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:
- 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;
- Realize and discuss the burden of mental disorders in the global population;
- Recognize and describe the wide range of social and biological etiologic factors related to mental disorders;
- Evaluate methods of prevention and treatment for mental disorders;
- 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.
APPLYING TO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AS A JHU GRADUATE STUDENT
Students already enrolled in a graduate program at JHU are not required to submit the School's electronic admissions application, but must email Certificate Program Contact prior to starting coursework.
Start terms: It is possible to begin the certificate program only in these terms: Summer, 1, 2, 3, & 4.
APPLYING TO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AS A NON-DEGREE STUDENT
Students who are not currently enrolled in a graduate program at JHU are required to apply to certificate programs using SOPHAS Express. All non-degree applicants should review the general Certificates Admissions page for instructions on how to apply to a certificate program and application deadlines.
Start terms: It is possible to begin the certificate program only in these terms: Summer, 1,2,3, & 4.
TOEFL/IELTS: Required.
Prerequisites or special requirements: None
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.
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 |