Pellissippi State Community College is giving psychology students a new way to move beyond the classroom and experience the realities — and rewards — of a career in behavioral health.
Beginning this fall, Pellissippi State will offer Psychology of Personal and Societal Wellness, a course that includes a capstone project and internship at a local mental health facility. Students who complete the course will earn a Mental Health Technician Certificate along with valuable hands-on experience.
The course and embedded certificate are the first of their kind in the Tennessee Board of Regents system. Designed for students pursuing an associate degree in psychology who have completed required prerequisites, the program will allow students to learn alongside psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, counselors and social workers.
“We have found that students are not just looking to fulfill the requirements of their degree program, but also to get key exposure to their chosen field,” said Georgette Samaras, professor of psychology at Pellissippi State.
Pellissippi State is partnering with Covenant Health and the McNabb Center to provide that experience while helping address East Tennessee’s growing demand for behavioral health professionals.
Devan Johnson, president and chief administrative officer of Covenant Health’s Parkwest Medical Center and Peninsula, said the partnership will help prepare more people for meaningful behavioral health careers while strengthening the region’s workforce.
Jill Barnes, vice president of human resources at the McNabb Center, called the specialty certification “a level up” for students preparing to work with people experiencing mental health challenges.
The certificate also supports Pellissippi State’s vision of becoming a “career-immersion college,” where students have opportunities for real-world experience before graduation. That early exposure can help students understand the skills required for the work and determine whether the career is right for them.
“We believe with our hands-on academic model that we are fully giving students the chance to be successful in their field,” Samaras said. “They are going to help the next generation, which will face a growing need for these services.”
Pellissippi State Community College is a public community college based in Knox and Blount counties in Tennessee and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The college operates four campuses: Hardin Valley, Blount County, Strawberry Plains, and Magnolia Avenue.
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