Psychology MSc

Cognitive Psychology

In this module you will learn about human cognitive processes including how people reason, think and perceive, and how we use language to communicate with others, as well as covering individual differences. You will also gain an understanding of human consciousness and the interaction between emotion and cognitive processes.

This module will give you an appreciation of techniques used to investigate cognitive psychology such as neuroimaging and neuroscientific methods. The practical component will allow understanding into how cognitive psychology is researched experimentally.

Social Psychology (Level 7)

Social psychology is concerned with the description and explanation of human behaviour in situations where people are interacting with others. In this module you will gain a comprehensive and critical understanding of the concepts and methods used in explanations of human behaviour when these are applied to individuals and groups in a social context.

The nature of groups will be considered including micro groups (for example friendship or work networks) and macro groups (for example culture). Substantive content will range from traditional social psychological theories and methods to more critical reflection on the replication crisis in social psychological research. Ethical issues in social psychological research will be a key theme throughout the programme as will the application of knowledge to our everyday behaviours and how we consider behaviour change in a social world.

Research Methods in Psychology

This module aims to facilitate a critical understanding of a range of different empirical research methods in psychology. The objectives are to give you a depth of understanding regarding the advantages, limitations and appropriateness of a variety of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. Throughout the module you will have the opportunity to work through some of the issues and practicalities of carrying out and reporting empirical research.

Psychobiology and Neuroscience

This module will examine the psychobiological control of functions such as consciousness, locomotion, emotion, pain, eating, and sleep. You will investigate the role of biology in a number of different pathologies e.g eating disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance abuse amongst other neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. The module explores how our knowledge of the structure and function of the nervous system has given rise to current biological/pharmacological treatments of psychiatric and degenerative pathologies.

Lifespan and Individual Differences

The aim of this module is to facilitate an advanced understanding of the role of theory and research in understanding developmental issues and individual differences in infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and later life. You will engage with a range of topics of relevance to contemporary developmental psychology and consider the relationship between developmental psychology and cognate disciplines such as biology and sociology and developmental psychology's explanation of individual differences, as well as developing personal skills through a poster presentation.

Dissertation - Psychology

The aim of this module is to provide you with an opportunity to work with an academic member of the Department of Psychology on a real-life research project that will generate new knowledge in the field of psychology and serve to extend the discipline. It is also an opportunity for you to consolidate, apply, and further develop knowledge and skills in research methods. You will also acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of the area of psychology relevant to your chosen research question.

This is a substantial 60 credit module that is the culmination of your master's study. You will begin by developing a research proposal and obtaining ethical approval for the research to be carried out. This will involve critical evaluation of recent literature; the formulation of research questions/hypotheses; appropriate choice of methods and analyses; and an understanding of the ethical issues relevant to the proposed project.

Once ethical approval is obtained you will collect your data and carry out your chosen analysis. Then you will create your final dissertation report which should resemble that of a journal article reporting original data.

Forensic Psychology

This module enables you to explore the concept of 'crime', who commits crime, assessment and treatment of criminal behaviour, legal psychology and psychology and the courts. It focuses upon psychological approaches and principles and the module will enable you to critically evaluate how psychology relates to crime, the criminal justice system and the judicial process.

The Psychology of Health and Eating

The aim of this module is to familiarise you with contemporary theoretical and methodological issues in health psychology and in the psychology of eating. You will engage with a range of topics within these disciplines and will be given opportunities to consider the relationship between these and cognate disciplines such as biology and sociology. The module will provide the opportunity to develop team work and presentational skills through the team based learning and the researching and creating an audio-visual presentation.

Topics and Theoretical Issues in Clinical Psychology

The aims of this module are to foster a critical appraisal of clinical psychology as a discipline interested in promoting people's mental health wellbeing and relieving mental distress. You will also consider historical, ethical, and socio-cultural issues in mental health and examine diverse perspectives and contemporary viewpoints. In addition, you will consider the practical implications of working in this field and the ethical obligations and codes of conduct that clinical psychologists and mental health practitioners work within. This module will enhance your understanding of psychological topics covered in the other modules in the MSc Psychology.

Putting Health into Context

To enable an advanced critical understanding of the social context of health and wellbeing. In particular:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of the main theoretical approaches to the social contextual understandings of the psychology of health and wellbeing.

