MASTERS PROGRAM IN Clinical Psychopharmacology (MS)

One Degree Program: Two Tracks to Career Opportunity

The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP) launched its Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Psychopharmacology in 2000. Initially designed to prepare psychologists for future prescription-writing privileges, the knowledge of psychotropic medications and their impact on patients’ presenting issues has led to a heightened level of patient care and the opportunity for psychologists to expand their practices through collaboration with prescribing physicians.

Since the program’s inception, MSPP has recognized that advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and pharmacists and other health care workers who prescribe, manage or educate patients about psycho-active medication can also benefit from advanced education in clinical psychopharmacology. Increased knowledge of mental heath issues and their relationship to and impact on overall health diagnoses not only increases the level of patient care, but empowers these medical professionals to work more effectively on health care teams.

Given that psychologists, and advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and pharmacists have different educational backgrounds, the program has been structured with the specific needs of each profession is mind. The first semester of the Psychology track focuses on anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology and the role of psychopharmacology in patient care. The first semester of the medical health care provider track focuses on psychopathology, the DSM-IV-TR and the role of mental health diagnoses in overall assessment and treatment.  While the programs run parallel, students do convene for specific core courses.

Program Objectives

• To provide students with a sound foundation in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, neuroscience, and cellular biology.
• To provide students with a sound foundation in principles of pharmacology and clinical psychopharmacology.
• To provide students with a thorough curriculum in the use of psychopharmacological agents across DSM-IV diagnoses and with special populations (e.g., chemical dependency, chronic pain, the pregnant patient, among others).
• To provide students with an appreciation of the professional, legal, and ethical issues in clinical psychopharmacology, and with an understanding of how to maintain a high standard of professional practice in a changing health care environment.
• To provide students with a heightened awareness of individual differences in clinical practice including, but not limited to, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, and environment.
• To provide students with the knowledge and resources to continue to adapt to new developments in clinical psychopharmacology.
• To provide students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of mental health diagnoses with an overview of effective assessment and treatment. This knowledge is then applied to understanding contemporary state of the art psychopharmacology.

See requirements for admission

Updated 11/19/07