Health psychology students study the mind-body connection. They explore how patients respond differently to illness and why they have poor health habits, turn to substance abuse, or seem unable to stick to medical advice. In clinical settings, health psychologists conduct interviews and assessments, offer patient education and counseling and perform interventions. In the research setting, health psychologists may explore specific clinical populations to understand treatment obstacles and trends.
The BLS reports that most states require psychologists to hold a doctorate in psychology, have completed an extensive internship, and have accrued at least two years of professional experience in the field as part of a post-doctoral program. In addition to holding a mandatory state license, health psychologists can also obtain voluntary certification from American Board of Professional Psychology.
Associate Health Psychology Degree Programs
A two-year associate degree program in psychology provides the basic, introductory coursework in the field in theory and methodology. Associate degrees in psychology come with associate in arts (AA) and associate in science (AS) designations. They won’t qualify anyone for a job as a health psychologist, but for those who want to go on to graduate school, an associate degree can be instrumental in building core skills toward a career.
The associate degree provides students with an introduction to psychology and a general education in the arts and sciences required by most institutions for a bachelor or four-year degree. During the program, students develop communication and analysis skills vital for college-level work in the major.
Bachelor’s Degree Health Psychology Programs
Completing a bachelor’s degree in health psychology can be the next step for the aspiring professional. Many programs either require or offer voluntary internships through which students gain practical experience essential for qualifying for many graduate school programs. Many graduate schools offering advanced degrees leading to licensing in health psychology do not insist that applicants hold an undergraduate degree in the field. Consequently, many who go on to earn a specialist or doctoral degree hail from undergraduate programs in fields such as psychology, sociology, nursing, biology, philosophy, or a related field if coupled with job or voluntary experience. And while there are institutions that offer a bachelor of science degree in health psychology, students should note that the degree will not qualify them for work as licensed psychologists. They may find entry-level roles at community and mental health clinics.
Differences in Bachelor’s Degree Types
In deciding on an arts or sciences designation, students should examine the career goals. The two degrees offer a different educational emphasis. The arts designation may be more suited to clinical or social service aspirants, while the science focus may apply more distinctly for psychological researchers and analysts. Because the profession is considered to be “biosocial” in nature, (APA), professionals are expected to prepare for both clinical activities and research.
The B.A. in psychology typically favors a liberal arts approach in social sciences and humanities.
The B.S. in psychology puts a heavy influence on sciences such as anatomy and physiology, biology, and information systems.
Master’s Degree Health Psychology Programs
Although full licensure requires applicants to hold a PhD or PsyD in health psychology, earning a master’s degree in the field or related psychology specialty may prepare graduates for doctoral work or to take jobs as supervised practitioners and research assistants. Master’s programs offering health phycology degrees are distinguished by the clinical, research, and advocacy focus of the school.
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Time to Degree
2 years beyond the bachelor’s degree
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Application Requirements
Bachelor degree in psychology or related field. Graduate school (GRE) test scores.
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Total Credits
36
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Coursework in the Major
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Graduate Multivariate Statistics and Experimental Design
- Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
- Neuropsychology
- Health Promotion
- Behavioral Epidemiology
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Program Outcomes
- Students deepen their understanding of theories and concepts within their specialization.
- Students understand and apply methodologies in research design, measurement, and data analysis.
- Graduates apply advanced clinical and research knowledge at their current institution or through a new role in psychology.
- Students have completed much of the graduate-level coursework applicable to doctoral-level degrees.
- Students may qualify for pre-doctoral internship placements to build hours toward licensing or to satisfy PhD admission requirements.
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Specializations at the Master’s Degree Level
The area of specialization gives graduate students en-route to their doctorates an opportunity to deepen their preparation for a special area in the PhD. One or more health psychology specializations set the trajectory of a student’s career. These include:
- Public/General Health (research and administration)
- Community Health (leadership and policy development)
- Critical Health (research and advocacy)
- Clinical Health (prevention and intervention)
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Thesis/Non-Thesis Options
Master’s degree programs in health psychology may offer two options based on the career goals of the graduate student. A MS thesis program may be best suited for students preparing themselves for a PhD program. Students receive credit for research hours and complete and defend an empirical thesis. The non-thesis mater’s pathway is more appropriate for grad students planning to pursue a doctorate in another health-related field or advance in their profession with a specialization in health psychology.
