Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology

UConn’s Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology explores the interplay of psychological, social, and biological factors in physical health and illness.

Program participants engage with a variety of topics across multiple theoretical approaches, including health behaviors, risk and protective factors, and living with a chronic and life-limiting illness. This 12-credit certificate program is open to students currently enrolled in any UConn graduate program.

Program Overview

The field of health psychology applies psychological theory, methods, and treatment to the understanding and promotion of physical health. Health psychology is based on the biopsychosocial model, which posits that biological, psychological, and social processes are centrally and interactively involved in physical health and illness.

The UConn Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology has the following objectives:

  1. Introduce students to the field of health psychology.
  2. Provide a range of coursework in theoretical, methodological, and applied areas of health psychology so that students can customize their learning experience.
  3. Encourage students to engage in health psychology-related research and applications and prepare them for careers in health psychology.

Requirements and Courses

Participants in the program complete 12 credits of graduate coursework in health psychology. All students must take PSYCH 5120; other courses may be selected from the list of courses (below). Students who wish to petition for a course that is not on this list may do so by contacting the Executive Committee with documentation of the course content (e.g., syllabus, exam examples). Such courses cannot be from other institutions. Additionally, the Graduate School requires certificate students to earn at least a B (3.00) in all coursework.

Qualifying Courses

PSYC 5711. Behavioral and Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS

AH 5200. Design and Methodology of Behavioral Trials

AH 5319. Health Education and Behavioral Interventions for At-Risk Populations

AH 6094. Health Promotion, Disease and Disability Prevention Research Seminar

AH 6324. Critical Issues in Health Promotion, Disease and Disability Prevention

PSYC 5123. Occupational Health Psychology

PSYC 6300. Clerkship in Clinical Methodology (Note: This must be conducted within a health context in order to qualify as credit towards the certificate; only 3 credits may be used for the certificate)

ANTH 5352. Medical Anthropology

ANTH 5376. Ethnomedicine

COMM 5120. Communication Campaigns

EKIN 6425. Special Topics in Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan

GPAH 5309. Health and Aging

GPAH 6319. Behavioral Interventions and Health Education for At-Risk Populations

GPAH 6324. Critical Issues in Health Promotion, Disease and Disability Prevention

HDFS 5021. Culture, Health, and Human Development

HDFS 5255. Living with Chronic or Life-Threatening Illness

PUBH 5405. Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health

Note: Please also check the graduate catalog, department websites, and instructors for course availability. Not all courses are available in each academic year.

Faculty

The certificate program is administered by faculty in the Departments of Psychological Sciences.

Executive Committee

Crystal Park (Director)

Dean Cruess

Seth Kalichman

Admissions

Students must apply to the Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology via The Graduate School’s online application system. The application process is managed by The Graduate School, not the Department of Psychological Sciences, and is similar to the master’s/Ph.D. program application process.

 

Apply to the Graduate School

Application Requirements and Costs

Individuals who are currently enrolled in any UConn graduate program are eligible to apply for the Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology.

Applicants enrolled in the PSYC graduate program

Applicants must submit an online application via The Graduate School. The application fee is automatically waived for students currently enrolled in a UConn graduate program (certificate, master’s, or doctoral) when they apply to another graduate program.

In addition, applicants must upload the following documents to the online application system:

  • Unofficial copies of your transcripts
  • Single page CV
  • Brief personal statement regarding interest in the certificate (1 page)
  • Short letter signed by major advisor assenting to the application

Applicants enrolled in another UConn graduate program

Applicants must submit an online application via The Graduate School. The application fee is automatically waived for students currently enrolled in a UConn graduate program (certificate, master’s, or doctoral) when they apply to another graduate program.

In addition, applicants must upload the following documents to the online application system:

  • Unofficial copies of your transcripts
  • Single page CV
  • Brief personal statement regarding interest in the certificate (1 page)
  • Short letter signed by major advisor assenting to the application
  • Short letter signed by home department head or director of graduate program supporting the application

Contact Us

For questions about the Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology, please contact the program director:

Crystal Park

Professor of Psychological Sciences
crystal.park@uconn.edu

 

Students interested in the certificate should contact the Psychological Sciences Graduate Program Coordinator at psychgrad@uconn.edu to coordinate the appropriate forms and records for admission.