The Department of Psychology, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Science in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, offers a specialization in Health Psychology. Specialization in Health Psychology requires completion of several seminars in the Department of Behavioral Science, and contact with the medical patient population and with the faculty and staff in the various academic and clinical departments in the Medical Center. It also provides an opportunity to conduct doctoral dissertation research and to participate in other research projects in the medical setting. NIH stipends, fellowships, or graduate assistantships are available through the Department of Behavioral Science for graduate students in the Department of Psychology who are pursuing an interest in Health Psychology. All graduate students wishing to be certified as having specialized in the Clinical Psychology program must fulfill the following academic and research requirements. In addition, students in the Clinical Psychology program must participate in relevant clinical practicum experiences.

Academic Requirements
The academic requirements consist of six courses or 18 credit hours. There are two required courses:

BSC 626: (same as PSY 626): Survey of Health Psychology

PSY 627: Proseminar in Physiological Psychology

In addition, two of the additional courses must be from the Department of Behavioral Science. These can be of the student's choosing, in consultation with his/her advisor, and can reflect specific areas of interest (e.g., stress, psychosocial oncology, behavioral factors in health and disease, etc.). No more than 9 of the 18 required hours can be fulfilled through coursework undertaken at another university.

Research Requirements
At least one research project in the general field of Health Psychology must be completed. Thesis and dissertation research are the most obvious means of fulfilling this requirement, although an independent research project would also be sufficient. Students with Health Psychology concentrations may have a primary mentory for their research from either the Psychology or the Behavioral Science faculty. At a minimum, it is assumed that, in the case of theses or dissertations, a member of the Behavioral Science Department will serve on the committee. If a Behavioral Science faculty member is the primary research mentor, there must be a co-chair from Psychology.

Clinical requirements
Students in the clinical program must also complete 500 hours of relevant (e.g., health-oriented) clinical practicum experience. This is equivalent to one year of a 10-hour per week placement. Such placements should reflect the student's interests and can include one of several mental health agencies, various departments in the medical center, or other relevant placement opportunities.

Health Psychology Advisory Committee
Two members from both the Psychology and Behavioral Science Departments will be appointed by the respective chairs to serve as an advisory committee to determine whether a student has fulfilled the academic, research, and clinical requirements for a Specialization in Health Psychology. The committee is the final arbiter in determining whether specific courses, research topics, and clinical experiences fulfill the requirements spelled out above. Similarly, the committee determines which courses taken at another university can count toward the specialization. The research and clinical requirements must be fulfilled at UK.

For further information about the specialization in health psychology please contact:

    Suzanne C. Segerstrom
    Health Psychology Liaison
    Department of Psychology
    112 Kastle Hall
    University of Kentucky
    Lexington, KY 40506-0044