Sample courses from the Master’s Degree in Health Psychology Curriculum:
Year 1 Year 2 Master’s Statistics Cross-Cultural Psychology Psychopharmacology Organizational Climate and Culture Sensory Neuroscience Physiological Basis of Abnormal Behavior Language & Conceptual Development Conflict and Negotiation Clinical Research Design Leadership and Strategic Change Developmental Psychopathology Physiological Basis of Abnormal Behavior Theories of Personality Internship Physiological Basis of Behavior Thesis
Doctorate Degree Health Psychology Programs
Doctoral degree health psychology programs culminate with the awarding of a PsyD or PhD degree. Entry requirements and graduation outcomes of these doctoral programs vary. Prospective doctoral students should examine program application requirements along with the professional certification and licensing requirements in their state. Some doctoral programs require applicants to complete a one-year pre-doctoral internship in addition to a master’s degree for admission. Others may admit applicants with only a bachelor degree in psychology who have extensive supervised experience in the professions.
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Time to Degree
5-7 Years
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Application Requirements
Master’s or bachelor degree in psychology, pre-doctoral internship, professional recommendations.
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Program Outcomes
- Graduates are distinguished research scientists in the field of health psychology.
- Students complete doctoral-level studies in the biopsychosocial bases of health and illness.
- Graduates are experienced in methodological and statistical methodologies using univariate and multivariate techniques.
- Students can undertake pre and post-doctoral internships funded by grants and fellowships.
- Graduates that have completed all required supervised doctoral internships may be qualified for licensing.
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The time it takes to complete a doctoral degree in health psychology varies based on the student’s satisfaction of graduation and supervised internship requirements of the doctorate program and the number of acceptable graduate-level courses the student has completed in the major upon entry to the program. For programs incorporating the master’s degree program, the doctorate is comprised of:
- Core Courses & Electives
- Master’s Thesis
- Clinical Practicum/Seminars
- Comprehensive Clinical Examination
- Doctoral Dissertation
- pre-Doctoral Internship
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Here is a list of courses selected from current doctoral degree programs in health psychology:
- Research Design and Quantitative Methods
- Advanced Developmental Psychology
- Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology
- Advanced Psychopathology
- Diversity Issues in Health Psychology
- Practicum in Community Psychology
- Advanced Biological Bases of Behavior
- Multivariate Statistics
- Pre-doctoral Internship
- Supervision and Consultation
Differences between the PsyD and PhD Degree
The type of doctoral degree in Health Psychology may influence everything from the kinds of work the graduate may legally perform to the types of employment and employers that hire. The PsyD degree is generally considered to be a clinical doctorate, with the weight heavily placed on practice and practice-related research. Coursework is coupled with field work and a dissertation. The PhD degree may be better suited for health psychologists building a career in education and institutional research. The PhD program places weight on independent scholarly research over the hours otherwise required for clinical practice.
Post-doctoral Health Psychology Fellowships
Doctoral graduates seeking supervised internship hours to fulfill licensing requirements from the ABPP can apply for post-doctoral fellowships with their current universities or with other university medical centers, health psychology programs, or health centers. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) sponsors post-doctoral training and clinical residency grants to support health psychologists.
About Clinical Health Psychology Certification
The American Board of Professional Psychiatry (ABPP) is the nation’s primary board offering the voluntary Clinical Health Psychology Certification. The credential is may be required (in addition to licensing) in the state in which a newly minted PhD in Health Psychology intends to perform clinical practice or conduct research.
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in professional psychology from an institution accredited by the APA or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). In addition, applicants must have completed a one-three year APA/CPA accredited Clinical Health Psychology postdoctoral fellowship, depending upon their specialty.
