Health Psychology Ph.D. Program Concentrations

Clinical Health Psychology

The Clinical Health Psychology program adheres to the Boulder Conference Scientist-Practitioner Model. Students who are interested in the science and practice of Clinical Psychology will match well to our program. It is essential that students in this program aspire to be excellent researchers as well as excellent practitioners. Graduates are eligible for licensure as clinical psychologists and health services providers in psychology, and may assume positions in mental health or medical centers, universities, private practice, or other applied settings.

Community Health Psychology

The Community Health Psychology concentration offers graduate training which examines social and community factors that contribute to healthy outcomes in individuals, and develops community interventions to create stronger, healthier communities. Students develop applied research and intervention skills that enable them to effect change in settings and communities. With an emphasis on social justice and community partnerships, students work to improve the health and well-being of disenfranchised individuals and families.

Behavioral Science Health Psychology

The Behavioral Science Health Psychology concentration emphasizes both basic and applied research examining the biological, psychological, behavioral, social, cultural, and environmental correlates of health and illness. It is ideal for students interested in the experimental or differential study of the various determinants and consequences of health related behavior, decision making, and health outcomes in non-clinical contexts and populations. Consistent with the interdisciplinary nature of the program at UNC Charlotte, we encourage members to incorporate multiple perspectives from psychology’s diverse specialties to create a more coherent understanding of health issues. This philosophy is operationalized in the nature of our faculty who come from a diverse array of subfields including social psychology, cognitive science, differential psychology, physiological psychology, and organizational communications.