Cover/Signature Page - Abbreviated Template/Abbreviated Template with Curriculum
Institution Submitting Request: Dixie State University
Proposed Title: Minor in Health Psychology
Currently Approved Title: N/A
School or Division or Location: School of Humanities
Department(s) or Area(s) Location: Social and Behavioral Sciences Department-- Psychology
Recommended Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code (for new programs): 42.2810
Current Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code (for existing programs): 42.01
Proposed Beginning Date (for new programs): 07/01/2014
Institutional Board of Trustees’ Approval Date:
Proposal Type (check all that apply):
Regents’ General Consent Calendar Items
R401-5 OCHE Review and Recommendation; Approval on General Consent Calendar
SECTION NO.
5.1.1
5.1.2
5.2.1
5.2.3
5.4.1
5.4.2
5.5.1
5.5.2
5.5.3
5.5.4
5.5.5
ITEM
Minor*
Emphasis*
Certificate of Proficiency*
Graduate Certificate*
New Administrative Unit
Administrative Unit Transfer
Administrative Unit Restructure
Administrative Unit Consolidation
New Center
New Institute
New Bureau
Out-of-Service Area Delivery of Programs
Program Transfer
Program Restructure
Program Consolidation
Name Change of Existing Programs
Program Discontinuation
Program Suspension
Reinstatement of Previously Suspended Program
Reinstatement of Previously Suspended Administrative Unit
*Requires “Section V: Program Curriculum” of Abbreviated Template
Chief Academic Officer (or Designee) Signature:
I certify that all required institutional approvals have been obtained prior to submitting this request to the Office of the
Commissioner.
______________________________________
Signature
Printed Name: Dr. William J. Christensen
Date: ____________________
Program Request - Abbreviated Template
Dixie State University
Health Psychology Minor
5/5/2013
Section I: Request
Dixie State University (DSU) requests approval to offer a minor in Health Psychology, effective Spring 2014 or the
first full semester after approval. The minor requires foundational and elective courses in Psychology totaling 24
credits, 18 of which must be upper-division.
Section II: Need
The American Psychological Association (div. 38) states that Health Psychology focuses on:
 Advancing contributions of the psychology discipline toward understanding health and illness through basic
and clinical research and by encouraging the integration of biomedical information about health and illness
with current psychological knowledge;
 Promoting education and services in the psychology of health and illness;
 Informing the psychological and biomedical community, as well as the general public, on the results of
current research and service activities in this area; and
 Contributing to improving the health care system.
The minor in Health Psychology is designed to complement the interests and needs of students interested in health
and health-related careers. The objectives of the minor in Health Psychology are to:
1. Promote better understanding of the interrelated nature of behavioral, emotional, cognitive, social, cultural,
environmental, and biological processes and how these interrelated processes impact illness, health and
quality of life;
2. Help students interested in pursuing health care (medical school, nursing, occupational therapy, physical
therapy, etc.) become more effective health care providers; and
3. Help pre-med students be better prepared for the new MCAT exam to be offered starting in 2015, which will
include an “addition of the social and behavioral sciences section, Psychological, Social and Biological
Foundations of Behavior, [recognizing] the importance of socio-cultural and behavioral determinants of
health and health outcomes” (Association of American Medical Colleges, 2013; see also“A Word From the
President: MCAT2015: An Open Letter to Pre-Med Students” at https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/
march2012/276772/word.html)
While a health psychology minor is not currently common in Utah universities, the need for such a minor is rapidly
growing, in part, due to revised MCAT requirements and the rapidly-changing field of health care.
The requirements in the proposed DSU Health Psychology Minor are similar to those at Indiana University and
Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Institution
IUPUI
Total credits
required
18
UCLA
15
Dixie State University
(proposed)
21
Required courses
Intro to Psychology, Health
Psychology, Social Psychology,
Abnormal Psychology, Behavioral
Neuroscience
Intro to Psychology, Health
Psychology
Intro to Psychology, Health
Psychology, Abnormal Psychology,
Behavioral Neuroscience, and APA
Writing
Elective credits
required
3
Upper-Division
Credits Required
15
6
12
6
15
Section III: Institutional Impact
All courses required or offered in the minor are offered as part of the major and are taught by qualified faculty with
Ph.D.s. Full-time, tenure-track faculty teach the core and elective upper-division courses in addition to lower-division
GE courses. As enrollment in the upper-division courses increases and additional sections become necessary,
qualified adjunct faculty will be able to assist full-time faculty with some of the lower-division courses. Full-time faculty
will continue to teach lower division courses as part of their regular workload. Advising will be available through one
full-time Advisor in psychology and an additional lecturer/advisors and Psychology faculty.
Section IV: Finances
There is minimal anticipated cost to the institution. Increased enrollment in upper-division Psychology courses would
better utilize the staff and facilities devoted to those classes in support of the Psychology major. As enrollment in the
upper-division courses increases, additional adjunct faculty will be hired to assist with some of the lower-division
courses.
Section V: Program Curriculum
All Program Courses (with New Courses in Bold)
Course Prefix and Number
Required Courses
Complete the following:
PSY 1010
PSY 2000
PSY 3400
PSY 3460
PSY 3710
Title
Credit Hours
Intro to Psychology
Writing in Psychology: APA Style
Abnormal Psychology
Health Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience
3
3
3
3
3
15
Sub-Total
Elective Courses
Complete 6 credits from the following:
PSY 1100
PSY 2800
PSY 3200
PSY 3220
PSY 3230
PSY 3410
PSY 3440
PSY 3720
PSY 4300
PSY 4440
Lifespan Development
Human Sexuality
Development in Infancy and Childhood
Psychology of Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Adult Development and Aging
Social Psychology
Child and Family Mental Health
Psychopharmacology
Intro to Counseling and Psychotherapy
Addiction Treatment
Sub-Total
Total Number of Credits
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
6
21
Program Schedule
Suggested Program Schedule
Year 1: Fall Semester
PSY 1010
Intro to Psychology
3
Year 1: Spring Semester
PSY 2000
Year 2: Fall Semester
PSY 3400
PSY 3710
Year 2: Spring Semester
PSY 3460
2 electives not previously taken:
PSY 1100
PSY 2800
PSY 3200
PSY 3220
PSY 3230
PSY 3410
PSY 3440
PSY 3720
PSY 4300
PSY 4440
Writing in Psychology: APA
Style\\
3
3
Abnormal Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience
3
3
Health Psychology
3
Lifespan Development
Human Sexuality
Development in Infancy and Childhood
Psychology of Adolescence and Emerging
Adult
Development and Aging
Adulthood
Social Psychology
Child and Family Mental Health
Psychopharmacology
Intro to Counseling and Psychotherapy
Addiction Treatment
6