Together with PSY 220, this course will provide a foundation for graduate studies in health psychology. Psy 221 will survey selected issues in health psychology not covered in PSY 220. The specific topics to be covered will be determined each time the course is taught to complement the coverage of PSY 220. Example of topics typically covered in this course are: psychological perspectives on major chronic diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes; quality of life in people with health conditions; pediatric psychology, which is focused on the interactions between development and health in childhood; aging and health; and interface between public health and health psychology. It is designed primarily for doctoral students in psychological sciences, and therefore emphasizes psychological research on health issues, but could also be accessible to other students with a background in empirical behavioral sciences.  The focus furthermore is on basic theory and research, with less coverage of clinical treatment issues.

Course Learning Goals:  This course is designed to enable the student to acquire the (or further their) ability to:

1. Explain salient psychological influences on health and the impact of health problems on psychological functioning.
2. Describe prominent approaches used to understand psychological influences on health and the impact of health problems on psychological functioning.
3. Identify limitations in current understanding of psychological influences on health and the impact of health problems on psychological functioning.
4. Demonstrate familiarity with how research is conducted in health psychology.
5. Critique health psychology research.
6. Synthesize knowledge at an advanced level on one specific topic in health psychology and indicate how to advance knowledge on that specific topic.

Course Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Explain salient psychological influences on health and the impact of health problems on psychological functioning
2. Describe prominent approaches used to understand psychological influences on health and the impact of health problems on psychological functioning
3. Identify limitations in current understanding of psychological influences on health and the impact of health problems on psychological functioning
4. Describe how research is conducted in health psychology
5. Critique health psychology research
6. Synthesize knowledge at an advanced level on one specific topic in health psychology and indicate how to advance knowledge on that specific topic