Online Mental Health and Wellness Master’s: Community Mental Health Administration Emphasis
Make a Positive Impact in Your Community
Churches, hospitals and community-based organizations need strong leaders and administrators to develop, implement and direct impactful initiatives that can make a positive difference in the community. You will be taught the skills you’ll need for this career path by earning your Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness with an Emphasis in Community Mental Health Administration at Grand Canyon University. Explore how to communicate key information to a variety of stakeholders, inspire others by demonstrating desired behavior and leading by example and navigate the everyday nuances of community-based mental health organizations.
Study Community Mental Health Administration
Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this master’s in mental health and wellness with an emphasis in community mental health administration is designed to integrate mental health and wellness within a leadership role. There is a focus on program planning and development, including budgetary issues, policies and procedures. You will be taught how to become an effective leader and ethical advocate who can guide your organization and community toward a brighter future.
Community Mental Health Courses and Topics
During your studies, you will be taught to polish your communication skills, explore professional ethics standards and delve into the details of organizational governance, policies and financial management.
Some of the course topics that will be covered in this master’s program include the following:
- Promoting ethics and cultural diversity in mental health and wellness
- Managing finances and budgets in the public sector
- Finding, training and utilizing skilled workers
- Integrating mental health, wellness and healthcare
- Instructing public administrators on economics
Explore How To Help Improve the Mental Health of Others
This master’s in mental health and wellness with an emphasis in community mental health administration degree focuses on building a solid framework of knowledge pertaining to behavioral, mental, spiritual and cognitive health.
This includes community mental health courses that explore the following areas:
- Examine mental health disorders, treatment modalities and the dimensions of wellness
- Explore the integration of body, spirit and mind, and examine the common health challenges faced by individuals with behavioral or mental health disorders
- Survey the history of professional ethics, including the evolution of modern ethical codes as they pertain to legal standards and issues
- Discover how public organizations serve their stakeholders, carry out their mission, comply with regulatory powers and manage resources to succeed in community mental health administration
- Analyze key competencies in human resources, such as workforce diversity, talent management, employee development and motivation
- Concluder your studies with the mental health administration and wellness capstone, which focuses on contemporary issues and careers in the mental health and wellness field
Master’s: Community Mental Health Administration Emphasis Career Paths
Graduates with this master's in mental health and wellness can be equipped with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career path that supports the health and wellness of their communities. When you earn this degree at GCU, you can position yourself to pursue potential leadership positions within community-based mental health organizations, churches, hospitals or social services agencies. Mental health and wellness, and the allied professions present opportunities to serve others in Christ’s name.
It is important to note that this program does not lead to licensure as a mental health professional. While this program may provide a solid foundation for students interested in pursuing licensure in the future, additional training and education may be required to meet state licensing requirements. If you are seeking licensure or certification, contact your state department of education or the American Counseling Association for specific licensure requirements and program approval.
The master’s: community mental health administration program can position graduates to pursue careers in various leadership roles, including:
- Social and community services manager
- Medical and health services manager
- Mental health program director
- Nonprofit executive director
- Behavioral health coordinator
- Community outreach and advocacy specialist
Earn Your Degree From an Accredited University
Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Help your community by pursuing a degree in mental health and wellness.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social and Community Service Managers, retrieved on Nov. 19, 2024.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Social and Community Service Managers, as of May 2023, retrieved on Nov. 19, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Social and Community Service Managers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
3 Healthcare Management Degree Guide. (n.d.). 5 Healthcare Management Careers in the Mental Health Field. Retrieved on June 2, 2023.
4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, October). Medical and Health Services Manager. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the liberal arts. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
This course is an introductory course in mental health and wellness practices. The purpose of the course is to develop a basic understanding of mental health and wellness practices and wellness approaches. An overview of mental health disorders, basic overview of treatment practices, and the Dimensions of Wellness are covered.
Course Description
This course covers ethics and cultural diversity as it relates to mental health and wellness. The history of ethics is addressed, including how early ethical models evolved into modern ethical codes in the mental health and wellness professions. How ethics relates to legal standards and issues such as records and billing are addressed. Cultural diversity, sensitivity, and competence are covered.
Course Description
This course focuses on how government and public organizations serve their stakeholders, the manner in which their services are carried out, how resources are managed, and how regulatory powers are complied with and/or managed. The best practices in public governance, issues related to transparency, participation, and accountability are examined.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the revenue and expenditure structure of the public sector, including revenue policy, expenditure policy, and budget structure and administration.
Course Description
The effective strategic management of human capital is the differentiator of every successful organization. This course examines talent management, workforce diversity, succession planning, employee development and motivation, and performance matrix. This course addresses human resource competencies identified by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). Using the strong strategic human resource acumen provided by this course, students will be well-prepared for positions as senior human resources specialists or as general managers.
Course Description
In this course, the role of government in the economy is explored within the general context of market failure and social equity. Topics include allocation of goods and services, income distribution, externalities, public goods, and public choice theory. This course also examines the impact of macroeconomic events and policy decisions on the budgets and service levels of public entities.
Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of mental health, wellness, and health care, including the integration of these three fields. The course covers common mental health disorders, treatments, and supportive services, as well as an integrated focus on the mind and the body. The course examines the health challenges often faced by individuals with behavioral or mental health disorders, and it reviews appropriate services, interventions, preventative services, and treatments to achieve and maintain health and wellness.
Course Description
This course provides a practical, real-world exploration of the mental health and wellness field. Special focus is given to careers in mental health and wellness. The common duties and tasks performed by workers in the mental health and wellness field are investigated. Concepts covered throughout the program are examined through practical application. This course is the last course in the program of study; all other course work must be completed before this course.
- GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
- Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.