Online Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness: Grief and Bereavement Emphasis

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Overview

Provide Support During Times of Grief and Loss

The loss of a loved one is an incomparable event that can give rise to a number of mental, emotional and spiritual challenges. During these difficult times, the comfort of a grief and bereavement specialist can make a world of difference for individuals and families.

If you feel called to serve those in need, you could earn your Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness at Grand Canyon University. The grief and bereavement training courses blend together the studies of human nature, human development and psychopathology as they pertain to loss.

Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this degree program teaches graduates how to serve with compassion and understanding across a variety of settings. As a student, you will have the opportunity to closely examine the nature of grief and bereavement, understand its many effects on human wellness and learn how to promote healthy behaviors and responses to loss.

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Why GCU

Earn Your MS in Mental Health and Wellness Online

The grief and bereavement emphasis is designed for the working professional who wants to advance their education and career in the mental health field. The program requires 34 credits to completion and the online courses allow you the flexibility to pursue a graduate degree while remaining available for your other commitments.

As a GCU student, you have access to knowledgeable faculty and online learning resources to help you throughout your academic journey.

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Coursework

Pursue Grief and Bereavement Training

The MS in Mental Health and Wellness teaches foundational knowledge in human nature, human resiliency and the recovery process. Students are encouraged to contemplate their Christian worldview as they study professional ethics, servant leadership, cultural sensitivity and ethical decision-making.

In the online courses, you will have the opportunity to acquire the following knowledge and skills: 

  • Understand mental health and wellness practices and approaches, including basic treatment modalities
  • Explore the typical biopsychosocial responses to grief and loss, examine healthy and unhealthy responses to loss and explore grief from the shared perspective of family and community
  • Examine the cultural, spiritual and societal influences of the human experience and understanding of death and dying
  • Explore research, theories and case studies on the sociocultural dimensions of death and dying, with a focus on end of life issues

In addition, you will complete the Mental Health and Wellness Capstone, which is a practical exploration of careers within the grief and bereavement field.

Explore Emphasis Options

Discover additional mental health and wellness emphases that can help you find the right path for your academic and career aspirations.

Careers

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Specialists in the grief and bereavement field need to be emotionally resilient individuals who possess a high level of empathy for those who are suffering. As an aspiring mental health professional, you could dedicate your career to nurturing the emotional resiliency of your clients who are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones, as well as those who are facing their own terminal illnesses.

As a career path, grief and bereavement services are needed nationwide. This master’s-level program is a non-licensure program geared toward individuals who are currently working in or plan to work in an administrative position, in a leadership role or in a mental health specialist position that does not require counseling or psychology licensure.

Mental health professionals can work in a variety of settings, including:

Hospice facilities and in-home programs

Churches and other Christian organizations

Hospitals

Schools

Social service agencies

Community-based health and social service groups

56,600

Projected number of jobs to open each year, on average, for medical and health services managers from 2021 to 20311

Accreditation

Earn Your Master's Degree at an Accredited University

GCU has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. We are proud to provide quality master's programs that help graduates pursue their career goals.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

For those looking to specialize in grief and bereavement, please review our answers to these frequently asked questions.

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Start Your Journey Today

If you feel called to offer support and encouragement to those impacted by grief and loss, complete the form on this page to speak with a university counselor about your next steps.

Apply Now

1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, retrieved June 15, 2023.

2 PB PressBooks. (n.d.). 22.4 Grief, Bereavement, & Mourning. Retrieved Feb. 11, 2025.

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