The Department of Psychology offers graduate study leading to both Master’s and Doctoral degrees.  Students working toward the Master of Science (MS) degree may choose a concentration in either General Psychology or Clinical Psychology. Students working towards the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Psychology will focus on Clinical Health Psychology or Behavioral and Community Health Sciences (BCHS). 

Doctor of Philosophy

Graduate study in Health Psychology has a strong research focus on behavioral risk factors that impact health, such as stress, at-risk sexual practices, drug use, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, noncompliance with treatment regimens, etc. This program focuses on health service provision disparities in minority communities for diseases such as mental health, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and hypertension, as well as effective health promotion education and planning for those communities. The doctoral program in Health Psychology has two specialized areas of study: Clinical Health; and Behavioral and Community Health Sciences (BCHS). The Clinical Health specialization will prepare students to work in applied settings, such as hospitals, physical rehabilitation settings, outpatient clinics, and other health services settings as members of multidisciplinary teams. The BCHS specialization will train students to conduct research and to develop and implement community interventions. Both areas of study will emphasize research and grant-writing, as well as offer opportunities for students to develop teaching skills.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Health Psychology Doctoral Program, an applicant must:

1. Have a minimum of 15 semester hours in psychology, including at least one course in each of the following: 1) social, personality, cognitive, or developmental psychology, 2) research methods, quantitative methods, or experimental psychology, and 3) physiological psychology.  **Students applying to the Clinical Health Psychology program must have a course in abnormal psychology.
2. Submit official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate coursework.
3. Submit official GRE scores.  The GRE is required for all applicants, including those with a Master’s degree.
4. Complete a VSU Graduate School Application and the Psychology Department Supplemental Application, including a resume.
5. Submit a written personal statement (not to exceed three pages, double-spaced) that describes your personal background, academic experience, and future goals (professional and educational);
6. Submit three current letters of recommendation from professors, employers, and other professionals qualified to assess the applicant’s ability to complete doctoral studies. At least two letters should be from professors and/or psychologists.

Students who are most competitive for unconditional admission will have:

1. A minimum graduate grade point average of 3.00 on a scale of 4.0. Applicants with post-baccalaureate work, including those with Master’s degrees, must have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5.
2. Have a minimum verbal GRE score of 153 and quantitative GRE score of 144.

Those admitted with a master’s degree will undergo a credit audit to determine which credits will be accepted. If an applicant with a master’s degree completed a program with a non-thesis option, they will be required to complete a thesis. The course titles for the Health Psychology curriculum are listed below. A sample course sequence and complete descriptions for all the courses in the graduate inventory can be found in Appendix A. All courses have been approved by the appropriate VSU curriculum committees.

Health Psychology
Clinical Area of Study

Summary

Health Psychology:
Behavioral & Community Health
Sciences Area of Study

Summary