Online Health Psychology Certificate
Online Health Psychology Certificate
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Psychological and behavioral factors can significantly influence a person’s physical health and well-being. The specialization of health psychology examines how social factors, behavior, psychology and biology come together to shape health and illness.
You can study this health services field with the online certificate in health psychology at Grand Canyon University. The health psychology certificate may serve as a supplemental career credential for working professionals who have a background in counseling, psychology, nursing or social work. This graduate certificate is not a licensure program and does not prepare students to become a licensed professional.
Explore the intersection of physical, mental and behavioral health. Benefit from the insightful lectures of knowledgeable instructors, and from the diverse perspectives of your peers. Earn your health psychology graduate certificate online via our dynamic online learning platform.
Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the health psychology graduate certificate program examines the psychological, social and behavioral factors that affect individual and community health. You can develop an understanding of how to promote the behaviors that lead to positive health outcomes. Effective coaching practices for individuals are taught, along with the promotion of community-wide change.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective May 2021, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists, retrieved on Feb. 6, 2023.
In this certificate program, you will explore the future of health psychology.
The curriculum examines current public policy, careers in the health psychology field and other related issues and controversies, such as:
Health Behaviors
The use of preventive programs and media tools to affect health behaviors at the individual and community-wide level
Lifestyle Factors
The lifestyle factors that impact wellness, with a particular focus on exercise, nutrition, substance use and weight control
Community-wide Programs
Intervention, prevention and program evaluation for the implementation of community-wide programs that support health and illness prevention
Survey Design and Public Policy
The fundamentals of survey design and public policy in the healthcare field
Health psychologists can work in a range of settings. Clinical health psychologists often work one-on-one with patients, helping them adopt healthy behaviors and reduce their risk of illnesses. Some health psychologists focus their careers on research, such as exploring causes of health problems and how to help patients who are struggling with illnesses or pain. Some health psychologists may do public policy work, either in agency settings or governmental organizations. They may advise on healthcare reform or address inequalities in healthcare.
This health psychology graduate certificate may serve as a supplement for currently active psychology, counseling or nursing professionals. The online certificate in health psychology may enhance career opportunities and enable graduates to focus their work in their area of interest. It may also prepare learners to pursue an advanced degree.
Get started on your graduate certificate in health psychology today. Complete the form on this page to get your questions answered.
If you are interested in advancing your skills with a health psychology certificate, read further for our answers to these frequently asked questions.
To become a health psychologist you will need to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology. Some states require licensure to practice as a health psychologist so it’s important to know your state’s requirements ahead of time. If you are an active psychology or nursing professional who wants to study a specific area of interest, then consider earning a graduate online certificate in health psychology. This is a flexible and convenient way to build new skills and add an education credential to your name.
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t report on health psychologists specifically, the BLS does report that job openings for psychologists, in general, are expected to grow 6% from 2021 to 2031. This equals to about 14,100 projected openings each year over the decade.1
Health psychology is also called medical psychology or behavioral medicine. Health psychology courses examine how biological, social and psychological factors affect health and well-being. Health psychologists, or medical psychologists, aim to promote overall health and prevent illness.
Earning a health psychology graduate certificate allows you to build upon your professional skills which can help you position yourself for further career prospects. It can also help if you are looking to pursue an advanced degree or specialize in an area of health psychology.
Online: $600 per credit [More Info]
The University will accept one course of the total certificate requirements in transfer.
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
