Every day, each of us makes decisions that affect our health. Eat the second cookie or not? Go for a walk or scroll Instagram? Our decisions are affected by the messages we receive about health-promoting practices. If you’re interested in helping or influencing people to make healthier choices, earning an online master’s degree in health psychology is an excellent path to consider.
A master’s in health psychology online prepares you for leadership roles in medical centers, health maintenance organizations, rehabilitation or pain centers, and public health agencies to influence policies and impact public health. And with an average salary of $92,740 and a projected growth rate of 6% through 2032, psychology is certainly a solid career choice.
You might have questions about an online master’s in health psychology — especially how to balance it with your other responsibilities, the cost, the curriculum, and even whether you can apply your master’s degree toward a doctorate someday. Our guide walks you through these questions and more to get you moving toward a master’s in health psychology online.
College Spotlights: Best Master’s in Health Psychology Online
We’ve identified some of the top online master’s in health psychology with the affordability, flexibility, and accreditation you need to advance your career. Multiple institutions with strong psychology departments offer degrees in this burgeoning field. We’ve taken a closer look to help you determine which of the top programs may be the best fit for you, given your scheduling needs, financial circumstances, specific areas of interest in the health psychology field, and how you prefer to learn.
National University
National University has an array of specialized master’s programs in psychology. From sports psychology to forensic psychology, clinical mental health counseling to health psychology, there’s a specialty for every student. The focus of the online MS in Health Psychology prepares students to apply evidence-based psychological principles to decrease illness, improve personal health outcomes, and improve healthcare systems.
By learning more about the study of health and recovery, students explore the physical, behavioral, and social determinants of health and how they manifest on an individual level. The degree can be completed in 16 months, with a new start date available every Monday, allowing you to begin your study at the best time for you. The program carries a $27,710 price tag for all 30 required credits and plus fees. As a military-friendly institution, National University embraces a rolling admissions model and offers individual review of applications.
Touro University
Touro University’s 100% online MA in Psychology boasts affordable tuition, no residency, and six annual start dates. One of four possible concentrations, health psychology prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills to apply theories and concepts in psychology settings.
The program focuses on biological and scientific determinants of health and uses those findings to apply best practices to issues such as smoking cessation, treating eating disorders, and managing stress while aging. Students share core courses with classmates in other concentrations and then branch out to health psychology-specific classes. Students can finish the 36-credit program in as little as a year. The program costs $500/credit hour.
Walden University
Students who pursue a degree through Walden University’s online MS in Psychology, Health Psychology specialization are passionate about improving service delivery to patients and staff in medical, rehabilitation, or pain management centers. Through their coursework they increase their knowledge of behavior change and biopsychology and look at how to do things differently to improve health outcomes.
With 48 quarter credits at $555/quarter hour, tuition totals $27,490, including fees. Students who complete this degree are strong candidates for a doctoral degree in health psychology. They can choose traditional course-based learning or Walden’s proprietary Tempo Learning format, in which students set their own pace and move ahead by demonstrating their knowledge. Course-based learning relies on typical academic schedules, faculty guiding students through each course, and predictable due dates. Tempo Learning is asynchronous; students pay in three-month increments as an “all-you-can-learn” subscription period.
Top Reasons to Earn an Online Master’s in Health Psychology
An online master’s in health psychology is affordable and accessible, regardless of your location. The degree provides an excellent way to pivot to psychology if your undergraduate degree is in another area or you have always wanted to explore health and the mind-body connection. A health psychology degree also may be an excellent companion to other disciplines, such as a degree in public health, bioethics, or nutrition, to explore care for the whole person or policies and practices in healthcare settings.
What You’ll Learn in Health Psychology Master’s Programs
Most master’s in health psychology online cover core master’s level psychology content similar to other psychology master’s degrees and then add content specific to health psychology. In addition to research methods and statistics, most programs require courses in the foundations of health psychology, stress and coping, mental health policy, and courses that offer insight into clinical practice. Most also require a capstone project to elaborate on an area of particular interest through a health psychology lens.
Popular Health Psychology Courses
Promotion of Health Behaviors
Explore the promotion of health behaviors at the individual and community level, focusing on prevention programs, effective media campaigns, survey design, and program evaluation.
Social and Cultural Psychology
Examine how social, group, and multicultural factors affect individual behavior. Learn more about leadership roles, altruism, “group think,” cooperation and competition, and even propaganda and mass communication.
