Community Mental Health, Cooperative BA - New England College
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Community Mental Health Bachelor’s Degree, Cooperative BA

Mental health impacts every aspect of life, from relationships and cognitive function to the resilience of our communities. At New England College, students in the Community Mental Health Cooperative BA program gain real-world experience supporting clients, developing programs, and preparing for diverse careers.

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Contact the Psychology and Community Mental Health Department

  • Interim Dean of the Science, Health, and Exercise Division

    Dr. James M. Newcomb
    jnewcomb@nec.edu
    603.428.2374

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Community Mental Health Bachelor’s Degree Program Overview

Make a difference in the lives of others while preparing for your own future. With a Community Mental Health bachelor’s degree from New England College, you will take part in a unique cooperative program that blends classroom learning with 30 credits of real, hands-on experience in a mental health setting. You will apply what you learn in real-world environments, earn college credit, and gain professional experience.

Through your studies, you will explore how to support the well-being of people across many communities, including older adults, individuals with developmental disabilities, refugees, and survivors of crime. These experiences prepare you to step directly into the human services and mental health field after graduation.

In this video, students share how classroom learning, mock sessions, and internships equip them to make a difference in mental health through therapy, social work, advocacy, and community organizations.

Earn While You Learn with Immersive Co-Ops

This program includes two paid co-ops where you’ll work directly with clients in the community. You may provide care, assist with daily activities, or even help lead group sessions. Each co-op is approximately 20 hours a week at $ 20 or more per hour. You’ll earn income, gain hands-on experience, and build a strong résumé before graduation.

Graduates also leave with a strong foundation for advanced study; the Bachelor’s in Community Mental Health program prepares you for graduate-level programs. NEC offers an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling for students seeking to pursue an advanced degree in the field of mental health.

Community Mental Health Program Highlights

Practical

Experiential

Outcome Oriented
Earn income while receiving college credits. Gain hands-on experience in the mental health field. Prepare for the workforce or an advanced degree.

 

Why Earn Your Bachelor’s in Community Mental Health?

As a community mental health major at NEC, you will explore human services systems, mental health disorders, and the counseling process. The program’s unique co-op model also provides an invaluable experiential learning component.

NEC partners with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for its innovative community mental health co-op program. You will work directly with clients in this exclusive learning opportunity.

By blending classroom learning with real-world experience, the community mental health degree positions graduates for mental health careers or further education at the graduate level.

 

Community Mental Health Degree Learning Outcomes

Graduates from the Community Mental Health Cooperative BA program will be able to:

  • Understand mental health concepts, theories, and research findings.
  • Apply a scientific approach to issues in the mental health field.
  • Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
  • Contribute to socially responsible environments that uphold ethical values.
  • Employ mental health knowledge, skills, and values in professional settings.

What Can You Do with a Community Mental Health Bachelor’s Degree?

Community Outreach Coordinator

$45,000*

 Mental Health Advocate

$50,000**

 Social Services Manager

$60,000***
Salary data from the *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **Payscale and ***Glassdoor as of May 2023

Why Choose NEC?

New England College (NEC) is a private, nonprofit college founded in 1946 to serve the needs of servicepeople attending college on the GI Bill after World War II and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Today, NEC is an innovative, military-friendly institution and one of the top five liberal arts colleges in New Hampshire.

NEC offers 60 associate and bachelor’s degrees, as well as more than 20 master’s degrees and one doctoral degree program, all delivered by dedicated faculty focused on giving students opportunities to live what they learn. With access to many clubs, outdoor activities, natural areas, internships, and professor-led trips, NEC students have many ways to meet new people and try new things.

At NEC, the world is your classroom.

Find Out More

Group therapy sessionNew England College Announces Exclusive Partnership with DHHS to Strengthen Mental Health Workforce in New Hampshire

To help resolve the shortage of mental health professionals in the Granite State, New England College (NEC) announces its exclusive partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to educate and train future community mental health professionals. The organizations will work together to provide training for the College’s new cooperative bachelor’s degree in community mental health.

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Recognition and Rankings

US News & World Report ranking badge

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in the state, as acknowledged by US News & World Report, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

 

 

 

 

Edurank logo for best college in New Hampshire

NEC Ranked Leading College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in NH, as acknowledged by EduRank, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

 

 

 

 

Resource.com Best College ranking graphic

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as one of the best ten colleges in NH, as acknowledged by Research.com, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

 

 

 

 

Application Requirements

This program offers a challenging curriculum that ensures you will be best prepared for placement in co-ops and for the human services field after graduation.

