Public Mental Health Research

Public Mental Health Research Certificate Program

OVERVIEW

This program is offered through the Department of Mental Health and provides graduate training in understanding the causes and consequences of mental disorders in populations. Courses describe clinical and behavioral features, the incidence and prevalence of disorders, and identify factors that promote or influence the occurrence, persistence, or severity of mental and behavioral disorders. Effective research strategies in public mental health include operationalization of case definitions, measurement in populations, design of prevention strategies, and analytical techniques. The goals are to increase the epidemiologic expertise of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, and to increase the number of epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and health policy makers, with an interest in psychiatric disorders.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this certificate program, students will have enhanced understanding of the complex field of research in public mental health.  After completing core and elective courses, students will be able to:

1. Understand and discuss the organization of diagnoses of mental disorders used in clinical and public health settings, as well as the available modalities for measuring the diagnoses in populations;
2. Realize and discuss the burden of mental disorders in the global population;
3. Recognize and describe the wide range of social and biological etiologic factors related to mental disorders;
4. Evaluate methods of prevention and treatment for mental disorders;
5. Be able to describe the system of treatment for mental disorders in the United States and around the world.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sponsoring Department
Department of Mental Health

Program Contact
Patricia Scott
410) 955-1906
patty.scott@jhu.edu

Faculty Sponsor
William Eaton, PhD

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

All applicants must review the General Certificate Guidelines page, which provides important information about how to apply to a certificate program.   

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION

This certificate program consists of a minimum of 21 credits in the Department of Mental Health (18 credits for psychiatrists and clinical psychologists who elect to waive 330.617; permission to do so must be granted by the faculty sponsor). All required and elective courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless the course is only offered Pass/Fail; 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; however, the certificate program must be completed within three years.

Tuition, application fee, and book costs are subject to change from one academic year to another academic year.  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. 

COURSE OF STUDY

Students should check the JHSPH course directory to confirm when courses are offered.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PH.550.860	Academic & Research Ethics at JHSPH (All students are required to complete this noncredit course in their first term of study)
Required Courses
Students are required to complete 330.617
PH.330.617	Psychopathology for Public Health (Note: Psychopathology for Public Health may be waived by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, upon permission of the faculty sponsor; in which case, the minimum number of credits in the Department of Mental Health is 18, not 21)	3
Students are required to take 330.661 and either 330.603 or 330.669
PH.330.603	Psychiatric Epidemiology ((either 330.603 or 330.669 may be taken, but not both))	3
PH.330.669	Epidemiology of Major Mental Disorders	2
PH.330.661	Social, Psychological, and Developmental Processes in the Etiology of Mental Disorders	3
Students may take either 330.607 or 330.664
PH.330.607	PREVENTION of MENTAL DISORDERS: PUBLIC HEALTH InterVENTIONS	3
PH.330.664	Introduction to Mental Health Services	3
Elective Courses: Select additional courses from the Department of Mental Health totaling at least 9 more credits; 330.840 and 330.800 may not be used as electives towards this program. 21 credits total are required to complete the certificate program, except in the case of those students who were able to obtain approval to waive 330.617