Medical Psychology PhD Program (Page 1)

Program Requirements
 
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Purpose of Program

students

The graduate training program in Medical Psychology is primarily a research training program designed to prepare Ph.D. psychologists to pursue or apply research that combines psychology with the biomedical sciences. This training program includes graduate and medical school courses and some teaching experience, but research activities are the focus of the Medical Psychology track. Initially, this research is directed and supervised by the student's faculty advisor.
 
Later, the student is expected to develop an original research program and take major responsibility for planning and implementing studies. Basic and applied approaches to health psychology and behavioral medicine are emphasized, focusing on the study of psychosocial, behavioral, and psychobiological variables.

Prerequisites, including Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores

Students admitted to the program usually have a background in psychology and life sciences and some research experience in psychology or biomedical sciences. However, students with varied academic backgrounds and work experiences have successfully applied for admission and completed the program. Undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or better and scores (Verbal + Quantitative) on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) of 1100 (out of 1600) or above are preferred. The Advanced Test in Psychology is not required.

Coursework

All students in the Medical Psychology track must complete a series of required courses during the first two years of study and then take electives throughout their graduate training. The required courses include graduate seminars in: Experimental Statistics and Design I and II, Research Methods/Complex Human Experimentation I and II, Medical Psychology, Principles of Learning, Social Psychology, Research Ethics, and History and Systems in Psychology. Students also are required to attend the Department's weekly Behavioral Medicine/Health Psychology colloquium series for four years, which features scientific presentations by departmental faculty, senior graduate students, other USUHS faculty, and invited outside speakers. In addition, graduate students are required to take select courses (or designated portions of courses) in the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Nursing: Introduction to Medical Psychology, portions of Medical Physiology, and portions of Medical Pharmacology. The Introduction to Medical Psychology is the Department's course for first-year medical students. This course introduces topics such as stress, pain, tobacco use, eating disorders, substance abuse, aging, domestic violence, neuropsychology, psychological variables and cardiovascular disease, medical compliance, and behavioral factors relevant to preventive medicine and health promotion.
 
Along with these required courses, students take electives that reflect various specialties in psychology and in the study of behavior and health. These electives include: Appetitive Behaviors, Applied Multiple-Regression Correlation, Behavioral Factors in Chronic Disease, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Personality, Psychobiology of Stress, Psychopharmacology, and Psychopathology. Special Tutorials in Medical Psychology that focus on specific topics are arranged depending on student interests. Students also may take courses in other departments or programs as electives. For example, students often take courses offered by the Clinical Psychology Program, the Department of Preventive Medicine, and the Neuroscience Program. Some students take additional course work offered by the School of Medicine, such as Immunology or Neuroanatomy.
 
During the second year of study, students are required to take two elective courses per quarter, at least one of which must be offered in the Department. During the third year, students must take at least one elective each quarter, all in the Department. There is no required course work in the fourth or fifth years when the student's time is focused on dissertation and other research, although students may continue to take electives based on their interests and time in consultation with their advisors.

Ph.D. Qualifying Exams

student studying

Written, closed-book Ph.D. qualifying examinations are administered at the end of the second year of study over two consecutive days. The exam draws from required and elective course work and requires students to integrate across courses. The exam includes required questions on general course work, such as Experimental Statistics and Design and Methods/Complex Human Experimentation, as well as a choice of questions in other topic areas such as Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Learning Theory, Medical Psychology, Personality, Physiology and Behavior, and Social Psychology. Exam questions are graded by at least two faculty members with expertise in that subject area.
 
Exam scores are discussed at a faculty meeting called for this purpose. Students receive feedback about their performance after this meeting. Students must pass this examination, the course requirements and necessary number of electives, complete the first year review paper, and complete the second year research project to be advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Continue to page 2 of program requirements

Contact Information

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4799


Center for Deployment Psychology
Center for Health Disparities