Health Psychology

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Because behavior plays a significant role in people's health, psychology has emerged as an important contributor to the process of coping with disease, disease prevention, and health enhancement. This course is designed to be an overview of health psychology and behavioral medicine. Topics will include psychology and medicine, health psychology models, stress and health, adaptation to illness, psychological aspects of cancer, pain, coronary artery disease, rehabilitation, infectious disease, health promotion and disease prevention, and professional opportunities in health psychology. In addition, health care professionals in the community who are working in areas to be covered in the course will be making presentations to the class. There will be two exams that will cover reading and lecture material. In addition, there will be two short papers that will help integrate the readings, lectures, and information provided by the speakers. Finally, there will be a lengthy paper that will consist of a summary review and critique of research in a specific area of health psychology.