PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Students entering the program typically have a background in psychology, biology, or life sciences and pursue research in a field combining psychology with the biomedical sciences. Basic and applied approaches to health psychology and behavioral medicine are emphasized, focusing on the study of psychosocial, psychobiological, and behavioral factors in the etiology, prevention, and treatment of illness, substance abuse, and relationships between physical and mental health. The emphasis of this program is the training of scientists and educators in the fields of health psychology, behavioral medicine, and/or medical psychology. The Medical Psychology Program has two tracks: a Military Track and a Civilian Track. The requirements for both tracks are the same.
Medical Psychology-Military Track graduates are trained for research careers in one of the military services. Currently we are not accepting applications for this track.
Medical Psychology-Civilian Track graduates are trained to be independent researchers in government, academic or civilian research settings.
Upon entry into the program, students are matched with a primary advisor and are expected to become involved in ongoing research. In addition to completing research relevant to their degrees, all students contribute to research projects that are being completed in their research advisor’s research laboratory. The amount of time that students commit to other laboratory projects will vary throughout their training and will be determined by their research advisor. Typically in the application process, students have identified the primary advisor with whom they intend to work. Students typically work with their advisor in research, but students may do research with adjunct faculty or faculty other than their primary advisor. In such cases, the advisor continues to monitor student progress in consultation with the other faculty.
CURRICULUM
All students in the Medical Psychology program must complete three hours of lecture per week and three hours of seminar per week that address topics such as stress, pain, cardiovascular disease, cancer, compliance, prevention, smoking, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
In addition, all students must complete courses in statistics and experimental design, research methods, learning principles, cognitive psychology, social psychology and the history of psychology. Students also are required to complete pathophysiology, physiology, and pharmacology courses taught in the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Nursing.
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 courses such as psychopathology, developmental psychology, behavioral factors in chronic disease, appetitive behaviors, neuroscience, psychopharmacology, psychophysiology, neuropsychology, epidemiology, and advanced statistics. 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. Therefore, students take 2-4 electives in Medical Psychology during the second year.
During the third year, students must take at least one elective each quarter. There is no required coursework in the fourth or fifth years when the student's time is focused on dissertation and other research, but students are encouraged to continue to take relevant electives.
CORE COURSES (XX CREDITS)
MPO1000 Physiological Basis of Behavior - 3
MPO511 Psychopharmacology - 3
MPO513 Physiological Basis of Behavior - credits vary
MPO549 Affective Basis of Behavior - 2
MPO539 Cognitive Psychology - 3 credits OR MPO514 Psychology of Learning - 3 credits
MPO505 Social Psychology - 3 credits
MPO605 Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine - 3 credits
MPO519 History and Systems of Psychology - 2 credits
MPO901 Research Methods I - 3 credits
MPO902 Research Methods and Complex Human Experimentation II - 3 credits
MPO903 Research in Medical Psychology - credits vary
MPO999 Dissertation Research - credits vary
IDO502 Experimental Statistics and Design I - 3 credits
IDO502 Experimental Statistics and Design II - 3 credits
PMO511 Introduction to Epidemiology - 3 credits
IDO704 Scientific Ethics and the Responsible Conduct of Research - 2 credits
MPO601 Medical Psychology Seminar & Case Conference (Years 1-4) - 1 credits
Serves as Teaching Assistant (after second year) - credits vary
ELECTIVE COURSES (XX CREDITS)
MPO551 Clinical Assessment for Adults: Cognitive & Personality I - 4 credits
MPO552 Clinical Assessment for Adults: Cognitive & Personality II - 4 credits
MPO553 Clinical Assessment for Adults: Cognitive & Personality III - 4 credits
MPO546 Foundations of Psychotherapy - 3 credits
MPO532 Lifespan Development - 3 credits
MPO526 Psychopathology - 4 credits
MPO541 Brief Dynamic Therapy - 4 credits
MPO561 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy I - 4 credits
MPO562 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy II - 4 credits
MPO1002 Public Policy 3 OR PMO526 Health Systems - 3 credits
MPO301 Military Psychology I :I/O & Human Factors - 3 credits
MPO527 Ethics in Psychology - 3 credits
MPO536 Cultural Diversity - 3 credits
