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Health and Environmental Psychology

Psychology at the interface of environment and health

How does the environment influence our well-being? What psychological approaches can help to promote more sustainable lifestyles? Are you fascinated by these questions? Then our bachelor's degree programme Health and Environmental Psychology is the right fit for you! The English-taught online degree programme provides you with in-depth knowledge about the interactions between people, the environment, and health - all with an international focus.

You will develop practical skills in the areas of counselling, behavioural analysis, and intervention planning. After graduating, you will be able to pursue a wide range of careers in health promotion, environmental psychology, or research worldwide. With this future-oriented and international focus, you will be ideally equipped to make a contribution to health, well-being, and sustainability in a globalised world.

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Reasons to study Health and Environmental Psychology at THWS

Studying online at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt opens up doors to a world of innovations and fascinating challenges. We connect theory with the required practice, fundamental research with applied knowledge, and regional expertise with global perspective. At THWS, you learn to gain new perspectives and contribute to a more sustainable and advanced future.

Our online degree programmes take place 100 percent online. This gives you complete flexibility - wherever you want and whenever you want, always with the high teaching quality of one of the largest state universities in Bavaria, Germany.

International focus – global studies, worldwide application

The degree programme is taught entirely in English and prepares you optimally for an international career. You will not only develop intercultural skills but also benefit from a global perspective on health and environmental issues. During your studies, you will become part of an international community and learn how psychological solutions are applied in different cultural and social contexts. You can also complete your internship semester abroad.

Advantages of the degree programme

Practical degree programme with integrated internship semester and interdisciplinary projects
The degree programme takes place 100 percent online and offers a high degree of flexibility
Unique subject combination of health and environmental psychology
Focus on research - empirical studies and practice-oriented final thesis
Broad range of methods in behavioural analysis, counselling, and intervention
Global perspectives: You will learn how sustainability, climate change, and public health are seen worldwide
Diverse career opportunities in health promotion, environmental counselling, and research

Three good reasons

Interactive online learning: Flexible and internationally oriented

Interdisciplinary expertise: Combination of psychology, health, and sustainability

Global relevance: Focus on international challenges such as climate change and public health

Programme contents

The seven-semester bachelor's degree programme combines sound theory, practical application, and future-oriented topics with an international focus. You will study the fundamentals of human behaviour as well as social, developmental, and biological psychology. You will learn how psychological factors influence health and illness, and how to develop health-promoting interventions. Environmental psychology shows the interplay between people and the environment in order to promote well-being and sustainable behaviour. You will acquire practical skills in counselling, behavioural analysis, and intervention and broaden your understanding of societal challenges through interdisciplinary perspectives. The focus is also on scientific work: You will plan research projects and analyse data to apply psychological findings in health and environment-related areas.

Programme structure

Basic studies (1st to 4th semester)

In the first four semesters, you will lay the foundations for your psychological expertise: You will familiarise yourself with the central theories, models, and methods of psychology and deal with topics such as perception, learning, emotion, motivation, and social interaction. Health and environmental psychology already play a central role here. This content is supplemented by the teaching of methodological skills such as scientific work, research methods, statistics, and diagnostics. You will also develop practical skills in areas such as communication, counselling, behavioural analysis, and intervention.

Internship semester (5th semester)

In the 5th semester, you will gain valuable work experience as part of a compulsory internship. Whether in health promotion, environmental consulting, research, or the public sector - you will apply your knowledge in a targeted manner, deepen your expertise, and make important contacts for your future career. Particularly exciting: You can also complete your internship semester abroad and gain international experience.

Specialisation (6th and 7th semester)

In the 6th and 7th semesters, you will specialise in selected topics of health and environmental psychology. You will expand your specialist knowledge in application-orientated courses and projects and deal in depth with research-related issues. The degree programme concludes with the bachelor's thesis, in which you work on a topic of your choice and demonstrate your analytical and research-related skills.

Your entry into the world of health and environmental psychology

In the Health and Environmental Psychology degree programme, you will specialise in health or environmental psychology. You will deepen your knowledge in practice-relevant fields to prepare you specifically for your career. The main focus is placed on current social challenges such as climate change, sustainability, and public health.

