The study of psychological factors in health and illness is a growing field of research both at York University and worldwide. Health psychology research at York University covers a broad range of topics across the human lifespan, including cancer care, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, eating disorders, chronic pain, and stress and coping. Health psychology researchers at York University are also active in the promotion of health psychology at Canadian and international professional associations.
The Health Psychology Diploma Program is intended to promote competency in health psychology research for graduate students enrolled in the doctoral program in Psychology or Kinesiology & Health Science. The Health Psychology Diploma Program is designed to be complementary to the student’s general program in Psychology or Kinesiology & Health Science. In the Health Psychology Diploma Program, students conduct their dissertation and other research in health psychology, complete coursework in health psychology, and attend a weekly seminar in health psychology methods, topics, and research, called the Health Psychology Seminar. The Health Psychology Seminar combines a brown-bag format with support for health psychology students both academically (e.g., creating a health psychology thesis proposal, health psychology statistics, psychology of medical diseases) and professionally (e.g., working in multidisciplinary teams, medical ethics). Although the Health Psychology Diploma Program is offered for students at the doctoral level, graduate students enrolled in Master’s level graduate program in Psychology or Kinesiology & Health Science at York University are welcome to apply to attend the Health Psychology Seminar. The requirements of the Health Psychology Diploma Program are below:
- Completion of a PhD dissertation in a health psychology topic
- Two major health psychology research projects outside of the PhD dissertation
- Coursework
- At least two graduate level health psychology half courses or one full year course
- At least one biomedical half course relevant to the student's research (e.g., anatomy, physiology, neuroscience)
- Health Psychology Seminars (PSYC 6456 1.5 and PSYC 6457 1.5) – a weekly seminar in which invited speakers address a variety of topics in the area of health psychology. The seminars include support for health psychology students both academically (e.g., creating a health psychology thesis proposal, health psychology statistics, psychology of medical diseases) and professionally (e.g., working in multidisciplinary teams, medical ethics). The Health Psychology Seminars must be consistently attended for any two years over the course of one’s graduate student career.
It should be noted that diploma requirements can largely be met within the context of a student’s degree program in Psychology or Kinesiology & Health Science. Requirements which are over and above those for a degree in Psychology or Kinesiology and Health Science are one half-course from Requirement #3 (either in health psychology or biomedical science) and the Health Psychology Seminars in Requirement #4.
Prospective graduate students who are interested in the Health Psychology Diploma Program at York University can learn more by emailing Dr. Joel Katz (jkatz@yorku.ca), the program coordinator.
Download the Student Handbook here and application form here.
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