Best PhD in Health Psychology Degree Programs

Each institution and program usually has its own unique admissions standards and processes. Therefore, students should be sure to carefully follow the specific instructions for their institution. Most doctoral programs in health psychology require applicants to fill out the appropriate application(s) and take the GRE. Some programs may expect students to have excellent test scores on the quantitative and verbal portions of the GRE, but there may not be an official threshold score. Some programs also require students to meet a specific GPA requirement, such as a 3.5 or higher. Typically, applicants need to submit their official transcripts with their application, as well as any required supplemental materials, such as letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, and a personal statement.

Health psychology doctoral programs also usually have specific educational prerequisites for admission. Depending on the program, students can usually be accepted with only a bachelor's degree, but those with a master's degree may be at an advantage. Undergraduate applicants will likely need to demonstrate academic excellence with a high GPA, test scores, and/or prior coursework. Some programs prefer students to hold a degree in related areas, such as psychology or related health areas, including biology and public health. There are some doctoral programs that prefer students to have prior coursework in certain areas and other programs that require students to have so many hours in various subject areas. For instance, students may benefit from or be required to have prior coursework in areas like psychology, statistics, and research methods.

Many health psychology doctoral programs are available from regionally accredited schools. These institutions have met academic standards of quality for all of their degree programs across all degree levels. Some degree programs may also have program-level accreditation from an organization closely related to the subject area. In the case of graduate degrees in psychology, some of these programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). However, the APA only offers accreditation for clinical-related psychology programs, such as those in counseling, school, or clinical psychology. Therefore, most PhD programs in health psychology are not accredited at the program level. Those with a clinical health psychology concentration may fall under the clinical psychology accreditation for the school.

Like other traditional PhD programs, those in health psychology are commonly designed to be completed in 4 years. However, most programs give students several additional years to finish if it is taking them longer to finish their coursework and/or dissertation. For instance, some programs require students to finish their degree in 8 years. There are also some programs that offer fast tracks or other ways for students to finish their degree in less than 4 years. These students can usually finish their degree in about 3 years.

The structure of a program's curriculum varies, but in general, doctoral programs in health psychology include some core courses and some specialization or concentration courses. Some programs may conclude with electives. There are also some programs that allow students with only a bachelor's degree to earn their master's degree along the way. A master's degree may require around 40 credits, while the doctoral programs usually require 60 credits or more. Core courses for these programs commonly cover topics in ethics, psychology, and research methods. Psychology courses may provide students with an overview of different areas in psychology, such as courses in developmental, social, or health psychology. Research methods courses typically include multiple statistics courses and ethics courses examine how to conduct oneself professionally as a psychologist. Specialization courses in health psychology may include topics in changing health behavior, biopsychology, and research methods in health psychology. Other programs may have specialization courses in a given concentration area of health psychology. Depending on the program and/or concentration, students may also participate in hands-on learning experiences, such as practicum and internship experiences.

Preparing Your Health Psychology Dissertation

The multiple courses that students take in research methods and statistics help prepare students for writing their dissertation. A dissertation is a large research project where students develop a unique hypothesis and collect and analyze data to see if their hypothesis is supported or refuted. This project is typically broken into multiple steps that take place throughout the program, such as taking research methods classes or courses designed to explain the dissertation process. Once students have completed their coursework, they usually take a comprehensive exam to reach candidacy status in the program. Then, students begin working on a dissertation proposal that needs to be approved by their dissertation committee. This committee helps ensure that students are on the right track, using the right methods, and that the project meets dissertation criteria. Students that have earned their master's during the program may be able to continue work off of their required thesis project. After the proposal is approved, students begin collecting and analyzing data and writing their dissertation. The final dissertation must be defended in front of the student's dissertation committee.

Health psychology is sometimes offered as its own concentration, such as for some PhD in Psychology programs, but there are some PhD in Health Psychology programs that offer their own concentration areas. These concentration areas vary across programs. However, one common concentration area for these degree programs is in clinical health psychology. Clinical health psychology programs are designed for practitioners, not researchers. These psychologists interact with patients and can pursue board certification in the field to use the title 'clinical health psychologist'. Some of these concentrations are offered through a department's clinical psychology program that may be accredited by the APA. Clinical health psychology programs do require an internship experience, as well as other hands-on learning requirements, such as practicum experiences and clinical supervision training. Other possible concentration areas for health psychology programs include occupational health psychology, pediatric school psychology, or community health psychology.

Although health psychology degree programs are not usually available at the associate degree level, students can still choose from a wide range of bachelor's degrees and graduate-level programs in the field. Each program level helps students advance their careers in health psychology and qualifies them for more positions. Many of these programs are offered in flexible formats for working professionals and can also prepare students for further education in the field. Explore some of the different degree options at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Health Psychology Associate Degrees

Students interested in studying health psychology can begin their academic training with an associate degree in psychology to learn the fundamental theories and practices of the field. Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Arts (AA) degrees are widely available. These degree programs are also commonly available online and are designed to prepare students for further education in the field. Therefore, credits from these degrees can usually be transferred easily to a 4-year school and applied towards a bachelor's degree program in psychology. Students can earn their associate degree in 2 years or less and take a range of general education courses in addition to overview courses of psychology.

