Doctor of Psychology (Health Psychology) [no more intake FROM 2007]
Introduction
The health psychology program aims to provide comprehensive training to equip graduates to work as health psychologists. The field of health psychology is one of the fastest growing areas of psychology. Health psychology is devoted to understanding psychological influences on how people stay healthy, how to help them maintain health, why they become ill, and how they respond when they do get ill. Exciting and broad opportunities for application are emerging with a continuum from application of psychological principles to treat individuals in health settings (e.g. pain management) to community activities aimed at preventing ill health (e.g. implementation of a cardiovascular risk program). To meet the needs of this expanding field, specialisation is offered in either clinical health psychology or health promotion/public health with the opportunity to focus on either area in more detail. In addition, health-related research skills are highlighted to allow students to seek employment in this area or to combine research with their area of expertise.
The training encompasses diverse subject matter including: foundation knowledge of how psychological and social factors contribute to health and illness; sound clinical training; understanding of systemic interventions, organisations, communities and implementing health promotion approaches; and basic cover of medical disorders to facilitate research and interventions. Placements immerse graduates in a variety of health systems to gain acquisition of skills through practical experience.
The health psychology teaching staff have extensive experience in the health system, and include members of the recently formed Australian Psychological Society College of Health Psychologists. Each member brings active experience and a high level of clinical and health expertise. As this program is offered in conjunction with the Department of Clinical Psychology, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre (A&RMC), it provides a history of twenty years specialisation in the acute health setting and a reputation as a leader in clinical health psychology in Australia. Research activities are supported by members of the Department of Psychology at the University of Melbourne and A&RMC, as well as external experts who are at the cutting edge of new developments in health psychology.
Objectives
This stream aims to provide graduates with knowledge of the field of health psychology and the skills to work as either professional clinical health psychologists or in the area of health promotion or health-related research.
The program aims to provide training in the application of psychology to health, health problems and understanding health care systems. Graduates are expected to acquire an understanding of psychological, social and biological determinants of health and illness. In addition, the course aims to provide knowledge and skills in health promotion and lifestyle risk management, health systems and health care delivery, health system intervention, and expertise to engage in health-related research and evaluation. All graduates will develop basic clinical assessment skills as well as core psychological treatment skills with an emphasis on cognitive-behavioural approaches. Speciality interventions relevant to illness, adjustment, disability and rehabilitation will be introduced in the context of basic physiology, pharmacology, medical treatments and terminology. Competence in assessment of health-related behaviours, beliefs, attitudes, coping styles and risk factors will also be expected. For those wishing to specialise in either clinical health psychology or population health psychology, electives and placement specialisation will be provided to further develop skills in the third year in acute medical settings (such as medical or oncology wards) or health promotion settings. In addition, broad research training will cover basic research methods, epidemiology, health systems and evaluation and treatment outcome measurement.
Doctor of Psychology (Health)
The full time structure of the course comprises 300 points distributed as follows:
Course Element |
Points |
|---|---|
| Thesis/Research Proposal | 112.5 points |
| Placement Subjects | 87.5 points |
| Coursework | 100 points |
Year 1
Subject Code |
Subject Title |
Points |
|---|---|---|
512 900 |
Research Proposal |
25 |
512 903 |
Basic Interventions |
6.25 |
512 904 |
Integrative Cognitive Therapy |
6.25 |
512 950 |
Graduate Research Methods |
6.25 |
512 951 |
Interviewing and Counselling |
6.25 |
512 952 |
Introduction to Psychological Assessment |
6.25 |
512 953 |
Introduction to Psychopathology |
6.25 |
512 961 |
Health Placement 1 |
12.5 |
| Plus four coursework subjects taken from the list below | ||
Years 2 and 3
Subject Code |
Subject Title |
Points |
|---|---|---|
512 901 |
Thesis |
87.5 |
512 962/3 |
Health Placement 2 and 3 |
75 |
Plus five coursework subjects taken from the list below |
||
Plus one elective subject taken from the list below |
||
Coursework Subjects
Subject Code |
Subject Title |
Points |
|---|---|---|
512 907 |
Ethics & Professional Issues |
6.25 |
512 910 |
Advanced Psychological Assessment & Diagnosis |
6.25 |
512 916 |
Biological Psychology & Pharmacotherapy |
6.25 |
512 937 |
Health Promotion & Lifestyle Management |
6.25 |
512 938 |
Psychology of Health Problems |
6.25 |
512 939 |
Advanced Psychology of Health Problems |
6.25 |
512 964 |
Physiology & Pathology of Major Systems |
6.25 |
512 965 |
Foundations of Health Psychology |
6.25 |
512 996 |
Policy Design & Program Evaluation |
6.25 |
Elective Subjects
| Subject Code | Subject Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 512 908 | Psychosocial Perspectives on Disorders | 6.25 |
| 512 909 | Psychogeriatrics/Intellectual Disabilities | 6.25 |
| 512 914 | Adult Psychopathology | 6.25 |
| 512 933 | Categorical Data Analysis | 6.25 |
| 512 934 | Intervention & Negotiation | 6.25 |
| 512 984 | Quant Methods for Organisational Psychology | 6.25 |
| 512 995 | Organisational Change | 6.25 |
| 512 998 | Structural Equation Modelling | 6.25 |
Students may apply to the Convenor to undertake a subject from other streams in place of one of the above subjects.
Not every subject will be offered every year.