Online Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness: Prevention Science Emphasis
Online Master’s in Mental Health and Wellness: Prevention Science Emphasis
journey today.
Earn your MS in Mental Health and Wellness with a prevention emphasis at Grand Canyon University and prepare to pursue a healthcare career in service to others. This graduate degree is an interdisciplinary program that explores the nature of mental and spiritual resiliency. This degree is a survey of human nature, psychopathology and best practices in treatment modalities.
Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this degree program teaches foundational knowledge that translates to the fields of human services and community health. Grounded in evidence-based practices, the curriculum encourages you to reach new academic heights as you are taught how to serve others by effectively advocating for healthy mental, cognitive and spiritual behaviors.
You will be taught core concepts in prevention programming, including knowledge and skills that are immediately applicable in the field. Knowledgeable instructors guide you as you are exposed to best practices for working with clients across the lifespan, as well as developing, implementing and evaluating communitywide mental health initiatives.
GCU is a private Christian university with a learning environment that emphasizes the Christian worldview and issues pertaining to professional ethics standards. You will be encouraged to become a servant leader who effectively communicates and makes ethical decisions in a leadership role.
This master’s degree is available online at GCU via our digital learning platform that facilitates collaboration and connectivity. Most online courses are eight weeks in length and can be completed on a flexible schedule.
As a student in this program, you will be required to complete the Mental Health and Wellness Capstone. This course provides a look at the mental health and wellness field through the lens of career opportunities, practical applications and common responsibilities in the field.
There is a focus on evidence-based prevention programs and practices in this program. You will be taught how to explore the influences of cultural dynamics on the prevention field. The curriculum explores the role of prevention science as the first line of defense for clients. It also looks at concepts such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) prevention initiative and the environmental influences on the implementation of effective prevention programming.
Some of the competencies taught in this program are:
Ethics and cultural diversity as they relate to mental health and wellness
The history of prevention science and programs
Prevention strategies throughout different developmental stages
The integration of mental health, wellness and healthcare
The prevention or mitigation of the effects of mental illnesses is essential for quality of life, as mental health disorders affect many aspects of life.1 Prevention science in mental health may help lower rates of the consequences of mental illnesses, including unemployment, incarceration, homelessness and suicide ideation.2
As a graduate with a master’s degree in mental health and wellness, you could choose to pursue a career in service to others in need.
As an aspiring mental health specialist, you may pursue work in any of the following settings:
Churches and other faith-based organizations
Social service agencies
Hospitals and community health clinics
Schools and universities
Community-based organizations
Mental Health and Wellness Programs
This Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness with a prevention emphasis does not lead to counseling or psychology licensure. This degree is 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 licensure. If you are looking to pursue counseling licensure, consider one of GCU’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree programs.
When considering schools for your Master of Science in Mental Health and Wellness, it’s important to look for accredited institutions or programs as this is an indication of the school’s quality as acknowledged by its peers. GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university that strives to graduate students who are prepared to pursue excellence beyond school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before making an enrollment decision, you may find it helpful to learn more about evidence-based prevention programs. Explore the following FAQs and answers, and consider the information in light of your own career goals.
Prevention science is a field that promotes proactive wellness practices with the intent of minimizing mental and behavioral health disorders. Practitioners in this field may apply evidence-based best practices to address the determinants of mental health issues prior to the identification or diagnosis of any given mental health problem in an individual or group.3
You and all other MS in Mental Health and Wellness students will each have a unique experience with this degree program, and so it’s not possible to characterize it as “difficult” or “easy.” You may find one course difficult, while another student doesn’t, and vice versa. GCU offers web-enhanced learning tools and other resources to support our online students. You will have access to a student services counselor, who will offer guidance as you work toward your degree.
Start Your Journey Today!
Take the first step toward enhancing your academic credentials by applying for GCU's master's in mental health and wellness with an emphasis in prevention.
1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023, April 24). What is Mental Health? Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
2 National Alliance on Mental Illness California. (n.d.). About Mental Illness. National Alliance on Mental Illness California. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
3 Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs. (n.d.). Mental Health Promotion and Prevention. Youth.gov. Retrieved June 13, 2023.