Health Psychology
James Hall, Ph.D., Graduate Advisor
Patient Care Center Building
384
817-735-2334
E-mail: jhall@hsc.unt.edu
Core Graduate Faculty: Cipher, Franks, Hall, McGill
Concentration Graduate Faculty: Atkinson, Carroll, Balcazar, DeFiebre, Dillon, Fairchild, Forster, Gwirtz, Raven, Reeves, Shi, Shores, Simecka, Smith, Wordinger
Adjunct Graduate Faculty: Dodenhamer-Davis, Critelli, Doster, Doster, Guarnaccia, Glenn, Harrell, Kelly, Martin, Miller, Ramos, Toledo, Vosvick, Watson
Health Psychology is a natural science approach to the promotion of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, and the identification of etiologic and diagnostic correlates of illness and health. This program of study emphasizes an interdisciplinary understanding of biological, psychological, and social factors relevant to illness and health. The Health Psychologist seeks to understand these interrelationships and contribute to the body of scientific knowledge concerning disease prevention and health promotion.
Despite numerous scientific advances in understanding the mechanisms of disease and the development of treatments designed to prevent or recover from illness, many preventable and treatable conditions continue to persist and some are growing at an alarming rate. The Health Psychologist recognizes the influence of multiple factors as they interact to promote disease or sustain health. The human body and its surrounding environment are seen as a dynamic unit, with various levels of interaction occurring along a continuum from the molecular level to the social milieu. From this perspective, there are numerous points at which these components come together. Research in Health Psychology can positively impact the human health condition through the elucidation of critical relationships at any point along the continuum.
The program is broadly defined, with faculty representing a wide variety of research areas. The Health Psychology Program Faculty maintain active and productive research programs. Research interests of the core faculty include diabetes, obesity cardiovascular disease, aging, dementia, neuropsychology, neurobehavioral toxicology, cancer, HIV, pain and pain management, prevention and wellness, applied psychophysiology, public health, multicultural aspects of health, and psychoneuroimmunology. Students may also select basic animal research or applied human research with a pediatric or adult focus.
Students may enter the program with a variety of academic backgrounds, provided that they have fulfilled prerequisite courses. Students who have obtained a degree in the basic sciences must also have a minimum of 18 hours of undergraduate psychology coursework with a minim obtained GPA of 3.0 prior to admission to the program. Students who have obtained a degree in psychology, must also have a minimum of 18 hours of basic science courses with a minimum obtained GPA of 3.0 prior to admission to the program. The graduate training program involves basic courses in psychology, biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology; and advanced courses in selected topics. Students receive extensive training in research methodology and contemporary investigative techniques. Students perform original, publishable research and present their research findings at national scientific meetings.
Graduates with advanced degrees find employment in higher education,
industry, and government agencies.Degree Plans
A typical degree plan
in Health Psychology appears below. It is advantageous to the student to begin
graduate study in a fall semester. This degree plan may vary according to course
offerings in a given semester and each student s background and progress toward
dissertation research.
|
PhD Degree Plan for Cell Biology and Genetics | ||
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Year 1: Fall | ||
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BMSC 5600 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences I: Principles of Biochemistry |
4 SCH |
|
BMSC 5610 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences II: Molecular Cell Biology |
4 SCH |
|
BMSC 5940 |
Seminar in Current Topics: Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
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BMSC 5960 |
Biomedical Ethics |
1 SCH |
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PSYC 5700* |
Advance Quantitative Methods |
4 SCH |
|
|
|
14 SCH |
|
Year 1: Spring | ||
|
BMSC 5700 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences III: Physiology and Pharmacology |
5 SCH |
|
BMSC 5710 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences IV: Immunology and Microbiology |
3 SCH |
|
BMSC 5940 |
Seminar in Current Topics: Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
|
BMSC 5650 |
Laboratory Rotations |
3 SCH |
|
BMSC 5940 |
Health Psychology Concentration Care |
1 SCH |
|
|
|
15 SCH |
|
Year 1: Summer | ||
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PSYC 5030* |
Advanced Research Design |
4 SCH |
|
|
Health Psychology Concentration Care |
3 SCH |
|
|
|
7 SCH |
|
Year 2: Fall | ||
|
BMSC 5970 |
Techniques in Biomedical Sciences |
2 SCH |
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BMSC 5970 |
Individual Research |
4 SCH |
|
PSYC 5790 |
Advanced Physical Psychology |
3 SCH |
|
|
Health Psychology Concentration Care |
3 SCH |
|
|
|
12 SCH |
|
Year 2: Spring | ||
|
BMSC 5970 |
Techniques in Biomedical Sciences |
2 SCH |
|
BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
4 SCH |
|
|
Health Psychology Concentration Care |
6 SCH |
|
|
|
12 SCH |
|
Year 2: Summer | ||
|
PSYC 5640 |
Theories of Learning and Cognition |
4 SCH |
|
BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
2 SCH |
|
|
|
6 SCH |
|
Year 3: Fall | ||
|
BMSC 6010 |
Grant Writing |
3 SCH |
|
|
Health Psychology Concentration Care |
3 SCH |
|
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Electives |
6 SCH |
|
|
|
12 SCH |
|
Year 3: Spring | ||
|
PSYC 6810 |
Multivariate Procedures |
4 SCH |
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BMSC 6940 |
Individual Research |
3 SCH |
|
|
Electives |
6 SCH |
|
|
|
12 SCH |
|
Year 3: Summer | ||
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BMSC 6940 |
Electives |
3 SCH |
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|
|
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Year 4: Fall | ||
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BMSC 6950 |
Doctoral Dissertation |
3 SCH |
|
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Electives |
3 SCH |
|
|
|
6 SCH |
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Year 4: Spring | ||
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BMSC 6950 |
Doctoral Dissertation |
6 SCH |
|
|
|
6 SCH |
|
|
|
|
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Year 4: Summer | ||
|
BMSC 6950 |
Doctoral Dissertation |
3 SCH |
|
|
|
3 SCH |
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TOTAL |
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101 SCH |
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Health Psychology Concentration Core
The student is required to
select, within the first year, an area of concentration that reflects the
student s interest and intended area of Health Psychology research
specialization. A concentration core curriculum of 18-24 SCH will be developed
with the assistance of the students major professor and must be approved by the
graduate advisor.
*Denotes course offered by University of North Texas (UNT) in
Denton.
This page last updated Oct 25, 2006
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