Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Spring 2016
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
PH.D. IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Health Psychology is dedicated to conducting basic and applied research examining the contribution of biological, psychological, behavioral, social, cultural, and environmental factors to health and illness. Health Psychology builds from principles and theories of other areas of psychology, biology, health, and social sciences. Health psychologists are concerned with promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness across the lifespan, and improvement of systems that promote and maintain health. A particular emphasis of the Health Psychology program is on the development, implementation, and evaluation of prevention and treatment interventions that involve multiple disciplines. The program has links with other colleges, departments, and programs in the university including the College of Health and Human Services, College of Education, and the Gerontology Program which allows students to select health courses across disciplines. The Health Psychology doctoral program at UNC Charlotte offers students an opportunity to obtain their Ph. D. in Health Psychology in one of three tracks/areas of concentration: General, Clinical, or Community.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are expected to have a minimum of 18 hours of coursework in psychology including
Introductory Psychology and Research Methods, coursework in undergraduate statistics, excellent scores on the GRE Exam, and an excellent academic track record as demonstrated by undergraduate or graduate grade point averages. Documents to be Submitted for Application for Admission Applicants are expected to complete an application online to the Graduate School. The application also must include transcripts of all completed academic work, an official score on the GRE exam, three letters of reference from persons, preferably psychologists, who can speak to the applicant’s promise as a doctoral student, a two page statement of professional goals and research interests, and a current resume or CV. International students must submit official TOEFL or IELTS test scores. Minimum score required for the TOEFL: of at least 557 on the written test or 83 on the computer-based test. Minimum overall band score required for the IELTS is 6.5. All tests must be taken within the last two years.
Admission Assessment
Admissions reviews are conducted by track faculty in each concentration area. The deadline for all application materials is December 1 November 15th. Review of applications typically occurs in January, interviews in February, and admissions offers typically made in March.
Student Responsibility
Students who succeed in the Health Psychology program are hardworking, competent, disciplined scholars with interests in the science of Health Psychology and other health-related fields. Students must demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a passion for the science of psychology. It is important for student applicants to determine if their professional interests are well matched to the expertise of our faculty members.
Degree Requirements
Total Hours Required
For the Community and General tracks concentrations, 78 hours (post baccalaureate) is required. All coursework taken at UNC Charlotte that will count toward the Ph.D. will be 6000-level or above. The majority of the coursework will be at the 8000 level. For the Clinical Health track concentration, which will enable students to become eligible for licensure as a Health Services Provider, 88 hours (post-baccalaureate) is required.
Transfer Credit
The maximum amount of transfer credit that a Ph.D. student may count towards a doctorate is 30 semester hours. The student's advising committee will recommend transfer credits that are consistent with the student's program of study to the Graduate School for approval.
Grades Required
Graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA in the courses on their degree plan of study in order to graduate. More than two grades of C or one U will result in termination from the program.
Plan of Study
Students will develop a plan of study with their advising committees.
Admission to Candidacy
After successfully passing the qualifying examination, students must successfully propose and defend a dissertation topic. A student advances to candidacy after the dissertation topic has been approved by the student’s doctoral committee. Candidacy must be achieved at least 6 months before the degree is conferred.
Financial Support
Assistantships are generally available to provide financial support for eligible students. Assistantships vary and may involve teaching, research, or clinical activities. The Graduate School provides tuition support for full time students on assistantships on a competitive basis.
Graduate Course Requirements
Doctoral courses are numbered at the 8000 level.
The curriculum has 4 major curricular components:
1) Core Health Psychology
2) Research
3) Interdisciplinary Content
4) Specialization Concentration (General, Clinical, or Community)
Specific requirements within each component vary by track concentration. Specifics can be found in the graduate handbook of the program.
Student Advising
Students are assigned an advisor before the first semester. Students in consultation with the advisor create an advising committee constituted by three health psychology faculty. The student meets with the committee regularly for issues of professional development and guidance in the program. Students may change advisors with permission of the Program Director.
Other Requirements
Master's thesis or second year research project
Written comprehensive examination project prior to beginning dissertation research
Dissertation
Year-long, pre-doctoral internship (Clinical track concentration students only)
Time Limits for Completion
Students are admitted for either full-time study or intensive part-time study (general and community tracks sonly). Students entering the doctoral program post-baccalaureate must complete their degree, including the dissertation, within 8 years. Full-time students must meet benchmark requirements each year to maintain their status as a doctoral student. Part-time students also must meet benchmark requirements that occur approximately every two years. These benchmarks are intended to help students achieve their goal of completing the doctorate in a timely manner. See the Health Psychology Student Handbook for a detailed description of the timeline for completing programmatic milestones. The graduate school has specific requirements that students should be familiar with. Please see the relevant sections of this Catalog for specific details.
Comprehensive (Qualifying) Examination Project
Qualifying examinations projects are meant to demonstrate broad competence as a scholar in the disciplines of Health Psychology, interdisciplinary health, and the track concentration-specific discipline (general, clinical, or community). The Comprehensive Project results in a practical product that demonstrates integration of knowledge from these three areas. In addition, it provides an opportunity to strengthen and develop a student’s skills, as specified by his/her advisory committee. Projects are identified via a collaborative process, involving the student and his/her committee. The Comprehensive Project acts as the gateway into the 4th year and dissertation. Students must pass their Comprehensive Project successfully to continue in the program. Each student’s advisory committee, in consultation with the Program Director, tailors the content and format of the Comprehensive Project with attention to the student’s professional goals. The Comprehensive Project process will include three main components: written project, brief integrative paper, and oral presentation. Students must complete their second year research projects prior to taking the qualifying examination proposing the comprehensive project, must have at least a 3.0 GPA, must not be on probation, and must have removed any conditions placed upon them at the time at admission.
Comprehensive Projects should be in process no later than the third academic year in the program. Comprehensive Projects must be completed successfully before students may rise to doctoral candidacy and propose their dissertation project.
Doctoral Committee
The doctoral committee is formed after successful completion of the qualifying exam project. The student must complete the graduate student petition to create the committee. The committee must include at least three members of the health psychology faculty as well as the Graduate School-appointed Graduate Faculty representative.
Dissertation
The dissertation must be successfully proposed and defended before being undertaken. The major advisor directly supervises the student on the dissertation project with support from the dissertation committee. See Graduate School policies regarding dissertations. Additional information regarding the dissertation project can be found in the Health Psychology Student Handbook.
Application for Degree
Each student should make application for his/her degree by completing the online Application for Degree through Banner Self Service no later than the filing date specified in the University Academic Calendar.
Research Opportunities
Students in health psychology are expected to engage in collaborative and independent research activities. Many opportunities are available through the program, including experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Many Health Psychology faculty members engage in grant funded research and opportunities exist for research assistantships.