Health Psychology

Introduction

The bachelor of science degree in Health Psychology prepares graduates for entry level positions in the health professions or for graduate study in psychology and related disciplines. It offers a well-rounded education in psychological theory and research, as well as a specilization in health psychology. The degree program offers the flexibility of customization to fit the student's long-term career goals.

Accreditation

Jefferson College of Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 3033-4097: Telephone number: 404-679-4501).

Mission Statement

The mission of the Health Psychology program is to prepare, within a scholarly environment, ethical, knowledgeable, competent and caring graduates who possess a firm foundation of psychological principles and their application to issues of health and wellness; are well positioned for graduate study or entry level employment in the health professions; and have a solid grounding in critical thinking, scientific inquiry and communications skills.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and values consistent with the science and application of psychology, as adapted from the American Psychological Association's Task Force on Undergraduate Psychology Major Competencies (APA, 2002). 

Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate familiarity with a broad knowledge base of psychology that includes psychological theory, research, and historical trends.
2. Understand and apply basic psychology research concepts, including research design, data analysis and interpretation of research findings.
3. Demonstrate the use of critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to problem-solving and reasoning.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the psychological and social determinants of health and healthy behaviors.
5. Understand and apply psychological principles to individual and community issues involving health and wellness.
6. Understand the application of behavior change techniques for the purpose of influencing healthy lifestyles.
7. Value empirical evidence, recognize and respect diversity of explanations, and act ethically and with academic integrity.
8. Be well positioned for graduate study or entry level employment in social service or health organizations as a result of a well-grounded foundation of knowledge and skills in psychology.
9. Demonstrate effective professional communication, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Health Psychology Program of Study

Please see the following list of required courses and potential electives for the Health Psychology degree, and their corresponding credit hours.  A sample plan of study is also provided below.

Core Curriculum Requirements for Health Psychology 

Electives

Additional courses at the 200 level or above serve as electives.  Students will work with their advisors to determine the best choice of electives for their career path.

Alternative Plans of Study

The Health Psychology program can be customized based on the student’s long-term goals.  Below are examples of electives the student might choose in preparation for advanced study in the following fields:

Masters in Physician Assistant Studies Preparation

• Microbiology with lab (4 credit hours)
• Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry with lab (4 credit hours)
• Immunology (recommended ) (3 credit hours)
• Genetics (4 credit hours)

Psychology Graduate Study Preparation

• Senior Research Seminar I and II (2-6 credit hours)
• Additional Psychology electives

Medical School Preparation

• Biology with lab (4 credit hours)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (4 credit hours)
• Physics with lab (4 credit hours)

CHES Certification Preparation

• 25 hours of CHES coursework

Transfer of Credits

Requests for transfer credit for courses taken at other accredited institutions of higher education must be submitted in writing to the Registrar’s Office.

• The course considered must be comparable in content and credit hours to corresponding Jefferson College of Health Sciences courses.
• Courses with a final grade of less than "C” will not be accepted for transfer.
• At a minimum, 33 percent of coursework for the B.S. in Health Psychology must be taken at Jefferson College of Health Sciences

All final decisions regarding transferability of course credit must be verified in writing by the Registrar.  Grades awarded through transfer credit are not included in the computation of grade point average at Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

Academic Policies

The academic policies for the Health Psychology program facilitate the development of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a competent, caring, ethical healthcare provider. Students enrolled in the HPSY program must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0. Change of major students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be admitted to the Health Psychology program.  Students in the HPSY program who drop below a GPA of 2.0 will be suspended from the program and will need to reapply once they raise their GPA above 2.0.  A minimum grade of “C” is required in BIO 211, BIO 212, and all courses with a PSY prefix.  Students in the HPSY program are expected to adhere to the College policy on academic honesty (see Academic Honor Code in this catalog).  Plagiarism, cheating, and lying are violations of this policy.