ADMISSION
This program offers a challenging curriculum that ensures you will be best prepared for placement in co-ops and for the mental health field after graduating.
• High school/college GPA of at least 3.0 (or equivalent of a “B” average)
• Official high school or college transcript
• Two academic or professional letters of recommendation about preparedness in the classroom and as a mental health counselor
• One group interview about the major and working in the mental health field, led by a Community Mental Health faculty member
• The ability to work in the summer of your sophomore year and winter of your senior year
• Remaining in good academic standing
• You want to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations at the individual, family, or community level.
• You can identify problems and enthusiastically seek out solutions.
• You are committed to high achievement.
• You want to earn money while simultaneously earning college credit.
NEC’s BA in Community Mental Health is a four-year on-campus degree designed with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the State’s 10 community mental health centers. This cooperative program allows you to work and earn while you learn.
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
• First program of its kind in New Hampshire
• Earn while you learn
• Innovative program designed to prepare next-generation community mental health professionals
This program uniquely features two paid immersive working experiences, or co-ops. During each co-op, you will work with clients in the community to provide direct client care, help with daily activities in the community, and perhaps even lead group counseling sessions. You will work 20 hours per week (with the possibility to work more) and earn approximately $20+ an hour.
INNOVATION
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the State’s 10 community mental health centers provide waivers that allow you to work directly with clients while getting paid. NEC’s BA in Community Mental Health is the only known program in the state to offer this exclusive learning opportunity.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF IMMERSIVE CO-OPS?
• Earn income while you learn.
• Complete 30 real-world credits toward your degree.
• Gain a better understanding of your field of interest.
• Build your résumé and a network of like-minded professionals.
• Enjoy a better position from which to secure a job after graduation.
“New England College has opened up my whole world to possibility and opportunity. I now have the education and academic language to support my passion and experience. This education has provided me with an awareness I never even knew I needed. I am so much more capable, competent, and reflective than I ever thought I could be.”
Sarah D., ’19
“Community mental health is a field that offers compassionate professionals the opportunity to enhance life for people within a number of vulnerable population groups. Our students want to graduate knowing that they have been well prepared to meet this challenge. Our BA in Community Mental Health, with its combination of class time and co-ops, does just that. Our students will be better positioned to find meaningful professional opportunities once they graduate.”
Kathy Simon, LICSW
Associate Professor, Psychology and Community Mental Health ksimon@nec.edu