Health Psychology Bachelor's Degrees

While Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Psychology degree programs are more common, Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs are available as well. Some of these programs are offered online, and students can finish in about 4 years or less, depending on transfer credit. These programs are designed to give students a more in-depth look at psychology and provide some specialization courses in the field of health psychology. Even at this level, students may have the opportunity to participate in an internship or research experiences.

Health Psychology Master's Degrees

Master's degree programs in health psychology are typically offered as Master of Science (MS) degrees. These programs provide even further specialization in the field and begin to prepare students for different careers than jobs for those with a master's in general psychology. Some of these programs can be completed in as few as 16 months and may be offered online. There are also some programs that provide optional internship experiences for hands-on learning. Depending on the program, students may be able to choose from a thesis or non-thesis track.

Health Psychology Graduate Certificates

There are plenty of graduate certificate programs available in behavioral science, including those in health psychology. These programs are short and usually only require between 12 and 16 credits of coursework. Students who are interested in research, health promotion, or plan to work in health service delivery, but do not wish to commit to a master's program, may benefit from these certificate programs. Certificate programs in the field are often available in flexible formats for working professionals, including online and evening formats.

As mentioned, there are many different areas in psychology, and different degrees lead to different types of careers. For example, a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology, positive psychology, or transpersonal psychology usually leads to more counseling-related careers, while those in health psychology usually lead to careers in psychology research. Graduates in health psychology are in a unique position to search for careers in both the fields of psychology and health and human services. Students may also use their skills to work as consultants or move into the field of academia. Learn about a few career options below.

Become a Psychologist

Most psychologists, including research and clinical psychologists, need to have a doctoral degree in the field. Those who pursue a clinical track may be required to hold a license. In order to earn licensure, students typically need to have their degree, complete an internship experience, and complete some supervised work experience. Board certification is also available in a wide range of specializations, including clinical health psychology.

In general, psychologists work to understand human behavior. They study how the brain works and how people interact with their environment. Those in health psychology examine the connection between behavior, including decision-making, and physical and mental health. They study how different factors, such as biological, social, and psychological factors, affect health and illness. They may work with patients in various settings to help them make better, informed decisions about their health. Those in research may conduct experiments to explore why patients make certain health-related decisions.

Become a Medical and Health Services Manager

Some clinical health psychologists may oversee the different departments or areas concerned with health psychology at various kinds of healthcare facilities. These professionals serve as a kind of medical and health services manager. These managers usually have to have at least a bachelor's degree, but master's degrees are often preferred. It is also important that these managers have prior work experience in a clinical or administrative position. There are various professional certifications available for different types of medical and health services managers.

While specific job duties vary by position, medical and health services managers are primarily responsible for making sure their designated area is running efficiently and effectively. They usually have a range of administrative duties, including managing budgets, schedules, and files. They also help set goals for the department or area and figure out ways to reach them.

Become a Survey Researcher

Some graduates interested in research may decide to become a survey researcher. These researchers typically hold a master's or doctoral degree, but some entry-level positions may only require a bachelor's degree. These professionals can have degrees in the social sciences, including psychology, or other quantitative fields, such as marketing or mathematics. Experience, such as that gained through internships, can be helpful, and professional certification can help researchers stand out. For example, these researchers can earn the Professional Researcher Certification from the Insights Association.

Survey researchers create surveys to collect a wide range of data. They may also conduct different types of interviews after determining what kinds of questions to ask. Then, they carefully analyze the data through statistical methods and compile it in a report. Their work and findings can be used in a variety of settings and industries.

The benefits of joining a professional organization in one's profession include connecting with other professionals in the field and participating in various types of professional development opportunities. Professional organizations are designed to keep working professionals updated on current events in the field, as well as provide them with a range of resources. These groups also provide the general public with valuable information and work to promote the discipline. While there are a wide range of psychology- and health-related groups, there are some specifically for professionals in health psychology, including:

• American Academy of Clinical Health Psychology- The AACHP is a group that is designed for those who have earned board certification in clinical health psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). This group offers membership and mentoring opportunities in the field.
• Society for Health Psychology- The SHP is geared towards all health psychologists across a range of specializations, including clinical, occupational, acute, and community healthcare. The organization provides training resources, access to articles and publications, and a wide range of committees and councils that professionals can participate in.

The primary cost of earning a doctoral degree in health psychology comes from tuition and fees, but living expenses and other costs, such as books and materials, should also be considered. Each college or university usually has its own method for determining the cost of tuition and some institutions charge different rates per credit hour based on various factors, such as in-state vs. out-of-state residency or undergraduate vs. graduate study. Many schools charge additional fees on top of tuition, such as technology fees or residency fees (for online programs with some in-person residencies). Most often, tuition and fees do not include the cost of books and other course materials.

It is common for schools to help doctoral students find funding for earning their degree. Funding can come from a wide range of sources, including loans that students may qualify for by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There are some schools that offer doctoral programs in health psychology that provide funding through the first 4 years of the PhD program. This funding typically comes via tuition waivers that are provided through assistantships or fellowships.

Another great option for funding is scholarships, as these awards do not have to be repaid. These awards are commonly available from colleges and universities, as well as outside organizations, whether they are related to the subject area or not. In the case of psychology, students can pursue a wide range of scholarships. For instance, the APA provides an array of scholarships through the American Psychological Foundation (APF). One of these general scholarships, the APF Graduate Student Scholarship, awards between $2,000 and $5,000 to graduate students in psychology.