Clinical Psychopharmacology (MS) Program

Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: Who enrolls in this Program?

A: MSPP's Clinical Psychopharmacology Degree Program is specifically designed for licensed psychologists, advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and pharmacists.

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Q: Why would health care providers in psychology seek this degree?

A: Psychologists who seek this degree recognize that the majority of their psychotherapy patients utilize psychopharmacology in their treatment. They want a broader and deeper understanding of how psychoactive medication works in order to most competently provide care for their patients. The knowledge and skills psychologists will gain from this program will assist them in expanding their practices and serving as consultants, in several states, including Massachusetts, to prescribing medical professionals. The skills built in this program will especially help address the critical needs for services in child mental health and in services to seniors. Some psychologists take the program because they are passionate life long learners and recognize that their training in biology and neuroscience has been inadequate. Others seek this training to become advocates for independent prescription authority for psychologists.

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Q: What benefits do advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and pharmacists gain by attending this program?

A: Medical healthcare providers who are prescribing, managing or educating patients on psychoactive medication will gain a broader and deeper understanding of psychology, mental illness and mental health, as well as other dimensions of effective patient care and collaboration. The program also serves as a strong review and update of the most current issues in neuroscience and psychopharmacology.

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Q: How is the program structured to meet the needs of professionals from various disciplines?

A: The program is structured in two tracks. Each track respects and recognizes the prior training and skill level of the different health care professionals and focuses on the needs of each. While the groups will convene for selected care courses, they will also study subject areas with their discipline that are specifically suited to the enhancement of their careers.

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Q: How long will the program take to complete?

A: The program is a distance learning format with 12 days of on campus instruction each year. Students meet for a Thursday through Sunday module in September, November and January in Year I and September, Novemeber and May in Year II. In between these module meetings, students participate in weekly online lectures, chat rooms and discussion groups with their current faculty member. The program is designed as a four semester, two year program.

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Q. Can you describe your student body?

A. Our students have included intermediate and advanced career health care providers in psychology who work in medical school and hospital settings, in community mental health and primary care settings, in rural mental health care, in neuropsychology and health psychology, in private practice and in clinical research settings?

Our students have also included Advanced Practice Nurses and Nurse Practitioners and D. Pharm professionals from primary health care settings, school and college settings, correctional settings, and from the military.

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Q. Can you describe the faculty?

A. The faculty are from the disciplines of psychology, adult and child psychiatry, neurology, neuroscience, nursing, pharmacology, family medicine, and physiology. Our students have consistently commented on the high caliber of pedagogy in the program.

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Q. How can I learn more and how can I apply?

A. Contact MSPP Admissions at 617 327 6777 x210 or admissions@mspp.edu The application can also be found online.

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If you have other questions, please contact us at Admissions at 617-327-6777 x210 or admissions@mspp.edu

Updated 10/11/07