BS in Health Psychology

Integrating Psychology with Broader Healthcare Knowledge

As a health psychology undergraduate, you will gain pivotal insights into behavioral, emotional, and cognitive factors that influence human health and social institutions—ideal preparation for fields ranging from traditional psychology, public health, and research to child life specialist, law, and architecture. Throughout your course of study, you will build a foundation in psychology as well as knowledge of healthcare issues from fields such as sociology, law, ethics, literature, history, and healthcare administration. You also will receive rigorous preparation in the basic sciences and liberal arts and training in research methods and statistics. Our four-year program in health psychology—one of only a handful in the US—takes place on our Boston campus and starts in the fall.

Your Four-Year Journey

Our in-depth curriculum combines biological, psychological, social science, and humanities coursework with career exploration and professional development.

First-Year Experience

form connections with members of the MCPHS community and develop strategies for success
learn about the breadth and applications of psychology
explore the ways in which biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and well-being

Second-Year Experience

develop the ability to critically evaluate and synthesize research to make evidence-informed decisions
deepen knowledge of psychological concepts related to the biological bases of behavior, human growth and development, and well-being
explore, compare, and develop strategies to succeed in careers of interest

Third-Year Experience

learn to design research and report findings
learn about healthcare ethics and the rights of medical patients
identify interesting career opportunities for individuals with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees

Fourth-Year Experience

gain experience in a career of interest through field placement and prepare for job and/or graduate school applications
identify various ways behaviors, thoughts, and emotions contribute to health and well-being through courses such as stress and illness, mind-body medicine, and nutrition and health
explore a topic of interest from biopsychosocial perspective

The Future of Healthcare is Interdisciplinary

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a way of life at MCPHS.

Students participating in an Interprofessional Education event.

Change Lives and Solve Real-World Problems

Training in health psychology gives you a wide range of integrated skills and career options for helping people live more productive and satisfying lives. It also equips you to collaborate and lead effectively in any professional setting or endeavor.

$81,040 median salary

for psychologists according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021

MCPHS: A healthcare think tank

Learning psychology at a university dedicated to the advancement of healthcare means that you are surrounded by peers who share your commitment to making a healthier world.

The MCPHS experience

#1 university in the U.S. for earning power

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College rankings for 2018 put MCPHS graduates on top.

MCPHS Community Voices

The lived experiences of MCPHS students, partners, and faculty tell an eloquent story. They illustrate just how our student-centered, teaching-first approach keeps us in the top tier of the country’s “most transformative colleges.” (Money magazine 2020).