MA in Psychology - Positive Health Psychology

Positive Health Psychology integrates your core professional education in psychology with a focus on this dynamic and growing field, which explores human well-being and the factors that contribute to it.

Positive Health Psychology investigates people who are physically and mentally healthy despite the presence of otherwise harmful physical, social, or environmental conditions. Offered jointly by the School of Community & Global Health and the Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences, this unique program explores the relationship of optimism and physical health, positive health behaviors, and the role social support and relationships play in maximizing health and well-being. You’ll gain a unique combination of insights applicable to a wide range of professional options, including managed care, mental health, and such federal agencies as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Positive psychologists who are also competent in epidemiological and public health principles are well positioned for careers at managed care organizations, mental health departments, and federal agencies.
• The proximity to local health departments in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties provides many employment and educational opportunities for students.
• All students in the Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences who request financial aid receive some amount. DBOS also regularly hires students for paid teaching assistantships.

Why the School of Community & Global Health?

We offer a fertile research environment where students of the sciences, public health, government, business, civil society, and the community engage with world-class faculty in creative problem solving that leads to innovations in health promotion, disease intervention, and policy evaluation. Customizable and dual graduate degree programming—ranging in areas from public health and psychology to evaluation and management—extends your ability to bring about change in the public sphere and prepares you to perform rewarding, lucrative work that makes a real difference.

Facts & Statistics

The School of Community and Global Health (SCGH) was founded in 2008 to address 21st-century public health threats, including accelerated shifts in global populations and spikes in preventable health-related problems.

In July 2008, SCGH faculty developed an innovative Master of Public Health Program (MPH) in Community and Global Health, followed by a Ph.D. program in Health Promotion Sciences and a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH).

The school currently has:

• 143 current students across all programs
• 15 percent of international students
• 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• 10 full-time faculty members
• 193 alumni, including spring 2019 graduates