Launch of Two Specialized Master’s Programs in Health Psychology and School Health
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Launch of Two Specialized Master’s Programs in Health Psychology and School Health
The Vice-Chancellor for Educational Affairs of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences announced the launch of two specialized master’s programs in Health Psychology and School Health at the master's level.
According to the university’s news desk, Dr. Hamidreza Khorram Khorshid, Vice-Chancellor for Educational Affairs at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, spoke about the new programs. He said:
The primary aim of establishing the Health Psychology program is to train professionals who can understand the link between physical and mental health and provide scientifically grounded, effective interventions to improve individuals’ quality of life.
He added that the university serves as the country’s focal point for rehabilitation, backed by programs in rehabilitation fields such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and more, as well as specialized centers like Razi and Rofeideh Hospitals. This unique education and research environment enables meaningful progress in improving the quality of services to patients. Providing space and supportive programs to help patients adapt to the treatment setting can increase treatment adherence and enhance collaboration with the treatment team.
Regarding the School Health program, he noted that School Health is a subfield of health sciences focused on improving students’ physical, mental, and social health within educational environments. Students in this program play a key role in disease prevention, health education, and creating a healthy learning environment.
He also highlighted that in the first year, five students will be admitted to Health Psychology. Given that rehabilitation encompasses more than physical interventions and includes psychosocial dimensions of patients, having a health psychologist in the rehabilitation team is essential for stress management, adaptation to illness or disability, increased motivation, and better adherence to treatment plans. Consequently, the career prospects for graduates in Health Psychology at rehabilitation centers, hospitals, specialized clinics, elder care facilities, and in the design and implementation of community health improvement programs are clear and practical.
The Vice-Chancellor for Educational Affairs of the University commented on the launch of the School Health program: This field is one of the subfields of health sciences, focusing on improving students’ physical, mental, and social health in educational settings. Those studying in this program will play a key role in disease prevention, health education, and creating a healthy learning environment.
He added that there are opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and coordination among groups such as Health Management, Safety and Environment, Disaster and Emergency Health, Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Audiology, and other related fields. The aim is to train capable graduates with a holistic outlook on student health, emphasizing psychosocial dimensions alongside the physical, creating opportunities to strengthen preventive approaches and health promotion in student education. The program also seeks to enhance interaction between schools and rehabilitation centers to monitor students’ needs in physical, psychological, and social rehabilitation, among other objectives.
Dr. Khorram Khorshid concluded by expressing hope that this initiative will enable the university to play a larger role in the country’s rehabilitation-focused graduate programs and contribute to training the next generation of specialists.
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