Online Master’s Degree in Mental Health and Wellness
Drive Positive Behavioral Change
Mental health and wellness encompass emotional, psychological and social wellness. Good mental health is crucial for overall quality of life.1 However, people often need assistance to improve their mental and emotional resiliency. If you feel called to help others in this way, you can earn your MS in Mental Health and Wellness at Grand Canyon University. Through master’s-level health and wellness courses, you’ll be taught the skills necessary to support others as they journey toward emotional and behavioral wellness.
Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this master’s in mental health and wellness degree provides a broad survey of the biological, social, cultural and spiritual factors that comprise mental wellness. You will be encouraged to become an ethical leader in your chosen field by exploring communitywide change, cultural diversity and ethical issues. There is an emphasis on the seamless integration of the fields of health, wellness and healthcare.
Tailored Program for Mental Health and Wellness
This program provides opportunities to cultivate a compassionate mindset toward those who need a helping hand. You will examine evidence-based practices that can support clients struggling with mental, emotional or behavioral issues. You will be encouraged to develop as an effective communicator, transformative leader and innovative thinker.
Broaden your perspective by engaging with a community of peers and knowledgeable instructors. The focused coursework will cover the following key areas:
- Common health challenges faced by individuals with behavioral or mental health disorders
- The implementation of communitywide programs focused on preventive or interventional approaches
- The fundamentals of evidence-based research in the mental health and wellness field
- Early and modern ethical models related to the mental health and wellness professions
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Health and Wellness Course Topics
Some of the mental health and wellness courses included in this program explore the following topics:
- Professional ethics and cultural diversity and competence in the mental health and wellness field
- Group dynamics, process structures and group facilitation strategies in therapeutic and organizational settings
- Planning, developing and implementing intervention programs to address mental health issues beyond individual clients
- The integration of the mental health, wellness and healthcare fields, with a look at common mental health disorders, treatments and supportive services
- Documentation, evidence-based research and policies in the mental health and wellness field
- Careers and common job responsibilities in the mental health and wellness field
You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the coursework by completing the Mental Health and Wellness Capstone, which includes an exploration of practical applications in the field.
Incorporate Behavioral and Mental Health Into Your Career
This Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness may be an appropriate choice if you want to expand your knowledge and improve your qualifications in the mental health field. This program is designed for professionals who may have some experience in the behavioral health field and want to elevate their degree, or for those interested in changing careers. This degree does not lead to licensure. Instead, you will explore means of integrating mental health concepts into your field of expertise as a working professional.
Future leaders pursuing an MS in Mental Health and Wellness will explore how to educate and coach clients in non-clinical settings, emphasizing the importance of a healthier lifestyle and an improved quality of life.
Career Paths With an MS in Mental Health
More than one in five adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness, and over one in five youth aged 13 to 18 have experienced a debilitating mental illness at some point.2 Even those without a diagnosed mental illness can face mental health challenges and could potentially benefit from behavioral health services focused on self-care and coping techniques.1 Given the prevalence of mental health issues, there is a need for professionals qualified in mental health and wellness.
GCU’s master’s in health and wellness degree is designed to help prepare graduates to tackle challenges in a variety of fields. Although this degree does not lead to clinical licensure and no degree can guarantee a specific career outcome, you will examine how to support others with evidence-based mental health intervention in areas such as:
- Law enforcement
- Human services
- Education
- Community health
- Management/human resources
You can integrate your care for others and your knowledge in the proper evaluation and treatment of mental health challenges in non-licensure settings. Some examples of specific, non-licensure career paths you might pursue include case manager, program manager, safe house program assistant or social services assistant.
Complete Your Master’s From an Accredited University
Accreditation is an indicator of the quality of the school. GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university that offers a wide range of degrees and certificate programs, helping graduates to pursue their career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The decision to go back to school is a significant one. Before you enroll in a health and wellness degree online, you should take the time to research the program and the career field. You should consider whether a particular mental health and wellness program will help you pursue your career goals. The following frequently asked questions and answers can jumpstart your research.
Mental health and wellness refers to emotional, psychological and social well-being that influences how people think, feel and act. It often is found through finding balance and resilience in spite of challenges while nurturing positive relationships and personal growth. Mental health and wellness professionals help people develop coping strategies to do this and achieve greater satisfaction in their lives.
The time it can take to complete a mental health and wellness program will vary, depending on factors such as the school and program you choose, and whether you enroll as a part-time or fulltime student. To better understand how long it might take you to earn your master’s degree in mental health, complete the form on this page to request a consultation with a university counselor.
Yes, an online mental health and wellness degree is just as respectable as a traditional degree. GCU offers both on-campus programs and online degrees that maintain the same rigorous academic standards and are taught by experienced faculty.
Clinical licensure requirements vary from one state to the next. Not all mental health and wellness degrees are intended to lead to licensure or fulfill the licensure requirements for every state. You should carefully consider your desired career outcomes, the requirements for the state in which you plan to work and the specifics of your intended degree program before enrolling in a master’s degree.
It is important to note that this degree does not directly lead to clinical licensure as a counselor or psychologist. Earning your master’s in mental health and wellness can help position you for a range of careers that do not involve private practice in clinical settings and do not require licensure.
Explore Emphasis Options
At GCU, you can focus your advanced studies in mental health in an area that best supports your career goals. We offer emphasis options for our MS in Mental Health and Wellness degree across several different fields of study, including:
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Begin working toward your dream of helping others strengthen their mental health.
1 National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Caring for Your Mental Health. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved Aug. 21, 2023.
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, April 25). About Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved Aug. 21, 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 in developmental psychology emphasizes the physical, social, cognitive, personality, spiritual, and moral developments within an individual. The course is designed to provide an understanding of the transitions of life from conception to death.
Course Description
This course provides an examination of group dynamics, types of group process structures, and various strategies used for group facilitation. The course shows how group dynamics is applied to various participants in both therapeutic and organizational settings. The course explores the purpose of group interventions as a viable treatment approach and how the dynamics of a group impacts its participants.
Course Description
This course examines the implementation of community-wide change through intervention, prevention, advocacy, outreach, and program evaluation, which moves beyond the individual focus. Students explore foundational competencies for addressing community problems and implementing community psychology practice. A focus is placed on current research related to topics relevant to community psychology.
Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive overview of mental health and wellness practice in a community healthcare setting. The importance of documentation, including the maintenance, accuracy, and integrity of health care records, as well as the ethics and policies concerning documentation is covered. The basics of research in the mental health and wellness field, such as data collection, interpretation, and the ethical implications of research, are covered. Information literacy is also covered, to provide a basic framework of common terminology and communication in the integration of mental health and medicine.
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.