Program Vision and Mission Statements

Vision Statement

The Health Psychology Ph.D. Program trains and educates psychologists who will promote physical and mental health, enhance wellness, and empower individuals and communities at the local, national, and international levels. We will accomplish this via interdisciplinary education, research, clinical training and advocacy which advance science and practice.

Mission Statement

The Health Psychology Ph.D. Program at UNC Charlotte trains and graduates health psychologists proficient in scientific knowledge using a balance among several academic endeavors, including: scientific research, clinical training and practice, professional development, and community engagement. Our graduates are well-suited for careers in healthcare and clinical settings, universities, non-profit organizations and government sectors, large corporations, and public and private research facilities.

Health Psychology is dedicated to basic and applied research and practice guided by principles of psychology to influence health and wellness across the lifespan. Specifically, health psychologists seek to understand the role that psychological, behavioral, biological, social, and cultural factors play in the promotion of health and wellness and the etiology, treatment, and prevention of physical and mental health conditions.

Training opportunities for our students are organized into three areas of concentration:

  • The Clinical concentration emphasizes research and training guided by the Scientist-Practitioner (Boulder) Model using the Biopsychosocial Model.
    • The concentration aims to train clinical psychologists who generate and use scientific knowledge in the delivery of professional services to the public including assessment, treatment, and clinical research. The clinical concentration is accredited by the APA*, and all graduates from this concentration are eligible for licensure.
  • The General concentration emphasizes research on the biological, emotional, cognitive, social and interpersonal processes that contribute to health
    • The concentration focuses on mastering methodological and analytical issues related to research in health psychology
  • The Community concentration emphasizes research, evaluation and practice regarding the social and community factors that promote health and wellness while working closely with community partners.

The program supports a robust intellectual environment that values social and cultural diversity, free expression, collegiality, integrity and mutual respect. We provide flexible options for our students to engage in collaboration and receive interdisciplinary training with faculty across colleges, departments, and programs at UNC Charlotte.

The UNC-Charlotte Health Psychology program strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained. We are committed to empowering individuals to explore and appreciate the unique attributes of each person, including but not limited to ability/disability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, language, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, weight/size and other factors that may intersect to inform identity. We recognize that these are all shaped by both individual experiences, historical context, and societal and organizational structures. Consistent with ethical research and practice in health psychology, we aim to create an inclusive community that is free from discrimination and harassment, and that promotes critical thinking that addresses stereotypes and inequalities through conscious reflection of our identities, beliefs, values, and actions. To foster this climate, we evaluate our progress through periodic assessment, respond to challenges through open discussion, and act in creative and compassionate ways.

*The Clinical Psychology program at UNC Charlotte has been APA-accredited since 2012 and recently received re-accreditation until 2027. For any questions about the program’s accreditation status or about APA accreditation in general, please contact:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation / American Psychological Association

750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242

Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org / Web: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation