Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Health Psychology)

Website: https://twu.edu/psychology-philosophy/

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Health Psychology) is specially designed for students planning to pursue careers in the health professions. This track is designed to better serve those students by allowing them to focus their coursework on health psychology. Health psychology is a growing field that focuses on the psychological and behavioral facets of physical as well as mental health.  According to the American Psychological Association (2019), "professional and public interest in how biology, environment, and behavior impact health and illness continues to grow. Health Psychologists are making important contributions to the well-being of our patients by incorporating psychological theory and research to develop methods to assist patients in maintaining healthy lifestyles".

A health psychology track will better prepare students for careers in a wide array of health care settings.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Identify and utilize a variety of sources of information to solve problems; be able to apply different methods to collect and analyze data; apply analytical skills to summarize and draw findings from data.
  2. Present ideas in a clear, organized fashion both in writing and oral communication. Develop coherent written and oral arguments.
  3. Professional development skills, including project management and the ability to work in a team; ability to work collaboratively on complex projects; divide complex tasks down and monitor progress to completion; problem solve effectively with group members when obstacles are encountered.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

The Application deadline for each semester is 5:00 p.m. the last day of finals as published on the Registrar’s Calendar. Applications will be processed within three weeks of this deadline. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline and failure to meet this condition will require the applicant to wait until the next semester’s processing-cycle for consideration. Please ensure your application has been submitted successfully by checking your TWU email for a confirmation of submission. If you have not received a confirmation email, please resubmit your application.

Additional admission requirements for the undergraduate psychology program are as follows:

  1. completion of 45 semester credit hours,
  2. completion of PSY 1013, PSY 1603, and PSY 2513 with a grade of C or higher; and PSY 2013 with a grade of B or higher.
  3. consistent adherence to the Psychology Program Code of Professional Conduct policy and,
  4. completion of the Psychology Major Application.

Students will initially enter as pre-psychology majors. Acceptance into the Psychology program is contingent upon meeting departmental requirements. Many psychology courses require that students be a Psychology major prior to enrollment.  Therefore, it is important that students complete the departmental admissions process as soon as admission requirements are met.  Departmental admission applications are processed on a rolling basis but can take up to four (4) weeks to process dependent on submission time.

Continued enrollment in the program is contingent upon completion of psychology and philosophy coursework with a C or higher and continued adherence to the Psychology Program Code of Professional Conduct policy. 

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA for the Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Health Psychology) degree plan. If GPA requirements are not met, students will be moved to the B.S. in Psychology degree plan.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 122-123  

Major: 47 SCH 

Program Code: PSYCH.BS.HEALTH   CIP Code: 42.0101.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

PSY 1603Developmental Psychology3
PSY 2013Professional Development in Psychology3
PSY 2023Social Psychology3
PSY 2133Physiological Psychology 3
PSY 2303Applied Statistics3
PSY 2513Abnormal Psychology3
PSY 2703Psychology of Stress3
PSY 3354Experimental Psychology4
PSY 3161Behavior Therapy Laboratory1
PSY 3163Introduction to Behavior Therapy3
PSY 4013Health Psychology3
PSY 4423Addiction3
PSY 4443Psychology of Health Disparities3
Psychology Elective (3000 level or higher)9
Total SCHs47

Departmental Requirements

PHIL 3073Bioethics3
Natural Science w/Lab for Major (see advisor)4
PHIL 2033Logic and Critical Thinking (may be applied from core)3
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology (may be applied from core)3
WS 3733Psychology of Women (may be applied from core)3
or PSY 3733 Psychology of Women
Electives 15
Total SCHs31

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology PSYC 23013
Life/Physical Science Core (BIOL 1033 Recommended)3
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
Math or Wellness CAO Core2
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
PSY 1603Developmental Psychology PSYC 23143
Life/Physical Science Core3
MATH core (MATH 1703 recommended)3
PSY 2513Abnormal Psychology PSYC 23203
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
Natural Science with Lab for Major (see advisor)4
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
PHIL 2033Logic and Critical Thinking PHIL 23033
PSY 2013Professional Development in Psychology 3
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
PSY 2023Social Psychology PSYC 23193
PSY 2303Applied Statistics PSYC 23173
Elective3
Creative Arts Core3
 SCHs 15
Third Year
FallTCCN
PSY 3354Experimental Psychology 4
PSY 2133Physiological Psychology PSYC 23303
PSY 2703Psychology of Stress 3
Elective3
 SCHs 13
SpringTCCN
PSY 3161Behavior Therapy Laboratory 1
PSY 3163Introduction to Behavior Therapy 3
PSY 4423Addiction 3
Psychology elective (3000 or higher)3
Elective3
Elective3
 SCHs 16
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
PHIL 3073Bioethics 3
PSY 4013Health Psychology 3
PSY 4443Psychology of Health Disparities 3
Psychology elective (3000 or higher)3
Elective3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
Psychology elective (3000 or higher) 3
PSY 3733
or WS 3733
Psychology of Women
or Psychology of Women
3
Elective3
Elective3
Elective3
 SCHs 15
 Total SCHs:  120

Note: The 3 SCH Global Perspectives graduation requirement must be obtained through core courses, PSY 4183 , or elective. Must meet 36 advanced semester credit hour requirement.