Mental Health, Social
Service and Addiction Counseling (MHSSAC) is now open entry!
Important Note: Some external
links may be inaccessible. People requiring accommodations due to a disability
should contact Accessible Education Services at 503-491-6923 or aes@mhcc.edu.
Thank you for your interest in learning about
the exciting and rewarding field of Mental Health! Mt. Hood Community College's
Mental Health, Social Service and Addiction Counseling (MHSSAC) program is
the only all-encompassing 2-year degree in mental health
within the Portland-Metro area.
The MHSSAC
program uses a cohort model of delivering quality instruction. Students start
the program together, learn together and graduate together. The primary
approach in this program is "hands on" learning. This means there are
experiential parts to the classes including fieldwork, group work, and
videotaped interviewing sessions. This kind of training prepares graduates for
immediate employment upon graduation. Most graduates who seek employment in
mental health, early childhood, schools, corrections or child and family
agencies and so much more find work before or shortly after graduation. Other
graduates elect to go on for a four-year degree utilizing our great transfer
agreements to earn their bachelor's in counseling, social work, child and
family studies or gerontology.
If you are
interested and seeking more information about this amazing program, please
email Karen.Green@mhcc.edu to set up a meeting with her during her office hours.
Program Start
The MHSSAC program is six (6) terms in length
and begins with each FALL TERM ONLY each year. The current
program curriculum can be viewed here. In the meantime, if you are planning to take courses while waiting to start the program in the fall, we suggest the following, which can be completed during or in the program. An academic adviser can help you plan your course schedule.
- HE202
- HE207
- HE208
- Also, will need to take: WR121, WR122, MTH065 or MTH058, PSY201
& SOC204
The core program classes are mainly offered Mondays, Tuesdays
and Thursdays only, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. You will have Wednesdays and Fridays
off. See FAQ for program class schedule.
Student Enrollment
This is an open entry program. There is no
application process to register for program classes. Prospective students
register on a space available basis after meeting the reading,
writing, and math prerequisite requirements for the MHSSAC fall term class registration. Once the
program classes are full, students can be added to the waitlist.
Immunization,
Drug Screening and Other Requirements
While the MHSSAC
program is open entry, internship placement is at the discretion of the faculty
and internship sites supervisors. Therefore, the student may not be able to
complete the program if internship placement is either not obtained or
successfully completed.
Immunizations: Students must provide
documentation of the following before they start their internships:
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), 2 vaccines or positive titers
for all 3 diseases
- Varicella, 2 vaccines or positive titer
- Tuberculosis screening current within the last 12 months
- Hepatitis B, 3 vaccines and follow up titer
(Please note that the
Hepatitis B vaccine series takes 6 months to complete.) - Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (Tdap), current with the
last 10 years
Background Check: The program might require some students
to complete a criminal background check in order to be placed into certain
internships. If you have concerns about your background and success in the
program, feel free to discuss your concerns with Karen Green, Director of the
MHSSAC program.
Please Note: Prior person to person
assault charges may disqualify you from being placed with many of our agency
partners and ultimately has proven to be a significant barrier to employment in
certain Mental Health fields.
In
addition, some but not all of our internship sites require a DHS/CPS background
check.
Drug Screen: Students may be required to
complete a comprehensive drug screen while in the program if there is evidence of concerning behavior. In addition, students
may be required by a few internship sites to complete a 10-panel drug screen
before participating in a clinical rotation per the requirements of the
assigned clinical facility.
Sobriety for those with Substance Use Disorder: The
Mental Health, Social Service, and Addiction Counseling program is a rigorous
and personally challenging program. If you identify as a person who has
struggled with substance abuse disorder, we highly recommend that you have the
supports you need in place before you start the program in order to assure
success in this program.
Certification
No state board is required upon graduation. Those interested in
working as a Drug & Alcohol Counselor will need to take the CADC I or
students can sit for the QMHA test for further certification in the Mental
Health field. Please look into MHACBO for more information.
Transfer Option
The Mental Health, Social Service and
Addiction Counseling degree transfers directly to Warner Pacific College, Clark
College, and to Portland State University’s Child and Family Studies program
and Social Work program. Some students attend University of Portland’s Social
Work program, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, University of
Washington, Western Oregon University and some may elect to do online bachelor
degrees in social science. We are among the top programs at MHCC with students
who finish their AAS degree that go on to complete a Bachelor and/or Master’s
degree.
Estimated Program Costs
These costs are approximations and are subject to change without notice.
They are listed only as a guide for your financial planning. Tuition is
effective as of Fall term 2022 and subject to change without notice.
Item | MHSSAC 2-Year Degree (6 terms) |
Tuition Tuition is approximate and based on six terms in the program, does not include
prerequisites/preprogram courses. To view the current tuition rate,
visit www.mhcc.edu/tuition. | $13,870.50 |
Books* | $1,000.00 |
Total Estimated Cost | $14,870.00 |
*The textbook costs listed above are for your core classes
only and do not include costs for the general and related electives required
for the Associate of Applied Science Degree in MHSSAC.
Important Note: Students are responsible for
transportation costs to clinical practicum sites. Travel costs and licensure
fees are not included in financial aid reimbursable expenses.
Further
Considerations
Expectations
The Mental Health, Social Service
and Addiction Counseling program is a professional training program with high
performance and behavioral standards. The program has an excellent reputation
in the social service community and our interns and graduates are sought after
for employment. It is expected that students are prepared to commit themselves
fully to learning to become ethical and effective helping professionals and are
ready to focus on this goal. Excellent attendance, appropriate classroom
behavior, healthy interpersonal communication skills, and competent academic
performance are expected and rewarded throughout the program.
Personal Discoveries
It
is the teaching philosophy of the program that healthy helpers have examined
their own lives. You will be reflecting on your own developmental journey as
part of your studies and this may trigger strong emotions to the point that
outside support may be beneficial in processing these emotions. MHCC offers
five free counseling sessions that any MHSSAC student may utilize as needed.
You will be changing and growing as a result of the skills and theories
you learn in this exceptional program.
Click here to review Frequently Asked Questions.