MPO304 Leadership, Consultation, & Supervision: Research and Practice - 3 credits
MPO502 Psychophysiology - 3 credits
MPO506 Personality Theory - 3 credits
MPO509 Appetitive Behaviors - 3 credits
MPO510 Stress - 3 credits
MPO515 Behavioral Factors in Chronic Disease - 3 credits
MPO701 Tutorial in Medical Psychology - 3 credits
MPO803 Special Topics in Medical & Clinical Psychology - 3 credits
NSO506 Introduction to Neuroscience - 3 credits
MPO518 Advanced Statistics - 3 credits
PMO503 Biostatistics I - 3 credits
PMO504 Biostatistics II - 3 credits
PMO508 Biostatistics III - 3 credits
PMO512 Epidemiologic Methods - 3 credits
PMO513 Advanced Epidemiologic Methods - 3 credits
MPO303 Stress and Trauma in the Military Context - 3 credits
MPO410 Art of Psychotherapy - 3 credits
MPO545 Integrative Psychology - 3 credits
MPO530 Group Psychotherapy - 3 credits
MPO533 Neuropsychology - credits vary
MPO543 Foundations of Intervention: Marital and Couples Therapy - 3 credits
MPO547 Integrated Primary Care - 3 credits
MPO534 Planning, Implementing, & Evaluating Human Service Programs - 3 credits
MPO1003 Advanced Health Policy - 3 credits
TEACHING (CREDITS VARY)
After their first year of training all Military Track students are expected to serve as a teaching assistant for at least two courses/activities each academic year.
MASTER’S THESIS (OPTIONAL)
The topic, design, and format of the Master’s thesis are determined in collaboration between the student and research advisor. The student’s research advisor chairs the Master’s thesis committee. In addition to the chair, the committee includes two other faculty members, with at least one of these faculty members having a primary or secondary appointment in the Medical and Clinical Psychology Department. Although the third committee member is typically an MPS faculty member, the student may include faculty from other departments or from outside of the University with the approval of the faculty advisor and other MPS committee member. Committee members independently read the thesis and determine whether the student passes.
SECOND YEAR PAPER
The topic and the structure of the second year paper are developed in collaboration with the student’s research advisor. Usually the second year paper is a complete draft, but not necessarily the final draft, of the Master’s thesis. The second year paper can also be a separate project from the Master’s thesis. It is expected that students will complete the second year paper by the end of August of their second year. The student’s research advisor is the only reviewer of the second year paper. The student’s research advisor will send a memo to the Director of Graduate Studies upon satisfactory completion of this requirement.
QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS & ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY
A written examination is administered at the end of the second year. This examination is oriented toward developing students’ ability to integrate specific areas of psychology. This exam must be passed before students are advanced to candidacy and apply for the Ph.D. degree.
The qualifying exam has been composed of eight “2-hour blocks” over three contiguous days. One question is administered at the outset of each “2-hour block.” There are 6 questions on the qualifying exam. Each question is scored by 2 individuals, the "question writer" and a second "grader." Each grader scores using a 1-5 scale where: 1 = worst possible score, 3 = just passed, 5 = best possible score. A mean score is taken of the two scores.
A “pass” is defined as a mean score on a question which is greater than or equal to 3.
A “fail” is defined as a mean score on a question which is less than 3.
Each candidate has a mean score on each of the 6 questions. They also have an overall mean score for the exam (overall score = mean of the 6 mean scores). Outcomes are treated as follows:
ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
The following are required to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours:
- Completion of required formal coursework
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
- Completion teaching assistant assignments
- Completion of Master’s Thesis
- Successful completion of the Qualifying Examination
- The dissertation advisory committee is formed, consisting of approved graduate faculty and graduate faculty scholars.
DISSERTATION
DISSERTATION (15 CREDIT MINIMUM)
Students in the Medical Psychology Program and Clinical Psychology Program-Civilian Track, in consultation with their primary advisor, will choose between Format A (Standard Dissertation Format), or Format B (Alternate Dissertation Format).
FORMAT A (STANDARD DISSERTATION FORMAT)
The Dissertation Proposal is completed before study to obtain committee’s input and approval) and includes 3 chapters: Introduction, Methods, and Proposed Analyses and Expected Results
The Dissertation Defense is conducted after completion of the study and consists of the following parts: Abstract, Introduction (Chapter 1), Methods (Chapter 2), Results, Discussion (Chapter 3).
