Applied Prevention Science (Certificate)


At a Glance: program details

You can help meet the growing demand for a well-trained mental health workforce, whether at home or abroad. As a prevention specialist, you would be trusted to innovate and promote positive health outcomes for youth and families across diverse service delivery sectors. This certificate program sets you on that path.

ASU is not currently accepting applications for this program.


Program Description

Certificate Awarded: Applied Prevention Science (Certificate)

This graduate certificate program provides foundational and theoretical knowledge necessary for employment in the field of mental illness prevention and health promotion.

The program offers five courses totaling 15 credits. Training is self-directed, with one-on-one feedback from faculty. Specific training areas and assignments are highly relevant to job demands, including community-based program evaluation; evidence-based psychosocial interventions; prevention ethics including in diverse settings and with diverse populations; and community psychology, advocacy and funding seeking for prevention programming initiations and sustainment.


Degree Requirements

15 credit hours

Required Core (15 credit hours)
PSY 563 Prevention Planning and Evaluation in Service Settings (3)
PSY 564 Prevention Education, Communication and Service Delivery (3)
PSY 567 Prevention Organization and Community Change (3)
PSY 569 Professional Ethics, Growth and Responsibility in Prevention (3)
PSY 678 Preventive Psychosocial Interventions that Work (3)


Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology or in any health, mental health, or counseling-related field, from a regionally accredited institution, or an equivalent degree from an international institution that is officially recognized by that country.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

International students who need an F1 or J1 visa first need to apply to and be accepted into a graduate degree program prior to being considered for the certificate program. International students residing in the USA on other types of visas must adhere to all Graduate College policies and procedures regarding admission to be considered for admission to this certificate program.


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Career Opportunities

The certificate program in applied prevention science is valuable for those aspiring to work in fields that provide services to children and families in diverse settings such as schools, courts, community health centers and mental health agencies, child welfare, home visiting programs, foster care services and tribal behavioral health.

Career examples include:

  • behavioral health specialist
  • community and social service specialists
  • community health worker
  • prevention specialist

Attend Online

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program description and request more information here.

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.