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Health psychology is a multidisciplinary specialization that explores the biological, social and psychological factors that influence people’s behavioral decisions and their impact on health, wellness and illness.1 The Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in Health Psychology at Grand Canyon University can prepare future health psychologists to support individuals in their quest for a physically, mentally and cognitively healthy lifestyle. With an education in health psychology, you will examine the interrelationships of body, mind and spirit as you prepare to enrich the lives of those around you.
Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in health psychology can enable you to dive into current theories, statistics and data analysis. Apply research-based interventions to inspire healthy behavior changes in diverse communities. This program teaches you how to practice a holistic approach to healthcare as you reflect upon what motivates people to make health-related decisions, how people recover from illnesses and how they cope with chronic conditions.
GCU seeks to graduate students who are skilled communicators and inspired servant leaders. As a GCU student, you are encouraged to apply the Christian perspective to your coursework. There is an emphasis on moral considerations in theory and application, and you are guided in acquiring an ethical framework to implement in your professional practice.
At GCU, you can dive into timely topics in health psychology online courses. Designed with the needs of working professionals in mind, our MS in Psychology online program connects learners from diverse backgrounds and places to experienced instructors. Benefit from the flexibility of working through course materials from virtually anywhere and engaging in academically stimulating discussions on our interactive e-learning platform. Our students have access to a variety of support resources, including technical support and web-enhanced learning tools.
This master’s degree in psychology is designed to equip you to evaluate the many factors that influence individual and societal health, and to support people to work toward positive change. You will be taught to design and implement policies and programs intended to inspire healthy lifestyle modifications.
In a comprehensive range of health psychology courses, you will be taught the following core competencies:
Health Behaviors
The promotion of health behaviors at the individual and community level, with a focus on prevention programs and the utilization of media
Intervention and Prevention
The implementation of community-wide change throughout intervention, prevention and program evaluation
Public Policy
Current public policy and the issues and controversies that affect the health psychology field
Lifestyle
The lifestyle factors that promote health and wellness across the lifespan
Toward the conclusion of this Master of Science in Psychology degree program, you will complete a capstone course. You will explore and present your original research ideas and examine relevant occupations in order to prepare for a health psychology career.
Graduates with a master’s in psychology: health psychology emphasis may consider careers that touch upon the interrelated nature of the body, mind and spirit. After you complete this master’s in psychology online or on campus, you may choose to pursue a doctoral degree to further enhance your health psychology career qualifications.
You can position yourself to pursue roles across a range of settings, including:1
Hospitals and other healthcare organizations
Private practices
Specialty Practices
Universities
Government agencies
Corporations
You may also choose to pursue a research-based position. Examples of what qualified health psychologists may do include:
You can feel confident knowing that GCU’s top priority is to adhere to high academic standards. As an institutionally accredited university, we develop curriculum with the goal of providing quality education across each department. Furthermore, the Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Before committing to a particular course of study, it can be helpful to further explore the field and the potential career outcomes. GCU has compiled the following FAQs and answers to guide your decision-making process.
A master’s in psychology with an emphasis in health psychology can be a good fit for you if you’re fascinated by the mental and behavioral factors that influence health and want to help others lead healthier lifestyles. It can also be worth it if you’re interested in having career flexibility, as health psychology professionals can find work in a variety of settings — from hospitals to universities to governmental agencies.2 Additionally, earning a master’s degree can be a good option if you’re thinking of preparing to earn a doctoral degree in psychology to position yourself for possible career advancement.
When considering the landscape of health psychology jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the most reliable resource. The BLS does not report job growth data for health psychologists specifically. However, it estimates that job growth for all types of psychologists will increase by 6% from 2022 through 2032, faster than average. This indicates that employers expect to hire about 12,000 new professionals during this time period.3
Earning a master’s in psychology with an emphasis in health psychology online degree from an accredited university helps to ensure you receive a quality education aligned with industry standards. At GCU, your online master’s degree courses are taught by experienced faculty.
Health psychology and general or clinical psychology are similar yet distinct. Health psychology is a specialty field within the broader psychology umbrella. Both health psychologists and clinical psychologists study psychological or mental health. Health psychologists tend to focus more on research, while clinical psychologists focus on treating individual patients. Because of this, the former often work in teams, while the latter will more often work one-on-one with people.4
In addition, clinical or general psychologists tend to focus on administering therapeutic modalities to help clients reduce unwanted symptoms of mental health disorders. In contrast, health psychologists develop programs and treatment plans to encourage good decision-making for the purpose of supporting physical health. For example, a clinical psychologist might treat someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while a health psychologist might work with people who are trying to quit smoking.4
Health psychologists use psychological science to promote health, prevent illness and improve public health policies. Health psychologists can work in a variety of settings and for many different employers. They can perform a diverse range of tasks, including conducting research, influencing healthcare policy, leading clinical interviews and behavioral assessments, participating in group or individual intervention programs and helping patients understand and cope with a diagnosis. In short, a career in this field can lead to many different opportunities.5
Aspiring health psychologists need a firm grasp of field-specific expertise that they can gain during their years of education and training. For example, they need to know how to conduct clinical assessments, identify underlying factors that influence behavioral choices, develop intervention plans and deliver patient education that focuses on health promotion. Soft skills are important, as well, and these include:6
Explore the various MS in psychology emphases offered by GCU.
Prepare to help make a positive impact on individuals and whole communities as a psychology health and wellness professional. Apply today to earn your MS in Psychology online at GCU.
1 American Psychological Association. (2014, October). Health Psychology Promotes Wellness. American Psychological Association. Retrieved Dec. 6, 2023.
2 Cherry, K., MSEd. (2023, March 1). Studying Health Psychology and Illness. VeryWell Mind. Retrieved Dec. 6, 2023.
3 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists. Retrieved on Dec. 6, 2023.
4 Schieltz, M. (2017, July 5). Major Differences Between Clinical Psychologist & Health Psychologist. Career Trend. Retrieved Dec. 6, 2023.
5 American Psychological Association. (2014). Pursuing a Career in Health Psychology. American Psychological Association. Retrieved Dec. 6, 2023.
6 Indeed. (2023, March 10). How to Become a Health Psychologist (Plus Duties and Skills). Indeed. Retrieved Dec. 6, 2023.
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
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).