FORMAT B (ALTERNATE DISSERTATION FORMAT)
The purpose of following the Format B is to promote skills and experience in publishing professional manuscripts and in conducting programmatic research. Format B more closely matches the current practices in scientific publication. Students are expected to engage in careful discussion with their graduate mentors and thesis advisors before choosing their doctoral dissertation format. Based on the student’s programmatic work to date, their experience and interest in publishing their professional work, and their career goals, this format may be recommended over the Standard dissertation format.
The Dissertation Proposal is completed before study to obtain committee’s input and approval) and includes 3 chapters: Introduction (Chapter 1), Three Proposed Studies including Methods and Proposed Analyses and Expected Results (Chapters 2-4).
The Dissertation Defense is conducted after completion of the study and consists of the following parts: Abstract, Introduction (Chapter 1), Three Completed Studies including Methods and Results (Chapters 2-4), Discussion (Chapter 5). At least one of the manuscripts must be published or in press in a peer-reviewed journal.
ANNUAL EVALUATIONS
Each year the student evaluation committee meets to evaluate the progress of each student in the department. The purpose of this evaluation process is to provide you with annual feedback regarding strengths that have been observed as well as areas where improvements can be made. This information is designed to provide useful input on your progress, to provide an assessment of your progress in a number of competencies (e.g., whether you exceeded expectations, met expectations, or did not meet expectations), and to help in your professional development.
The areas considered include classroom performance, research, professional competencies, and clinical competencies (clinical students). Foundational and functional competencies involve the following domains: Professionalism, Relational, Science, Application, Education, and Systems.
ADMISSION
International Students will be considered if they have earned a baccalaureate degree from a United States College/University.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- A complete employment history
Additional Application Requirements
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Deadline for full consideration of applications for the Fall Quarter is December 1st. Receipt of applications by this deadline will allow prospective students to be considered for financial support.
FINANCIALS
TUITION AND FEES
Tuition: $0
Fees: $0
Equipment: $0
Tuition and fees are waived for students. *Most textbooks are provided free of charge, but on occasion students may be required to purchase books. Civilian students do not incur service obligation to the United States government after the completion of their graduate studies.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
USU provides an attractive package of financial support to students, which will be administered as a part-time Federal salary for your position as a Research Associate. Total compensation is highly competitive with other local universities. As an Administratively Determined (AD) Federal employee, your salary is subject to standard taxes and withholdings.
As an AD employee, you will receive standard Federal benefits including contributions towards health insurance, retirement, and transit costs. Additionally, you have the option to decline certain benefits, which will increase your net income. Students are supported as Federal employees for the first 3 three years of their enrollment. After this period, students transition to employment as Research Associates by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF). These positions are supported by grants awarded to mentors or by fellowships awarded to students.
There are no tuition charges for graduate students at USU, nor is there any requirement in the form of government or military service. Most required textbooks are provided without charge.
FELLOWSHIPS
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine annually provides support for 1-3 graduate fellowships. The fellowships are competitively awarded annually to outstanding USU civilian graduate student doctoral candidates in the USU School of Medicine who meet the following criteria:
- The student's USU-supported funding has ended or will end in August of the year of the award
- The student has advanced to candidacy and is in good academic standing
Applicants must provide information on their research plan and progress, and have the support of their Program Director. Selections are made in June and announced prior to 1 August of each year.
Graduate student fellowship support is also competitively available from many other sources, such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Foundation, and various private foundations such as the American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, etc. Check with the USU Office of Research and/or the Graduate Education Office for various opportunities to compete for extramural funding.
DOCTORAL STUDENT RESEARCH FUNDS
USU maintains a special fund to finance doctoral student research. This resource is designed to provide funds to graduate students in addition to those provided by their major advisor. Funds are available to graduate students who have completed two years of graduate study at USU or who have been advanced to candidacy and are devoting a majority of their time to their dissertation research. Graduate research funds are currently available for two academic years. Funding beyond two years is evaluated on a case by case basis and must be approved by the Graduate Education Committee. In recent years, the maximum amount of funds available each year to eligible graduate students has varied between $1,500 and $2,500.
Forms to apply for USU graduate research funding are available from the GEO and will be sent to those students eligible in July of each year. These applications are relatively short if the funding requested is part of an already accepted University protocol by a major professor. If the research funding represents an entirely new protocol, the normal USU research review procedures must be followed. Information on which course of action is appropriate is available in the GEO. These protocols are administered by the Office of Research Administration at USU. You, your advisor, and your Program Director will receive notification when the funding is approved.