Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology

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A new flexible degree in an exciting area of psychology

Now offered both 100% online and in-person

With a degree in health psychology, you will be prepared to work in social services and health education or pursue a graduate degree. Potential careers include behavioral support staff, community health advocate, public health program coordinator, health researcher, psychoeducational group coordinator, or a patient resource reimbursement agent. The health psychology degree pairs well with many of the minors offered through the College of Health Science and Public Health.

In the Health Psychology Bachelor of Science Program, you’ll gain an understanding of the ways that psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors relate to physical health. You’ll learn about stress, human development, behavior, cognition and more. You’ll also explore how patients interact with healthcare providers and the healthcare system in general. You’ll choose from electives that cover topics such as sexuality, interpersonal communication, drugs and behavior, and research methods.

Key Opportunities include field study at medical agencies and active preparation for work in the healthcare system and graduate programs in health fields such as Health Psychology and Public Health.

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Why choose a Health Psychology BS major?

100% online and face-to-face options available

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Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

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Four start dates per year: summer, fall, winter, and spring quarters

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Affordable Tuition

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Questions?

Let us know! We’re here to help. Email us at psychology@ewu.edu.

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Health Psychology Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

Math and English proficiency is a prerequisite for many of these courses.
Completing PSYC 309 prior to CSBS 320 is highly recommended.

Grade Requirements: 

  • To declare the BS Health Psychology major, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA ≥2.0 and taken and passed PSYC 100 or its equivalent with a grade ≥C
    • Transfer students may be given credit for appropriate transfer courses in the major and for electives.
    • Transfer credits will be limited to 20 lower-division courses and no more than 30 transfer credits total applied toward the degree.
  • PSYC 100, PSYC 231, PSYC 309, PSYC 310/CSBS 320, and PSYC 490C must be passed with a grade ≥C.
Required Courses
PSYC 100GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY5
PSYC 201LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT5
PSYC 231SCIENCE OF STRESS AND COPING3
PSYC 302ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY5
PSYC 309SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOLOGY5
PSYC 310PSYCHOLOGICAL STATISTICS5
PSYC 316HUMAN MEMORY AND COGNITION5
PSYC 317HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY5
PSYC 324CONDITIONING AND LEARNING (only one course will count toward the major)4
or PSYC 325 COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE
PSYC 420BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR5
Electives–choose two from the following9-10
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
COMPUTER STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
FOUNDATION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS
DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR
HUMAN SEXUALITY
CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
COLLABORATIVE CARE & BHSS INTERNSHIP PREP
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY
HAPPINESS AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Focus Experience8
Take 8 credits of PSYC 495, PSYC 498, and/or PSYC 499 in any combination for a total of 8 credits.
INTERNSHIP
SEMINAR
DIRECTED STUDY
Required Capstone
PSYC 490CCAPSTONE: HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY4-5
or PSYC 491 SENIOR THESIS
Total Credits68-70

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses may be offered in different terms and not all courses are offered every term, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. There may be some courses that have required prerequisites not listed in the plan, review the course descriptions for information. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015PSYC 201 (Social Science BACR 2)5
MATH 1075Humanities & Arts BACR 115Natural Science BACR 115
PSYC 100 (Social Science BACR 1)5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
Global Studies - graduation requirement15PSYC 231 (Natural Science BACR 2)3PSYC 202 (Humanities & Arts BACR 2)5
Diversity - graduation requirement15Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
 Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective3 
 15 16 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PSYC 3095PSYC 3025PSYC 3105
PSYC 3165PSYC 4205PSYC 3254
PSYC 3175Health Psychology Elective25PSYC 495, 498, or 499 (Focus Experience Elective)4
 15 15 13
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
PSYC 324 or 3254PSYC 490C (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
PSYC 495, 498, or 499 (Focus Experience Elective)4Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Health Psychology Elective25Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective5
Elective - certificate, minor, or general elective3  
 16 15 15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Electives–choose two from the approved list.