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Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology — Premedical Track

Location: Boston
Start Term: Fall

As a healthcare professional with a background in health psychology, you understand the role of behavioral factors in health promotion and policy, illness treatment, and disease prevention. And by earning your Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology through the Premedical Track, you will be well-prepared to use your knowledge to influence patient-provider interactions and shape the future of healthcare delivery.

In this program, you'll gain a range of knowledge in psychology with a strong foundation in the basic sciences and liberal arts, as well as an informed sense of current healthcare issues. You will discover how to provide quality care to your future patients through the National Academies of Medicine’s five core competencies, which include providing patient-centered care, working in interdisciplinary teams, employing evidence-based practice, applying quality improvement, and utilizing informatics.

In the Premedical Track, you will take the prerequisite courses needed to take the MCAT and be prepared to apply to medical schools.

First-year applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.

Students are able to transfer into the first or second year of the program. Transfer courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted. While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first or second year of our program, transfer credit will be reviewed and awarded for each applicant at the time of admission. For admission into the program, the admission committee will look for success in your prior college coursework.

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

Year I–Fall
BIO 150 Biology I Lab  1
BIO 151 Biology I  3
ITM 101 Introduction to the Major  1
LIB 111 Expository Writing I  3
LIB 120 Introduction to Psychology  3
MAT 151 Calculus I 3
Semester Total  14

Year I–Spring
BEH 250 Health Psychology  3
BIO 152/L Biology II w/ Lab  4
LIB 112 Expository Writing II   3
LIB 133 American Culture  3
MAT 152 Calculus II  3
Semester Total  16

Year II–Fall
BIO 255/L Medical Microbiology w/ Lab  4
CHE 131/L Chemical Principles I w/ Lab  4
MAT 261 Statistics  3
  Additional Required Course*  3
Semester Total  14

Year II–Spring
BEH 101 Health Psychology Seminar I  1
BEH 451 Research Methods in Health & Behavior  3
CHE 132/L Chemical Principles II w/ Lab  4
LIB 220 Interpersonal Communication  3
MAT 461 Biostatistics 3
  Additional Required Course*  3
Semester Total  17

Year III–Fall
BEH 456 Applications of Research Methods  1
CHE 231/L Organic Chemistry I w/ Lab  4
LIB 512 Healthcare Ethics  3
PBH 250 Introduction to Public Health  3

Additional Required Course* 3
Semester Total  16

Year III–Spring
BEH 102 Health Psychology Seminar II  1
CHE 232/4 Organic Chemistry II w/ Lab  4
PSB 412 Medical Patients' Rights and Professionals' Liabilities  3
  Additional Required Course*  3

Additional Required Course* 3
Semester Total  14

Year IV–Fall
BEH 103 Health Psychology Seminar III  1
BIO 360 Cellular Biochemistry  4
LIB 590 Field Placement I (Pass/Fail)  3
PHY 280/L Physics I w/ Lab  4

Additional Required Course* 3
Semester Total  15

Year IV–Spring
LIB 592 Health Psychology Capstone  3
PHY 284/L Physics II w/ Lab  4
  Additional Required Course*  3
  Additional Required Course*  3

Additional Required Course* 3
Semester Total  16
Total Degree Credits  122

Additional Required Courses (All Four Required)*

  • BEH 260 Lifestyle Medicine
  • BEH 341 Biological Psychology
  • BEH 350 Abnormal Psychology
  • BEH 352 Human Development

Health-Specific BEH Courses (Select Two)

  • BEH 254 Death and Dying
  • BEH 353 Nutrition and Health
  • BEH 344 Integrative Therapies and Mental Health in Aging
  • BEH 405 Mind/Body Medicine
  • BEH 454 Stress and Illness
  • BEH 457 Drugs and Behavior

Other Required Courses (One of Each Type):

  • (1) BIO 300 or 400-Level Course
  • (1) HUM Elective Course
  • (1) SSC Elective Course
 

Faculty Spotlight: Amanda Kentner, PhD

Amanda Kentner

Learn about psychology research involving students across multiple health fields.

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