Health Psychology
    Duration4 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    USD 830 / credit
    Next IntakeAugust 22, 2023

    Health Psychology

    About

    The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Psychology offered by VCU is an experimentally oriented program that is designed to train students to contribute to the knowledge of psychological contributions to health and illness via training in basic and clinical research. Students completing the Ph.D. in Health Psychology will not be eligible for licensure. Research in health psychology examines the causes and development of illness, methods to help individuals develop healthy lifestyles to promote good health and prevent illness, the treatment individuals receive for their medical problems, the effectiveness with which individuals cope with and reduce stress and pain, biopsychosocial connections with immune functioning, and factors in the recovery, rehabilitation and psychosocial adjustment of patients with serious health problems. Thus, graduates from the Ph.D. program in Health Psychology are prepared for work in a range of settings including colleges and universities, medical centers, research centers, nonprofit agencies and local, state and national government.

    Disciplines

    College of Humanities and Sciences

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    Before you get started, here’s what you need to know as an international applicant.

    • Applicants for admission to VCU graduate programs must hold the academic equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.
    • You must complete any special departmental requirements in advance, including standardized tests, and the appropriate testing agency must send your official test results to the Office of Admissions.
    • The Graduate Bulletin provides information about VCU’s schools and their available graduate programs, including those offered through VCU health sciences schools. The Graduate Bulletin lists the type of degree awarded, terms of entry, application deadline dates, test and other admission requirements for each of these programs.
    • Program requirements and deadlines vary by department, so pay close attention to those that apply to your chosen field of study.
    • Depending on your academic history, you may be required to take additional coursework to strengthen your academic preparation for graduate study.

    The admission process for international graduate students can take six to eight weeks, depending on how soon the applicant can provide the necessary materials.

    Be ready to pay the application fee

    A $70 state-required application fee must accompany all applications. The application fee is nonrefundable and must be submitted online using a credit card. Applications may not be processed if submitted without a fee.

    Deadlines and admission decisions

    Applications must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by the individual department or school’s deadlines as stated in the Graduate Bulletin. Admissions decision notification dates vary by graduate program. To check on the status of your application, please contact VCU’s international admissions staff at [email protected] or (804) 828-6016. 

    English Requirements

    • PTEMin 65
    • IELTSMin 6.5
    • TOEFLMin 80

    Fee Information

    Application Fee 70

    How to Apply

    In addition to the online graduate program application, applicants must provide a copy of their passport or visa document and submit the following materials listed below — all of which are required for application processing.

    Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the online application to upload and submit these materials (personal statements, resumes and letters of recommendation). The online application allows links to be sent to people you wish to provide recommendations on your behalf.

    Health Psychology

    Virginia Commonwealth University

    Virginia Commonwealth University

    United States of America

    United States of America, Richmond