The Center for Workforce Development 

Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Services

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and Human Services program is a cornerstone of our Workforce Development Initiatives. Our bachelor's completion program, which is offered through a blended model with a combination of online courses, gives students an affordable option to complete their undergraduate degree, transferring credits from previous study or an associate's degree, while continuing to work in the human services field.

Alcohol and Drug Education and Psychology Training (ADEPT) Center

The Alcohol and Drug Education and Psychology Training (ADEPT) Center at William James College provides training and works collaboratively with treatment providers, educational partners, and other leaders to increase the number and capacity of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) professionals.

College-Wide Concentrations and Training Programs

There are many academic concentrations and training programs at William James College that focus on unserved groups and underserved communities. These programs, which are housed within different academic departments and Centers of Excellence at the College, educate students to be culturally responsive practitioners and support the College's Workforce Development Initiatives.

Behavioral Health Initiative*

Behavioral Health Initiative (BHI) Scholarships are available to students who are planning to enroll in the Counseling Department's MA program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (on campus or online) and who exhibit a strong dedication and commitment to the delivery of human services in a behavioral health setting. The scholarship is a 20% tuition reduction. Student fees remain the same for all enrolled students and are not impacted by the scholarship.

*The BHI Program is managed by the Counseling and Behavioral Health Department for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling on-campus and online programs.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI)

The William James College Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative aims to expand and diversify the child and adolescent behavioral health workforce through the development, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative pipeline program focused on cultivating and educating culturally compassionate providers.

Serving the Underserved Scholarship Program

This scholarship reflects William James College's commitment to promoting social justice and addressing mental health disparities among disenfranchised populations in the U.S. The highly competitive scholarship, which covers 2/3 of tuition costs, recognizes the achievements and promise of students committed to pursuing master’s (MA), certificate of advance graduate studies (CAGS) or doctor of psychology (PsyD) degrees.

Specialized Training and Academic Retention (STAR) Fellowship Program

Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, the STAR Fellowship Program aims to diversify the behavioral health workforce by retaining first-generation college students and students from low-income backgrounds; and equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and training to provide culturally responsive services and address mental health disparities in primary care settings and medically underserved communities.

Leaders in Diversity and Resilience (LDR) Fellowship Program*

Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, the LDR Fellowship Program aims to diversify the behavioral health workforce by retaining first-generation college students and students from low-income backgrounds and groups under-represented in the counseling field, and equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and training to provide culturally responsive services and address mental health disparities in primary care settings and medically underserved communities.

*The LDR Program is managed by the Counseling and Behavioral Health Department for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling on campus program.

HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program

Over a four-year period, this HRSA-funded initiative will provide stipends and training for 80 graduate students with an interest in serving high need and high demand areas, and who are themselves from culturally diverse backgrounds, in a broad range of partnering field education sites in integrated behavioral health and primary care settings. A special focus is placed on demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the specific needs of children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth who are at risk for behavioral health disorders.

HRSA GPE/OWEP Grants Training Opportunities

HRSA has awarded William James College $2.7 million over three years to train doctoral students to work along with physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel to prevent, diagnose and treat substance use disorders and in particular opioid use disorders. These grant awards, titled the Graduate Psychology Education Program (GPE) and the Opioid Workforce Expansion Program (OWEP), are both focused on expanding and diversifying the behavioral health workforce to meet the growing and critical need for qualified mental health professionals in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Behavioral Health Service Corps℠ (BHSC)

The Behavioral Health Service Corps℠ is a paid year-long service and learning opportunity for recent college graduates which provides an entry-level career experience in behavioral healthcare along with credits towards a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Scholars spend the year becoming familiar with the work of behavioral healthcare, understanding the needs of different populations, and receiving mentoring in becoming professionals in this field.

Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Program

The Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Program is an opportunity for students of any age who have not completed a bachelor's degree to explore a career in behavioral healthcare. Funded by HRSA’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals, the program, which is completed in one year, is a full-time paid fieldwork experience at a behavioral health agency paired with training, mentorship, career counseling, and professional development seminars at William James College.

Teaching Faculty Fellowship*

The Teaching Faculty Fellowship aims to recruit, train, and mentor new faculty who have completed their graduate degrees in clinical or counseling psychology. The primary goal of the Fellowship is to develop a critical mass of exceptionally talented and well-trained faculty members who are historically underrepresented in academic settings.

*The Teaching Faculty Fellowship is a collaboration between the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Center for Workforce Development, the Office of Educational Development and Innovation, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Leadership in Community Behavioral Health Fellowship

Leadership in Community Behavioral Health (LCBH) Fellowship is designed to address a significant shortage of behavioral health clinicians, supervisors, and organizational leaders from culturally diverse backgrounds. Funded by Mass General Brigham, the Fellowship is open to recent graduates from the fields of counseling, psychology, and social work and prepares them to serve as licensed supervisors and organizational leaders in community health centers and other community-based agencies that provide behavioral health services to historically marginalized and underserved populations.

PATHWAYS Program

The PATHWAYS Program is a unique campus-community collaboration that places William James College graduate students in urban school settings to provide consultation, family outreach, and culturally responsive behavioral health services to students.