care financing, insurance, and delivery system issues in the U.S. The certificate program also strives to orient mental health policy, economics, and services training within the broader context of ongoing national healthcare debates.
It is open to Johns Hopkins University graduate students interested in policy, advocacy, and research careers within the field of mental health and junior and mid-level public health professionals interested in expanding their knowledge base and expertise in mental health services and economics and related policy issues.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Students completing the certificate will gain specialized knowledge of policy issues and economics relevant to mental disorders and mental health services. They will be able to:
- Describe the types, organization and financing of service systems for the mentally ill in the US; strengths and weaknesses of these service systems; and historical and recent trends in the mental health care delivery system.
- Discuss the major legal and political developments in mental health care in the US over the last century and their impact on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health illnesses and associated disabilities and co-morbidities.
- Interpret and provide input into the conduct of program evaluations, including economic evaluation of mental health interventions, and the design and implementation of mental health services and policy.
- Use economic theory to predict changes in delivery of, access to, and quality of mental health services in response to changes in national and local policies and incentives.
- Interpret and provide input into the conduct of health systems research related to mental health interventions, services, and policy.
Sponsoring Department
Admissions
Contact information and complete certificate program admissions information are available on the certificate program page on the Bloomberg School of Public Health website.
CURRENT BSPH students are required to email the Administrative Coordinator prior to the start of taking classes with their intent to pursue the certificate.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
The certificate program requires a minimum of 19 term credits. All required and elective courses must be taken for a letter grade; a minimum grade of C is required in all certificate coursework, and students must maintain a 2.75 or better overall GPA for all certificate coursework. The certificate program length is flexible and varies from student to student. However, the certificate must be completed within three years.
The student should review the section of the website that addresses completion before completing certificate program requirements. The student's transcript will not indicate that the certificate was earned until the Notification of Completion has been submitted, verified by the certificate program, and processed by the registrar.
CURRENT BSPH students are required to email the Administrative Coordinator prior to the start of taking classes with their intent to pursue the certificate.
COURSE OF STUDY
Students should check the Bloomberg School of Public Health course directory to confirm when the courses are offered, and students should also check for prerequisites and whether instructor consent is required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PH.550.860 | Academic & Research Ethics at JHSPH (All students are required to complete this online noncredit course in their first term of study) | |
| Required Courses: Students must complete the following required courses: | ||
| PH.300.651 | Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System (typically offered onsite in 1st term and online in 4th term) | 4 |
| PH.313.790 | Introduction to Economic Evaluation (typically offered online in 4th term) | 3 |
| PH.330.664 | Introduction to Mental Health Services (typically offered onsite in 1st term) | 3 |
| PH.330.667 | Mental Health and the Law (typically offered onsite in 3rd term) | 3 |
| Elective Courses: Students must complete at least two of the following elective courses | ||
| PH.309.716 | Advanced Methods in Health Services Research: Analysis (typically offered onsite in 1st term) | 3 |
| PH.313.641 | Introduction to Health Economics (typically offered online in 3rd term) | 3 |
| PH.313.644 | Intermediate Health Economics (typically offered onsite in 3rd term) | 3 |
| PH.330.603 | Psychiatric Epidemiology (typically offered online in 2nd term) | 3 |
| PH.330.607 | PREVENTION of MENTAL DISORDERS: PUBLIC HEALTH InterVENTIONS (typically offered onsite and online in 2nd term) | 3 |
| PH.330.628 | Gaps and Opportunities in Public Mental Health: A Systems Approach (typically offered onsite in 2nd term) | 3 |