- Two years full-time or four years part-time
240-point research masters programme
- Four core courses cover patient behaviour, assessment issues in health psychology, and intervention methods (60 points).
- Choose from a selection of advanced-level courses listed in Health Psychology, Population Health, Psychiatry, Psychology, or Exercise Sciences as approved by the Programme Coordinator (60 points).
- Thesis (120 points).
Master of Health Psychology courses
Masters first year courses:
Compulsory courses:
HLTHPSYC 714 Health Psychology (15 Points)
Staff: Professor Keith Petrie
A review of the psychological factors involved in health and illness. Topics include the understanding of patient behaviour in medical settings, preventative health behaviour, cognitive models of illness, stress and illness, communication and adherence to treatment, the psychology of physical symptoms and coping with chronic disease.
HLTHPSYC 715 Research Methods in Health Psychology (15 points)
Staff: Professor Elizabeth Broadbent
A review of the principal methods used in the design, conduct and analysis of studies in the health psychology area. This will include both quantitative and qualitative approaches to health psychology research.
HLTHPSYC 719 Health Psychology Assessment (15 points)
Staff: Professor Nathan Consedine
Extends content knowledge in health psychology through the development of skills in the assessment and evaluation of constructs commonly used in health psychological research and practice. Includes consideration of general issues in psychometric theory and the specific assessment issues commonly confronting widely used health psychological research designs, as well as detailed coverage of specific content areas including illness cognitions, health-related psychophysiology, emotions and health outcomes. Restriction: PSYCH 747, PSYCH 701 A & B
HLTHPSYC 720 Health Psychology Interventions (15 Points)
Staff: Associate Professor Anna Serlachius
Reviews the underpinning theory base for approaches commonly used in health psychology interventions such as CBT, and applies these approaches to examples from the field of health psychology. Individual and group/community treatment targets will be considered, including common difficulties that impact on disease occurrence or management, and the psychological consequences of disease. Restriction: PSYCH 748, PSYCH 701
Compulsory to be eligible for the PGDip in Health Psychology:
HLTHPSYC 743 Psychopathology and Clinical Interviewing (15 points)
Staff: Professor Keith Petrie A review of the common psychological disorders encountered in clinical practice and health settings. Practical teaching of clinical interview and diagnostic skills is completed in class.
Optional but recommended:
HLTHPSYC 716 Psychoneuroimmunology (15 points)
Staff: Professor Elizabeth Broadbent
An outline of the nature of the human immune system, its measurement and the limitations of current practices and models. The main focus of the course is the extent to which psychological processes such as stress, emotions and social interactions have been found to influence immune behaviour and the implications of these findings for health and well-being.
HLTHPSYC 717 Emotions, Emotion Regulation, and Health (15 points)
Staff: Professor Nathan Consedine
Extends content knowledge in health psychology by focusing on the expanding literature linking emotions and emotion regulation with health outcomes. The course provides an overview of the nature and functions of emotions, discrete versus dimensional approaches, developmental and cultural considerations, and the links between emotions and cognitive processes. Specific topics include direct and indirect pathways linking emotions and health, links between emotions and health-deleterious behaviours (e.g., smoking, drinking, diet), symptom detection, screening behaviour, treatment decision-making and adherence.
HLTHPSYC 758 Technology and Health (15 points)
Staff: Associate Professor Anna Serlachius
Explores the growing field of digital health and the impact that technology is having on psychological treatments and healthcare delivery. The course will cover a range of eHealth interventions in patient populations as well as discuss issues surrounding the development and implementation of digital health interventions.
Further information about content and applying for the Master of Health Psychology is available on the Health Psychology postgraduate programmes page.
