Master of Mental Health Science

This course is offered by the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health. Students can select from community mental health, child psychotherapy or generic pathways of adult psychiatry and mental health nursing to develop specialist skills.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• critically evaluate the available literature and identify gaps for research
• undertake practice-based research projects
• develop, apply and champion evidence-based best practice principles in their designated area of practice (community mental health/child psychotherapy)
• provide leadership in healthcare policy and practice reforms
• implement practice based changes to positively influence the delivery and outcomes of mental health care interventions and practices.

Students seeking to be considered eligible for professional recognition at graduate diploma level in the child psychotherapy specialisation need to complete all core and elective units in that specialisation. Successful completion fulfils one of the criteria for professionals to be employed under the Child Psychotherapists Award and to be eligible for membership of the Victorian Child Psychotherapists' Association.

This course consists of 12 units. All students complete two core units (12 points), and select one of the following options:

(a.) an additional 10 units (60 points) comprising core units* and electives in one of the available specialisations (minimum 36 points), and additional units from the chosen specialisation (if available) or any specialisation or the general electives in the course to the total number required. The specialisation will be acknowledged on the student's testamur.

(b.) an additional 10 units (60 points) chosen from any of the core and elective unit offerings, for which no specialisation will be recorded

(c.) an additional eight units (48 points) from either (a.) or (b.) - completed with a High Distinction (minimum 80 per cent) average score - and an agreed supervised research project (12 points).

* Students choosing this option must complete all core units in the specialisation.

Core units

All students must complete the following (to be taken in second or third year):

• SRH5001 Research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners

Research project/Minor thesis option

Minor thesis - 36 credit point option

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5001 Preparatory minor thesis
• MAP5002 Minor thesis

Research project - 24 credit point option

• MAP5000 - Research in advanced health professional practice
• MAP5010 - Advanced health practice research project

Specialisations

Child psychotherapy

Refer to 'Professional recognition' regarding completion of these units.

Core units

• CPS5001 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories I
• CPS5002 Normal developmental observation
• CPS5003 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories II
• CPS5004 Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents

Electives

• CPS5005 Principles of child psychotherapy
• CPS5006 Principles of adolescent psychotherapy
• CPS5007 Principles of short-term therapy and crisis work and
• CPS5008 Principles of working with parents.

Community mental health

Refer to 'Professional recognition' regarding completion of these units.

Core units

• CMH5001 Mental health practice essentials
• CMH5002 The context for mental health practice

Electives

• CMH5003 Concepts in mental health illness
• CMH5004 Recovery oriented mental health practice
• CMH5005 Mental health of the elderly
• CMH5006 Transcultural mental health

General electives

• FBS5001 Fundamentals of forensic behavioural science and
• FBS5002 The role of mental health in criminal offending

Minimum grade for course completion

A minimum pass mark of 50 is required for each unit.

Those students seeking to complete this course with a research project will require a High Distinction average over eight units to be considered eligible for the research project.

Minimum grade for articulation

Upon completion of this course, students will be ranked according to H1/H2A equivalence in order to establish eligibility for higher degree by research pathways.

Students wishing to exit this course may apply to graduate with one of the following, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award:

• 4510 Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Science
• 4509 Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Science.