Health Psychology Degree Programs

Studying the Link Between Physical and Mental Health

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.