Stress and Coping in Health Psychology
Focus on theories, methods, and applications of current research on stress and coping and its role as a determinant of health. Learn more about conceptual definitions of stress and its impact on individuals, as well as evaluating efficacy of current practices targeting stress management.
Health and Psychology of the Aging
Focusing on mid-life (45-64 years old) and elderly (65+ years old), this class focuses on the biological, psychological, and social perspectives of aging. Content includes adult adjustment, coping strategies, social relationships, and memory and dementia, among other topics.
Psychoneuroimmunology
Explore current theory and interdisciplinary research related to psychoneuroimmunology. This course covers mind/body interactions, the effect of overall health through the immune system, and mind/body interventions. Learn more about medical science advances and their contribution to wellness practices.
Accreditation for Master’s in Health Psychology Programs
A degree in health psychology doesn’t prepare graduates for clinical practice, so there’s no licensure trajectory for this degree. Programs that are accredited by the American Psychological Association have met the rigors of their standards for clinical practice licensure or to perform research with human subjects.
However, health psychology is an area of psychology that looks at how macro issues affect individuals. Graduates are equipped for roles in municipal, social service, or healthcare agencies to examine program efficacy and improve service delivery. Institutional accreditation as a school of higher learning, particularly with online learning delivery, ensures that your degree is relevant and applicable in the workforce.
What Can You Do with a Health Psychology Degree?
Graduates of an online master’s in health psychology pursue employment in schools; community colleges; wellness centers; local, state, or federal governments; healthcare agencies; nonprofit organizations; or social service agencies. Graduates are attuned to diversity issues in the context of health psychology, which is valuable to organizations seeking to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion practices as part of employee wellness initiatives. Students may consider pursuing a PhD in health psychology, which provides greater expertise to advise on data analysis, intervention implementation, and health-promoting practices. Psychologists can expect a 6% employment increase, which is on track with the national average.
Costs and Financial Aid for a Master’s Degree in Health Psychology Online
Any financial decision requires a thorough cost/benefit analysis, particularly for a big-ticket investment such as an advanced degree. Considering the growth potential and industry demand for people who truly understand the interplay of health, psychology, and well-being, an online master’s in health psychology is a prudent investment. As you consider a degree, it’s important to understand the financial implications today and in the future.
You can finance your degree through myriad options, including financial aid, scholarships, work-study, institutional scholarships, employer-funded tuition assistance, or even Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you work in qualifying organizations for ten years following graduation (your work doesn’t have to be concurrent or all at the same employer).
What Your Health Psychology Master’s Online Program Could Cost
| School | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University | 36 | $240-$867 | $8,640-$31,212 |
| Grand Canyon University | 36 | $590 | $21,240 |
| Touro University | 36 | $500 | $18,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s in Health Psychology
What Are the Admissions Requirements for an Online Master’s in Health Psychology?
Students who are ready to embark on a health psychology online master’s will feel encouraged by the flexible admissions criteria employed by institutions. The GRE isn’t required for most online master’s in health psychology degrees; students with an array of undergraduate degrees and grades are welcome to apply. If you had a lower GPA as an undergrad, you may consider taking the GRE to demonstrate your preparedness for the rigors of graduate study.
- Bachelor’s degree (minimum GPA of 2.5)
- Transcripts from all institutions
- Application, including personal statement
- GRE typically isn’t required
How Long Will It Take to Finish My Health Psychology Master’s Online?
Online health psychology master’s degrees are consistently 30 to 36 credits across institutions, so programs can be completed in 12 to 16 months, depending on the number of courses in which a student enrolls at a time. Most programs require 10 to 12 courses to complete the degree, although some courses are worth more credit hours, such as the research courses at Walden University.
Courses tend to be shorter online, often in eight-week blocks. Those who pursue a health psychology degree on campus may expect their courses to align with the institution’s standard quarter or semester system. However, online education lends itself easily to part-time study, especially with the use of asynchronous learning to allow you to complete your lectures and assignments at your own pace.
Can I Earn My Master’s in Health Psychology 100% Online, or Do I Need to Take Classes on Campus?
Most programs are 100% online, with an exception if a student chooses to complete a health psychology internship instead of a capstone project. However, these degree programs have been designed with working students in mind. Many offer asynchronous content delivery for maximum flexibility.