An academic adviser (https://www.mhcc.edu/AdvisingCenter) can help plan out which classes you can take prior to starting the program.

Although not required before starting the program, it is highly recommended that students take the following elective courses: PSY201, SOC204, SOC205, Foreign Language Elective and any college level Lab Science Elective. General education classes within the program you may take prior to beginning fall term include MTH058/MTH065, WR121 and WR122, HE202, HE208 and 1 credit of HE/PE.

The answer to this question may be very individual. If you have a job and a family, the workload will be heavier than if you are not working and/or have fewer responsibilities. This is a full-time program whereby students take 15‐18 credits per quarter.

A good way to estimate how much time you will spend studying would be to take the number of credits per week and multiply that by 2 hours of homework per credit. For example, 12 credit hours multiplied by 2 homework hours would equal 24 hours per week. Add the two: 12 hours in school + 24 hours homework = 36 hours per week.

We have graduates working as Mental Health Technicians at local residential and hospital treatment facilities; Social Service Assistants with Dept. of Human Services; Case Managers with agencies serving the elderly and mentally ill; Counselors in residential treatment facilities for teens and adults; Drug and Alcohol Counselors in a wide variety of human service agencies; Mediation and Negotiation specialists with families; Program Developers and Grant Writers. These are just a FEW of the many opportunities that await our graduates. Below is a list of potential job titles:

Look at these pathways: 

• Portland State University
• Clark College
• Washington State University - Vancouver
• Oregon Tech 
• Western Oregon University 
• Warner Pacific University 

If you have a criminal history, we strongly encourage potential applicants to contact our program adviser Karen Green, 503-491-7133, Karen.Green@mhcc.edu for more information.

If you have had a prior DUI or MIP charges you will need to disclose all of those charges in writing prior to being placed in an internship.

In addition, many but not all of our internship sites require a DHS/ CPS background check. You will not be qualified to work with vulnerable populations if you have had any prior involvement with these state agencies.

Prior person to person assault charges will disqualify you from being placed within many of our agency partners and might ultimately prove to be a significant barrier to employment in the Mental Health field.