Your online study programme includes the following topics amongst others:

Health psychology: Influence of psychological factors on health behaviour and prevention
Environmental psychology: Human-environment interactions and sustainable behaviour
Behaviour analysis and intervention: Design of effective health promotion measures
Public health and sustainability: Psychological strategies for social challenges
Interdisciplinary research: Combination of psychology with ethics, sociology, and politics

Practice-orientation

Online studies at THWS are characterised by a high practice-orientation and the internship semester, which takes place in the 5th or 6th semester, depending on your degree programme. It takes place in the 5th semester and is completed in a company or suitable institution. That way you can apply the knowledge developed during your online studies in an actual work environment.

What makes studies at THWS so practice-orientated?

Internship semester as an integral part of studies to put the theoretical knowledge into practice
Project-based studies in practice-oriented modules that prepare you for future professional challenges
Professors with extensive practical experience
Cooperation with organisations, research institutions, and international partners
Possibility of creating the bachelor's thesis in cooperation with a company or organisation

International practice

By the way: You also have the opportunity to complete your internship semester abroad. That way you do not only develop intercultural competence but also boost your language skills and your career perspectives on the international job market.

Symbolic image gaining international experience, copyright: Adobestock/JLco-Julia Amaral

Career and perspectives

After graduation, your combination of psychological expertise, practical skills, and international orientation will prepare you to develop solutions for health and environmental issues on a global level. Your degree will qualify you to work in intercultural teams and develop effective solutions worldwide.

You can work in various fields:

In health promotion, you will support organisations in the development and implementation of programmes to improve well-being and prevent disease
In environmental consulting, you will work to promote sustainable behaviour and create environments worth living in
You can also work in the public sector and with non-governmental organisations to tackle social challenges
In addition, there are activities in which psychological expertise is required to analyse behaviour and promote healthy working and learning environments, e.g. market research, human resources management, or in the education sector

Is Health and Environmental Psychology the right programme for you?

Are you interested in how psychological processes influence health, behaviour, and well-being? Do you want to understand how our environment shapes our thoughts and actions and how you can initiate sustainable change? If you answer yes to these questions, Health and Environmental Psychology could be the right degree programme for you.

The degree programme is aimed at anyone who wants to research and practically apply psychological relationships in a global context. The programme is particularly suitable if you do not only want to understand social challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution, or health inequalities, but also want to actively contribute to their solution. You should be curious about academic work and be prepared to critically analyse different perspectives. The fully English-taught degree programme offers you the flexibility to combine learning and everyday life.

Admission requirements

Requirement for admission to the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt is a valid general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), a subject-specific higher education entrance qualification (fachgebundene Hochschulreife), an advanced technical college certificate (Fachhochschulreife), a general/subject-specific entrance qualification for qualified professionals, or a comparable qualification from abroad (HZB, university entrance qualification).

In order to study Health and Environmental Psychology (B.Sc.), you must prove English language skills at B2-level. More information on linguistic admission requirements.

Your interests and abilities

Interest in the interactions between psychology, health, and the environment
Interest in intercultural issues and international contexts
Ability to work in a structured manner in a digital learning environment
Enjoy scientific work and conducting empirical studies
Good communication skills, empathy, and independence

If you want to combine psychology with current topics such as health, sustainability, and social responsibility and appreciate international perspectives, Health and Environmental Psychology is the right choice for you.

Transparent fee scheme

We value transparency. We therefore choose to keep our semester fees simple. We do not charge any fees for examinations. We also do not charge any fees for the use of university services.

EU-citizens pay a semester fee of EUR 600 per semester. This fee includes a media fee and the fee for the Studierendenwerk (student services fee).

Non-EU-citizens pay a semester fee of EUR 1500 per semester. In addition to a media fee and the fee for the Studierendenwerk (student services fee), a study fee and service fee are included. We use the income from the service fee to realise various support offers and services during the course of your studies.

After the standard period of study only the fee for the Studierendenwerk is to be paid per semester (currently about EUR 170).