Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - PSYC 365 D100

Health Psychology (3)

Class Number: 3870

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    David Cox
    cox@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-6667
    Office: RCB 7320
    Office Hours: TBD

  • Prerequisites:

    PSYC 201.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores applications of psychological principles to health and health care. The development of the field of health psychology is traced and major topics introduced. Topics include health promotion, the hospital experience, communication in medical settings, coping with serious illness, psychoneuroimmunology, and field-specific methodology.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of health psychology through an emphasis on the Canadian health care delivery system. Health psychology is concerned with the contributions of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, and the identification of etiologic and diagnostic concerns. Given that health psychology is primarily an applied discipline, the focus of the course will be on the applications of psychology in the health field. Applied examples will be used where possible and recent research will be discussed throughout the course.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

1. To learn the fundamental concepts and theories of health psychology.
2. To apply these concepts and theories to better understand health-related behaviour as it is manifest in daily living
3. To apply these concepts and theories to better understand the provision of health care within the Canadian health care delivery system
4. To better understand how the fundamental concepts and theories of health psychology can be used to improve health and health care.
5. To become more articulate communicators of our ideas.

Grading

  • Mid-Term Exams (2 x 25%): 50%
  • Final Exam: 50%
  • This is a tentative outline. The grading outline provided above may be amended slightly.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Matheson, Deborah., Cox, David N. and Poole, G. (2023). The Psychology of Health and Health Care: A Canadian Perspective. (6th Canadian edition); Pearson, Toronto, Ontario.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.