Online Health Psychology Degree Programs
What is a Health Psychologist?
Health psychologists study the mental and emotional issues that stem from physical injury or illness. Also called medical psychologists, professionals in this field promote general health and wellness by addressing the social, biological, psychological, and behavioral factors that affect individuals facing or recovering from a medical condition. Health psychologists focus less on the illness or disease itself and more on the individual’s overall mental health, striving to help patients achieve and maintain a positive outlook in spite of their physical maladies.
Health psychology, a specialty of clinical psychology, offers further specialization in a variety of areas, including public health, community health, and occupational health. Health psychologists often focus their research on healthcare reform, community health education, or advocacy. Many of these professionals work in clinical practice, private corporations, or government agencies exploring methods of pain management, intervention, illness prevention, and behavioral assessment. Others may work as health psychology professors.
While some health psychology careers require only a master’s degree, a Ph.D. is the industry standard. Health psychologists must be licensed in their state as clinical psychologists through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), and many also earn board certification in health psychology. To be granted licensure, ABPP requires a doctoral degree, a minimum amount of postdoctoral experience hours, and a passing score on a licensing exam.
On this page, discover how an online health psychology program might be the right fit for you.
Online Health Psychology Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Psychology
What does a health psychologist do?
The health psychology field explores the connections between health and behavior. Clinical health psychologists help clients with issues including dealing with illness or injury and improving health habits through interviews, assessments, and interventions. Researchers examine why people refuse to seek or follow medical advice.
What can I do with a degree in health psychology?
Individuals with a health psychology degree can pursue many careers. They may work as community and public health advocates, working with organizations to design and implement interventions at the community and population levels. Others may work in education, training fellow health psychologists and health professionals. Some may work as health researchers, examining the intersection of physical and mental health, while others may work as wellness experts, helping patients make healthy behavioral changes.
How does health psychology benefit society?
Health psychologists assist hospitals and healthcare entities with treatment and prevention strategies. They also inform healthcare policy with data on such topics as controlling healthcare costs and preventing communicable diseases. These psychologists help people struggling with the psychological effects of health issues, such as disease, injury, chronic illness, and obesity.
What qualifications do you need to be a health psychologist?
At minimum, individuals need a master’s in health psychology. This degree allows them to become behavioral specialists or research assistants supervised by a licensed psychologist. Those who want to work independently and practice as a clinical psychologist must complete a health psychology doctorate program, along with an internship and licensing exam.
How many years does it take to become a health psychologist?
Aspiring health psychologists must first earn a bachelor’s degree in health or clinical psychology, which typically takes four years. Master’s in health psychology programs usually require two additional years. Health psychology doctorate programs add another 2-4 years. Overall, students spend approximately eight years in school.
Can You Get a Degree in Health Psychology Online?
Learners can increasingly access online health psychology programs. To succeed in earning a health psychology master’s or Ph.D., students should possess an unwavering drive and commitment to years of academic study. Online health psychology graduate programs encompass the same curriculum as on-campus degrees, but with added flexibility to accommodate full-time workers and parents with childcare responsibilities. Health psychology degrees are widely available online, with some schools offering specialized programs in clinical health psychology or behavioral health.
Online health psychology graduate programs encompass the same curriculum as on-campus degrees, but with added flexibility to accommodate full-time workers and parents with childcare responsibilities.
Foundation and concentration coursework for health psychology degrees tends to be the same for online and on-campus students. However, completing a practicum is crucial to a health psychology degree in any format, so online students must arrange an approved practicum to meet program requirements near their residence. Learners complete all other coursework online.
Some health psychology and clinical health psychology online programs offer accelerated formats. Some schools allow students to choose from full-time and part-time options. Health psychology online programs also serve learners in rural areas who cannot access campus facilities.
Are Practicums and Internships Required in an Online Health Psychology Program?
Whether administered online or on campus, nearly all health psychology degrees require some sort of internship or practicum as a condition of state licensing board regulations for accredited schools. Field requirements ensure that students meet the minimum number of hours of supervised experience. While degree-seekers may pursue an internship or practicum in their particular concentration, some schools cannot accommodate every student’s specialization. For example, health psychology graduate students may need to complete an internship in general psychology before finding the right opportunity to practice their specialty.
While health psychology online programs offer great flexibility, distance learners may experience challenges when arranging a practicum. To maximize their choices, students should maintain a high GPA and prepare thoroughly for each interview. Learners should also remain flexible and open-minded. An internship in general psychology instead of health psychology still provides valuable experience and professional connections.
How to Become a Health Psychologist
Clinical psychologists in any specialty must earn licensure through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) to practice in their state. Aspiring clinical health psychologists should budget for a bachelor’s, master’s, and health psychology Ph.D. as well as a fee of $600 to sit for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, which is administered by the ASPPB. In addition to academic requirements, students must complete 1,500-6,000 practicum hours to earn a state license.
Students may also obtain optional board certification in clinical health psychology. Licensed health psychology Ph.D. holders who also possess board certification may hold an advantage over competitors without this credential. Eligibility requires students to complete a Ph.D. in professional psychology and a postdoctoral internship in the health psychology specialty that lasts 1-2 years.
Health psychology online programs often cost less than traditional degrees. Aspiring health psychologists can improve their return on investment by reducing tuition and eliminating housing and transportation costs by choosing to study online, all while potentially earning their degree sooner.
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Health Psychology
Online undergraduate health psychology programs introduce students to the broad field of psychology, touching briefly on basic concepts in the specialty of health psychology. Bachelor’s degrees in health psychology may also be called clinical health psychology programs or offered as a concentration of a general psychology curriculum.
