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School of Medicine Columbia

Curriculum

Our interdisciplinary Certificate of Graduate Study in Psychiatric Rehabilitation gives you the skills and knowledge you need to make a difference in the lives of persons with mental illness and their families.

Many Paths, One Certificate 

Whatever your background, you’ll find that our curriculum builds on current knowledge and skills in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and can be individualized to ensure that you get the most out of your learning experience. In each of our 3 required courses, students are encouraged to pursue their interests when selecting specific topics for capstone projects and other assignments. Perhaps you want to know more about clinical aspects of certain mental health conditions? Or about the important role of families in a rehabilitation plan? Maybe you want to investigate some of the social conditions that result in persons with mental illness disproportionately, and sometimes unjustly, ending up involved in the criminal justice system? Maybe you’re interested in legislative and policy issues that impact funding of mental health services? Any of these topics (and far more!) could be pursued by any member of the same course, depending on your learning goals. As we like to say, “We’re Rehab. We’re flexible.”

Curriculum

This cross-disciplinary program will introduce you to the characteristics of severe long-term mental illnesses, assessment, treatment, rehabilitation methods, and the recovery process. In addition to 9 credit-hours of required coursework and 6 credit-hours of electives, students complete a 3 credit-hour Independent Study. 

Required Courses (9 semester hours)

  • NPSY 755 Fundamentals of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
  • NPSY 756 Vocational Implications of Psychiatric Disabilities
  • NPSY 761 Dual Disorders

Two (2) Electives (6 semester hours)
You can choose from a broad list of electives at USC or other accredited colleges or universities that are approved by faculty. The electives are an opportunity for you to more closely tailor your learning to your personal interests and goals.

We recommend: 

  • RCON 605 Culture and Disability
  • NPSY 757 Psychopathology for Counselors
  • NPSY 758 Classification and Assessment of Mental Disorders
  • NPSY 760 Addictions Rehabilitation
  • RCON 734 Professional Issues in Rehabilitation Counseling (Case Management) 
  • Coursework in areas related to other areas of interest such as geriatrics, health, nursing, criminal justice, health care policy and administration  
  • Another course as approved by your advisor and the Graduate Program Director

Field Study (3 semester hours)

  • RHAB 890 Independent Study

Course Sequencing 

Courses for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certificate begin in Fall semester. The following sequences of courses for full-time and part-time Certificate students are recommended. 

Full-time students

Fall semester
NPSY 755: Fundamentals of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
NPSY 756: Vocational Implications
Elective 1

Spring semester  
NPSY 761: Dual Diagnosis
Elective 2

Summer
NPSY 890: Independent Study (students may request permission to complete the Indep. Study in spring semester)

Part-time students

Fall semester
NPSY 755: Fundamentals of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
NPSY 756: Vocational Implications

Spring semester
NPSY 761: Dual Diagnosis
Elective 1

Summer and/or Fall semester
Elective 2
NPSY 890: Independent Study

If you are currently enrolled in another USC graduate degree or Certificate program, contact us for options about course sequencing!


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