Mission

The mission of the Health Psychology program is to produce graduates who can apply the knowledge and skills of psychological science to the ethical solution of real-world problems that include, but are not limited to, those related to health; to support the development of critical thinking, evidence-based problem solving, communication, collaboration, and informatics skills; to prepare students to provide quality, patient-centered care that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health in the rapidly changing healthcare environment; and to provide a system of mentoring that encourages the pursuit of individual interests and preparation for direct employment and graduate training. The Health Psychology program aims to provide an engaging learning environment that includes opportunities for students to learn outside of the classroom and to work in interdisciplinary teams through service, field placement, and research.

The Health Psychology program supports the development of the knowledge and skills associated with psychological science among students in other programs through the introductory psychology course core curriculum requirement, the behavioral science general education requirement, and the Health Psychology minor. Through these mechanisms, the Health Psychology program teaches future healthcare professionals to recognize the biological, psychological, and social factors that are integral elements of each individual’s life and to integrate these factors to create a holistic understanding of human functioning. Behavioral science courses support interprofessional education by providing opportunities for students representing various healthcare professions to work together to solve health-related problems (e.g., adopting health-enhancing behaviors and eliminating health-compromising behaviors, addressing caregiver stress when treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease, creating a protocol to minimize a child’s anxiety in response to a medical procedure).