A bachelor’s degree is often viewed as the first step towards a health psychology master’s program. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree may be eligible for entry-level jobs in research-based occupations. Students looking to earn a graduate degree can often save time and money through an online program.
Example Courses
Online Master’s Degree in Health Psychology
The health psychology master’s dives deeper into foundational concepts. At this level, practicum requirements typically increase to account for a significant portion of the credits required for the degree.
Health psychology graduate programs provide students with more specialized skills than an undergraduate degree. While students need a master’s degree to enter a Ph.D. program, students approaching the health psychology master’s as a terminal degree may still qualify for a variety of advanced positions in the field, including supervised practice in some hospitals, clinics, and government agencies. Online programs offer students a unique combination of flexible distance coursework and convenient practicum placements.
Example Courses
Online Ph.D. in Health Psychology
Aspiring clinical practitioners in this specialty must earn a health psychology Ph.D. to be eligible to apply for licensure in their state. Graduates of a health psychology Ph.D. who do not seek licensure may pursue an advanced, non-clinical occupation, such as college professor.
Health psychology Ph.D. programs typically emphasize intensive research and specialized field practice, culminating in a thesis or dissertation, depending on whether the student pursues a Ph.D. or Psy.D. program. Doctoral candidates may also enter into an independent study project or customize their curriculum (with advisor approval), to accommodate the minimum requirement of clinical practicum hours.
Many schools offer health psychology Ph.D. programs online to allow more flexibility for part-time and full-time students.
Example Courses
Required Licenses and Internships to Become a Health Psychologist
Aspiring health psychologists must meet the guidelines for clinical psychology licensure according to the American Psychological Association (APA). In addition to institutional accreditation, health psychology online programs may be accredited by an organization such as the APA or ASPPB, demonstrating that the program qualifies graduates for the licensure process. To obtain a license as a clinical psychologist in a health psychology specialty, individuals need a doctoral degree. They must also complete 1,500-6,000 supervised practicum hours, pass the EPPP, and pass a jurisprudence exam (if required in that state).
Students must complete the required field experience hours to be eligible for a license to practice clinical psychology. State requirements vary, though the APA estimates that states require an average of 4,000 supervised clinical hours to earn licensure, consisting of roughly 2,000 internship and 2,000 postdoctoral hours. Learners typically complete a rigorous field-hour rotation schedule while pursuing a master’s degree, eventually lightening their load slightly during the doctoral program to continue fulfilling credentialing requirements. While not required, students may pursue separate certification in a clinical health psychology specialty.
Careers for Health Psychology Degree-Holders
Graduates of health psychology programs qualify for a variety of unique careers beyond clinical practice. Aspiring professionals in this specialty can become health psychology college professors, community health advocates, and specialists in disciplines that combine psychology and science, such as occupational health. While psychologists in any specialty must possess excellent communication, listening, and critical thinking skills, health psychologists are particularly well-suited for positions requiring holistic knowledge of the relationship between physical and mental health. Generally, clinical health psychologists with current licensure as well as optional certification in the specialty can pursue the largest variety of jobs in the field.
Clinical Health Psychologist
These psychologists promote mental health and wellness and employ several methods of prevention against chronic illness and disease. They possess an acute understanding of the relationship between physical and psychological wellness and address the full scope of their patients’ behavioral, social, biological, and emotional needs. Psychologists in this specialty practice in healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, pain clinics, and community healthcare centers.
Occupational Health Specialist
These professionals advocate for a safe and healthy workplace for employees and for the environment, inspecting commercial facilities to ensure they adhere to their industry’s rules and regulations. This occupation suits professionals with the advanced research and data analysis skills typically included in a health psychology graduate program. Most jobs require only a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions, though some employers may require additional on-the-job training.
Mental Health Therapist
Also sometimes called mental health counselors, these professionals counsel clients with mental health issues, often diagnosing and treating moderate to severe conditions or disorders using psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, and behavior modification techniques. While some refer to therapists and psychologists interchangeably, psychologists typically earn a more advanced degree.
Public Health Analyst
These professionals promote health and wellness in the community by educating the public about health issues and services. They may work to advocate for communities in need of greater access to healthcare facilities, focus on disease analysis and prevention for an organization like the CDC, or specialize in environmental hazards or substance abuse. Jobs typically require a master’s degree. Some employers prefer candidates with advanced data-collection and data-analysis skills, as well as strong communication abilities.
Community Health Education Specialist
These professionals keep their community informed of all available healthcare services and wellness programs. By collecting statistical data and conducting evaluations within the community, health education specialists promote a positive lifestyle and healthy habits through nutrition education, exercise programs, disease prevention, and public service resources. Entry-level practitioners need at least a bachelor’s degree and certification from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
Salary for Health Psychology Degree-Holders
Mental health psychologists’ salaries vary based on their level of education and experience, as well as area of specialty and location. Additional credentialing, such as the clinical health psychology certification, and specialized experience beyond the minimum requirements can increase earnings. Salary varies depending on the position.
Clinical health psychologists, who must earn a terminal degree and a state license for entry-level opportunities, earn the highest median annual salary. Public health analysts bring in the second-highest salary, eligible for jobs with a minimum of a master’s degree and specialty skills.
| Position | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational Health Technician | $57,584 |
| Mental Health Therapist | $44,527 |
| Community Health Specialist | $47,183 |
| Public Health Analyst | $61,771 |
| Clinical Psychologist | $79,117 |
Source:PayScale