  • High school/college GPA of at least 3.0 (or equivalent of a “B” average)
  • Official high school or college transcript
  • Two academic and/or professional letters of recommendation about preparedness in the classroom and in a mental health counselor role
  • One group informational interview about the major and working in the community mental health field, led by a Community Mental Health faculty member
  • The ability to work in the summer of your sophomore year and the winter of your senior year
  • Remaining in good standing while in the program
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Degree Requirements

Download Course Requirements

Faculty

  • Dr. Alexander Walsh

    Assistant Professor, Psychology
    Office: Science Building 116A, Henniker Campus
    Phone: 603.428.2231
    Email: awalsh1@nec.edu

    Expertise
    Lead presenter on assessing student learning and sole presenter on resilience in the classroom for the 2021 NEC Assessment Conference.

    Educational Background

    • EdD in Counseling Psychology with specialization In Sport Psychology, Boston University
    • MA in Clinical Psychology, American International College
    • BA in Elementary Education, American International College

     

    Research Interests

    • Resilience In higher education
    • Assessment of student learning

     

    Bio
    Alex Walsh came to NEC in 2018 after serving as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Mount Ida College from 2014–2018. Alex teaches a range of classes, from lower-level classes such as Introduction to Psychology and Writing and Research in Psychology, to higher-level classes such as Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology.

    Alex focuses his work outside of teaching on the importance of assessment of student learning and resilience in higher education. Alex’s assessment work centers on the importance of clear course learning outcomes driving the process of assessment, which has implications at the course and program level. Alex has also begun to run intervention and non-intervention research on psychological factors that influence healthy academic and psychological functioning. Alex’s goal is to uncover trends across multiple years of research that can help Inform optimal practices that promote students’ healthy academic and psychological functioning. Alex has presented his work in both topic areas and looks forward to sharing more of his work in academic settings in the future.

  • Dr. Sarah Gunnery

    Dr. Sarah Gunnery, Associate Professor of Psychology and Community Mental Health at New England College

    Associate Professor, Psychology
    Office: Science Building 118A, Henniker Campus
    Phone: 603.428.2270
    Email: sgunnery@nec.edu

    Expertise and Awards

    • Principal investigator, The Effects of Facial Masking on Health-Related Quality of Life in Care Partners of People with Parkinson’s Disease
    • NH-INBRE Seed Grant (P20GM103506): $20,000 (July 1, 2020–June 20, 2021); Facial Action Coding System Certified

     

    Educational Background
    PhD in Psychology, Northeastern University
    MA in Psychology, Northeastern University
    BA in Psychology, Stonehill College

    Research interests

    • Nonverbal behavior
    • Facial expression in people with chronic health conditions
    • Smiling
    • Expressive control
    • Aging
    • Gender
    • Accuracy in person perception

     

    Bio
    Sarah Gunnery has been a member of the psychology department faculty since 2018. Before coming to NEC, she was a postdoctoral fellow in the department of Occupational Therapy at Tufts University, where she completed a federally funded project to map the social and emotional function of the Parkinsonian face. Her research focuses on stigma and quality life in people with chronic health conditions that affect nonverbal communication. She specifically studies facial masking in people with Parkinson’s disease and compensatory strategies to help people with Parkinson’s disease communicate emotion in their face more accurately. Dr. Gunnery serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior and is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to complete the Community Mental Health Bachelor’s degree?

The Community Mental Health Bachelor’s degree program at NEC takes four years for full-time students. The degree requires 120 credits, which includes 30 credits through the co-ops. NEC also accepts transfer credits toward its bachelor’s programs, which can shorten the time to graduate.

 

How is the Bachelor’s in Mental Health program structured?

The bachelor in community mental health program uses an on-campus format that incorporates two co-op experiences. Students complete 84 credits in the community mental health major, including coursework in psychology, human services, and research methods. The program also incorporates 30 credits of paid co-op experience.

 

What are the benefits of a community mental health degree?

A bachelor’s degree in community mental health provides foundational training in human services, psychology, and counseling methods. Majors gain hands-on experience through intensive co-ops. The blend of classroom and experiential community mental health education prepares graduates for entry-level work in the mental health field or to continue their education at the master’s level.

How do I enroll in the co-op community mental health program?

Enroll in the community mental health program at NEC by submitting an online application. While there is no application fee and applicants are not required to send in standardized test scores, the program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. Applicants also complete a group informational interview as part of the admission process.

Start Your Application

Ready to begin your Community Mental Health Bachelor’s degree? Start your application now to enroll in NEC’s innovative cooperative community mental health program.

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