Resources for Health Psychology Students
The following organizations, associations and institutions support the ongoing development of qualified health psychology professionals. Students will find the links useful for conducting research, developing peer and mentor communities, seeking grants, and learning about significant findings in the professions.
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American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
AACAP membership is comprised of medical students, families and children, and medical students, providing a balanced perspective from practitioners and patients.
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American Board of Professional Psychology
The board is responsible to provide “oversight certifying psychologists competent” in the specialized fields of psychology through its certification programs.
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American Psychological Association Division 38
The APA’s flagship website for health psychology serves students and early career professionals with a networking program that matches researchers or provides mentors.
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Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research
Through publications and meetings, the ABMR provides advanced as well as emerging scholars with an international forum dedicated to behavioral medicine.
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American Academy of Health Behavior
Founded in 1997, the AAHB promotes education and research programs in the health fields, with a commitment to assisting new scholars through disseminating emerging research.
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American College of Behavioral Medicine
ACPM is a non-profit association of research professionals, behavioral practitioners and physicians dedicated to the development of disease prevention, health promotion and healthcare systems.
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Association for Psychological Science
With 25,000 members, the APS is the largest research-focused organization concentrating on general psychology.
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Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing (Princeton University)
The CRCW hosts lectures, conferences and seminars as part of ongoing research in childhood and family health initiatives, policy, and migration issues.
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Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Published monthly, the WHO bulletin has been ranked in the top-ten of public and environmental health journals round the world. Peers can review or submit articles across the spectrum of health care research.
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Center for the Advancing Health
CFAH’s Health Behavior News Service disseminates peer-reviewed behavioral studies on patient engagement, health disparities and other related topics.
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Center for Health Decision Science (Harvard University)
The center conducts extensive research using cost-effectiveness analysis and simulation modeling to address topics including health care costs, mortality and quality of life.
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Center for Healthcare Policy (Duke University)
Research and advocacy organization dedicated to population-based health systems and policy.
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Community-Campus Partnerships for Health
This non-profit organization coordinates partnerships between community organizations and academic institutions to promote health equity through research and programming.
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Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology
The council was formed by chairpersons or directors of Departments of Psychology to support graduate research and career development. It hosts an annual conference.
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Gateway to Communication and Social Marketing Practice (The Centers for Disease Control)
The CDC provides templates and communication tools for health promotion communications. Resources address campaigns, research, audience focus, and risk communications.
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Graduate Student Teaching Association
The American Psychological Association sponsors GSTA’s resources (journals, e-books, and peer-exchange) for psychology graduate student teachers.
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Health Policy Institute (Georgetown University)
Research projects focus on healthcare financing, policy, quality of care, outcomes, and mental health services.
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Health and Science Communications Association
The HeSCA membership is comprised of communications professionals that share resources and participate in studies related to the advancement or promotion of health policy.
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Health Psychology
Published monthly by the American Psychological Association, this journal features scholarly articles in topics including prevention, assessment, child and adolescent health, ethnicity and gender, innovations in theory and technology, and health disparities.
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The Health Psychologist
The Health Psychologist is the newsletter of the Health Psychology Division 38 of the American Psychological Association. Articles promote psychology education and services in the health professions along with details on current research in the field.
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Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Published quarterly by the American Sociological Association, the journal publishes empirical and theoretical articles related to health and illness from a sociological perspective.
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Journal of Health Psychology
The peer-reviewed journal is a preeminent international publication for health psychology students and professionals. The site hosts current and back issues, podcasts and previews of upcoming articles.
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National Alliance of Professional Psychology Providers
NAPPP is a good resource for networking and research. Members are healthcare educators, practicing psychologists, and related healthcare professionals.
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National Institutes for Health
The NIH sponsors programs for post-doctoral research in a wide range of psychology specializations.
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The National Science Foundation
About one-fourth of all research funded at American higher learning institutions are granted by the NSF. Find resources on grants and application procedures.
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Psi Chi
As the largest psychological association for students (more than 1 million members), Psi Chi assists students in conducting scholarly research across the diverse fields in psychology.
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Society for Occupational Health Psychology
SOHP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of research and dissemination of findings that benefit workplace health and well-being.