2. Understand the issues surrounding health promotion, care and wellbeing in a variety of social contexts.

Cognitive Psychology

In this module you will learn about human cognitive processes including how people reason, think and perceive, and how we use language to communicate with others, as well as covering individual differences. You will also gain an understanding of human consciousness and the interaction between emotion and cognitive processes.

This module will give you an appreciation of techniques used to investigate cognitive psychology such as neuroimaging and neuroscientific methods. The practical component will allow understanding into how cognitive psychology is researched experimentally.

Social Psychology (Level 7)

Social psychology is concerned with the description and explanation of human behaviour in situations where people are interacting with others. In this module you will gain a comprehensive and critical understanding of the concepts and methods used in explanations of human behaviour when these are applied to individuals and groups in a social context.

The nature of groups will be considered including micro groups (for example friendship or work networks) and macro groups (for example culture). Substantive content will range from traditional social psychological theories and methods to more critical reflection on the replication crisis in social psychological research. Ethical issues in social psychological research will be a key theme throughout the programme as will the application of knowledge to our everyday behaviours and how we consider behaviour change in a social world.

Research Methods in Psychology

This module aims to facilitate a critical understanding of a range of different empirical research methods in psychology. The objectives are to give you a depth of understanding regarding the advantages, limitations and appropriateness of a variety of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. Throughout the module you will have the opportunity to work through some of the issues and practicalities of carrying out and reporting empirical research.

Psychobiology and Neuroscience

This module will examine the psychobiological control of functions such as consciousness, locomotion, emotion, pain, eating, and sleep. You will investigate the role of biology in a number of different pathologies e.g eating disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance abuse amongst other neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. The module explores how our knowledge of the structure and function of the nervous system has given rise to current biological/pharmacological treatments of psychiatric and degenerative pathologies.

Lifespan and Individual Differences

The aim of this module is to facilitate an advanced understanding of the role of theory and research in understanding developmental issues and individual differences in infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and later life. You will engage with a range of topics of relevance to contemporary developmental psychology and consider the relationship between developmental psychology and cognate disciplines such as biology and sociology and developmental psychology's explanation of individual differences, as well as developing personal skills through a poster presentation.

Dissertation - Psychology

The aim of this module is to provide you with an opportunity to work with an academic member of the Department of Psychology on a real-life research project that will generate new knowledge in the field of psychology and serve to extend the discipline. It is also an opportunity for you to consolidate, apply, and further develop knowledge and skills in research methods. You will also acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of the area of psychology relevant to your chosen research question.

This is a substantial 60 credit module that is the culmination of your master's study. You will begin by developing a research proposal and obtaining ethical approval for the research to be carried out. This will involve critical evaluation of recent literature; the formulation of research questions/hypotheses; appropriate choice of methods and analyses; and an understanding of the ethical issues relevant to the proposed project.

Once ethical approval is obtained you will collect your data and carry out your chosen analysis. Then you will create your final dissertation report which should resemble that of a journal article reporting original data.

Forensic Psychology

This module enables you to explore the concept of 'crime', who commits crime, assessment and treatment of criminal behaviour, legal psychology and psychology and the courts. It focuses upon psychological approaches and principles and the module will enable you to critically evaluate how psychology relates to crime, the criminal justice system and the judicial process.

The Psychology of Health and Eating

The aim of this module is to familiarise you with contemporary theoretical and methodological issues in health psychology and in the psychology of eating. You will engage with a range of topics within these disciplines and will be given opportunities to consider the relationship between these and cognate disciplines such as biology and sociology. The module will provide the opportunity to develop team work and presentational skills through the team based learning and the researching and creating an audio-visual presentation.

Topics and Theoretical Issues in Clinical Psychology

The aims of this module are to foster a critical appraisal of clinical psychology as a discipline interested in promoting people's mental health wellbeing and relieving mental distress. You will also consider historical, ethical, and socio-cultural issues in mental health and examine diverse perspectives and contemporary viewpoints. In addition, you will consider the practical implications of working in this field and the ethical obligations and codes of conduct that clinical psychologists and mental health practitioners work within. This module will enhance your understanding of psychological topics covered in the other modules in the MSc Psychology.

Putting Health into Context

To enable an advanced critical understanding of the social context of health and wellbeing. In particular:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of the main theoretical approaches to the social contextual understandings of the psychology of health and wellbeing.

2. Understand the issues surrounding health promotion, care and wellbeing in a variety of social contexts.