Applied Psychology - Health Psychology Concentration, MS

Program Description

Health Psychology is the scientific study of the psychological underpinnings and consequences of illness and health. Health psychologists address health conditions that have increasing prevalence in the U.S., such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Substance Use Disorders. Graduates of this program work in settings such as hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, public health or research organizations, government agencies, and educational settings.

Summary of Degree Requirements

The program consists of 39 credits. The coursework listed below is required. There is both a thesis and non-thesis option. The degree is not awarded solely on the basis of coursework completed. The final basis of granting the degree is the student’s grasp of the subject matter of the field of study, competence in planning and conducting research, and effectiveness of communicating adequately and professionally both orally and in writing.

Coursework

Core Courses-12 Credit Hours Required

• PSYC 6800 - Health Psychology 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8100 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods I 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8110 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods II 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8420 - Health Psychology Interventions 3 Credits  

Health-Psychology Content Courses-12 Credit Hours Required

Select 12 credits from the courses listed below:

• PSYC 8240 - Advanced Physiological Psychology 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8430 - Health Disparities in Psychological Sciences 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8440 - Drugs and Human Behavior 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8450 - Psychology and Aging 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8500 - Psychopathology and Health 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8510 - Theories of Psychotherapy 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8820 - Survey of Occupational Health Psychology 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8850 - Organizational Stress 3 Credits  

Psychology/Public-Health-Science Breadth Elective Courses-Nine Credit Hours Required

Select nine credits from the following:

• HLTH 8030 - Theories and Determinants of Health 3 Credits  
• HLTH (MICR) 8090 - Epidemiological Research 3 Credits  
• HLTH 8110 - Health Care Delivery Systems 3 Credits  
• HLTH 8130 - Population Health and Research 2 Credits  
• HLTH 8140 - Health System Quality Improvement 2 Credits  
• HLTH 8410 - Foundations of Evaluation in Health 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8330 - Advanced Cognitive Psychology 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8520 - Advanced Studies in Social Psychology 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8710 - Psychological Tests and Measurement 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8720 - Judgment and Decision Making 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8730 - Structural Equation Modeling in Applied Psychology 3 Credits  

Experiential Requirement-Six Credit Hours Required

• Option I:  PSYC 8910 - Master’s Thesis Research  (6 credits, including completion of an empirical master’s thesis research project)
• Option II: Any six-credit combination of PSYC 8950 - Applied Psychology Internship  and PSYC 8970 - Special Problems in Applied Psychology  

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements

Graduates of this program are able to a) analyze the dynamic psychology-biology interaction and its impact on health and disease, b) demonstrate how psychopathology, stress, pain, social and environmental factors impact health and wellness, c) discuss ways to develop strategies to mitigate health disparities, and d) estimate psychosocial interventions to promote health and mitigate the impact of illness.

To graduate, students must maintain a 3.0 or better grade-point average in all coursework with no more than one course earning a grade of C or below. Students completing the thesis option for experiential credits also must complete a thesis research project under the supervision of their thesis advisor and with the approval of at least two additional thesis committee members. For additional program policies and descriptions of faculty research, please review the Department of Psychology Graduate Program Website, particularly the graduate program handbook.