MA in Health & Wellness Psychology

Because of the varying need for professionals with health and wellness experience, those with a master’s degree in health and wellness psychology are primed for counseling careers in a number of settings and specialties such as private practices, schools, and clinical offices. Opportunities to grow as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors are prevalent; the same goes for rehabilitation counselors. Other areas where health and wellness professionals are becoming more and more needed, include outpatient care facilities, nursing or adult care environments, and child care centers. Most prevalent, however, is the opportunity to grow as a mental health counselor, as the number of available jobs in this field is expected to grow significantly through 2018, if not beyond.

Steps Toward an MA in Health & Wellness Psychology

To become a health and wellness psychologist, requirements vary significantly by state. Successful students typically complete the following steps:

1. Earn proper undergraduate degree (requirements vary by state). Common undergraduate degrees include Bachelor of Science programs in education, psychology, or human services.
2. Earn proper graduate degree (requirements vary by state) from an accredited institution like Purdue, Liberty, or Walden University. Typically includes completing a Master of Arts degree with a concentration in health and wellness psychology. Many master’s programs do not necessarily require a bachelor’s degree to have been in psychology to be eligible for a master’s degree, although some introductory courses may be required. To practice independently as a community psychologist, a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) is usually required.
3. Obtain proper licensure (requirements vary by state).

To become licensed, one must also have completed a pre- or post-doctoral supervised experience, an internship, or a residency program. A health and wellness counselor should have strong analytical, communication, and observational skills.

My Degree and What It’s Good For

This degree prepares you to confront psychological issues holistically by examining all the lifestyle factors and acute conditions that influence a given patient. A health psychologist is typically responsible for the following job duties:

• Study how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and illness.
• Promote healthy living and disease prevention through counseling.
• Offer case management support and guidance.
• Focus on how patients adjust to illnesses and treatments and view their quality of life.

The earning potential of psychologist can vary by type of job, location, experience. Visit our salary guide to learn more about your earning potential as a health and wellness counselor.

Online Masters in Health & Wellness Psychology Degree Programs

• Northcentral University: MS in Health Psychology
• University of the Rockies: MA in Health and Wellness Psychology
• Walden University: MA in Health Psychology

Closely Related Programs

The following degrees are closely related to a master’s degree program in health and wellness psychology, often allowing you to pursue a career in this field or others:

• MS in Addiction / Rehab Counseling
• MS in Applied Psychology
• MS in Gerontology
• MS in Mental Health Psychology
• MS in Sports Psychology