Introduction to mental health work
If you’re considering a career in the mental health field in Maine, declaring a minor in Mental Health Rehabilitation may be one of the smartest decisions you ever make. Successful completion of the minor earns you mental health rehabilitation technician/community (MHRT/C) certification, one of the most needed certifications in the state and one that is required for any position funded by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services as well as other human service organizations. Beyond the certification, the minor provides you with a solid background in mental health, trauma, and clinical psychology/counseling theories as well as ample hands-on learning experiences that will serve you well in any career within the mental health care field nationwide.
Why UNE
From its undergraduate research opportunities to its hands-on curriculum, abundant internship opportunities, and stellar faculty, UNE’s minor in Mental Health Rehabilitation has all the ingredients of a recipe for success. Our graduates routinely credit the program with giving them the broad awareness of societal issues; knowledge of the impact of mental health and trauma on human development; and the listening, communicating, and counseling skills they’ve needed to be successful in graduate school or in the mental health career field.
Minoring in MHRT/C helped me decide to pursue my master’s degree in counseling. The coursework and the fact that the professors in the program are licensed clinicians were instrumental in helping me define my career goals.” — Genna Companatico ’21, Psychology major/Mental Health Rehabilitation minor
Academics
Experiential Learning
Helping others requires action and interaction, and faculty in the Mental Health Rehabilitation minor know that traditional classroom work is not enough to prepare you for a career in the mental health field. Your classes will incorporate hands-on activities so that you develop the real-life skills you need to succeed. Whether you’re producing an updated list of community resources, going on field trips, speaking with invited guests in the classroom, participating in a community discrimination prevention project, or presenting research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, you will be on a path of engaged, active learning.
You may also opt to pursue an internship for even more real-world skill development and resume enhancement. Possible internship sites include:
- Center for Grieving Children
- Sweetser
- Waban
- St. Louis Child Development Center
- Spring Harbor Hospital
- Family Crisis Services
- Parent Resource Center
- Samuel L. Cohen Adult Day Care Center
- Violence No More
- Planned Parenthood
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services
Examples of Available Courses
UNE’s Mental Health Rehabilitation minor consists of the seven courses required for the MHRT/C certification:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Mental Health and Society
- Lifespan Development
- Trauma and Health
- Theories of Clinical/Counseling Psychology
- Race, Class, and Gender
Curriculum
A student with GPA of at least 2.25 and a major at UNE may minor in MHR with the approval of the coordinator of the minor or the academic director. Declarations must occur prior to the completion of the first semester of the junior year.
Major programs of study with significant course overlap with MHR minor requirements may be disallowed by the chair. Students declaring a minor in MHR will not be allowed to double-dip credits across the minor and either major or core requirements for PSY 236, 375, or 410 (e.g., PSY majors completing PSY 410 should complete a separate course to fulfill their major elective requirement so 410 will count only towards the MHR minor).
A minimum of 21 hours of approved course credit with a minimum grade of "C-" in each is required for the minor in MHR as follows (students completing the seven (7) courses identified below are eligible for the MHRT/C certificate from the state of Maine):
| Required Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 205 – Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 250 – Lifespan Development | 3 |
| PSY 236 – Mental Health and Society | 3 |
| PSY 375 – Trauma and Health | 3 |
| SOC 240 – Race, Class, and Gender | 3 |
| PSY 410 – Theories of Clinical/Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| Total Required Credits | 21 |
For more information see the Academic Catalog.
Find your career
UNE’s Mental Health Rehabilitation minor is the perfect complement to many of our major programs. From the more obvious majors with which you could pair the minor, such as Psychology or Social Work, to some less obvious pairings, such as with Political Science or Art, many of UNE’s major programs of study, in combination with this minor, can open doors to exciting careers you may have never considered.
expected increase in the number of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor jobs in the U.S. through 2031
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More About the MHRT/C Certificate
The MHRT/C certification was developed to ensure high-quality care for those individuals diagnosed with mental health issues. It covers nine content domains and 90 core competencies.
There is no cost associated with applying for the certification. Students who have completed the minor simply submit their transcripts to the state of Maine.
Having the MHRT/C certification prior to graduation increases the likelihood of job placement and a significantly higher starting salary. It may also be helpful for a variety of related professions, such as those in education, occupational or physical therapy, nursing, and other health care careers.
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions
Contact Undergraduate Admissions at (800) 477-4863 or email admissions@une.edu. You can also stop by our office on the Biddeford Campus Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.