The social-health psychology program is designed to train students in conducting and communicating high-quality psychological research. As a graduate student in the social-health psychology program, you will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with one or more faculty members in ongoing research projects, from conception to publication. Our program uses a mentorship model in which a graduate student works closely with one of the faculty members. In the first year, students begin a research project under faculty supervision. Often, this first year research project broadens into the topic of a masters’ thesis. As students progress through the graduate program, they are encouraged to pursue additional research projects, culminating in a dissertation project that reflects the students’ unique interests and expertise.
In their first two years, graduate students take a number of graduate courses and seminars that cover current research in social and health psychology, research methods, and advanced statistical methods. Graduate students learn how to use observational, survey, and experimental methods to conduct research in both the field and laboratory. Many students in the social-health program also elect to gain additional training by pursuing a concentration in quantitative psychology. Course requirements are structured so that students have maximal time to develop a unique program of research.
Faculty and students in the social program also meet regularly for "SHAM", the Social Health Area Meeting. In SHAM, students and faculty present research ideas, learn about current research trends, review journal articles, and discuss issues relevant to professional and career development. Students in this program also participate in a program-wide symposium in their second and fourth years.