Health Psychology Courses
Psychology of Human Sexuality (3 Credits)
Psychological foundations, sexual development and response patterns; male and female roles; individual and social attitudes, legal issues.
Health Psychology (3 Credits)
Psychological and behavioral factors related to physical illness and health promotion, including such areas as aging, stress and coping, pain, addiction and eating disorders.
Psychological Determinants of Health Disparities (3 Credits)
Current research, theory, and applications related to the psychological determinants of health disparities that are experienced as a function of population characteristics, including race/ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation.
Health Behavior Change (3 Credits)
A theoretical and practical introduction to health behavior change. The course explores the social and behavioral theories that guide the understanding of health behavior and describes how these theories are translated into testable interventions for health promotion, risk reduction, and treatment.
Sexuality and Health (3 Credits)
This course reviews the field of sexual health research, sexual health policy, and sexual health education and intervention, as well as specific topics such as the role of gender, sexual orientation, and personal motivation in sexual health.
Coping with Chronic Disease (3 Credits)
Focuses on current knowledge of psychological adjustment to chronic health conditions, including - intrapersonal, interpersonal and social determinants of adjustment using theory and empirical evidence within a stress and coping framework. Emphases are on interdisciplinary approaches and critical thinking, including links to theoretical, empirical, and applied foundations of the field.
Interpersonal Relationships and Health (3 Credits)
This course will familiarize students with current research, theory, and applications related to interpersonal processes and health, emphasizing emotional as well as physical health. It will broadly consider the literature in health psychology and relationship science and therefore maintains a biopsychosocial perspective of health and well-being.
Biological and Social Bases of Addictive Behavior (3 Credits)
A biopsychosocial approach to understanding risk factors, onset, course, treatment considerations and prognosis for common addictive behaviors. It explores the neurobiological, psychological, pharmacological, and cultural themes that unify the understanding of addictive behaviors.
Current Topics in Health Psychology (3 Credits)
Contemporary knowledge and issues in the scholarly literature in a focused area of health psychology. Emphases on interdisciplinary approaches and critical thinking, including links to theoretical and empirical foundations of the field. Topics vary each term.
