Masters Degrees (Experimental Psychology)

Program overview

The master of science degree in experimental psychology builds on the strengths of faculty research and student interests in experimental psychology broadly defined. The program as a whole provides a foundation for further advanced academic study in human factors and/or experimental psychology.

Plan of study

The program includes 30 credit hours of core courses, elective courses, and a thesis. It also offers students two tracks to choose from: experimental psychology and engineering psychology.

The experimental psychology track embraces the application of the scientific method to the study of behavior. Faculty are experts in a variety of fields including addiction, attention, cognition, development, evolutionary psychology, forensic psychology, perception, psychopathology, and social psychology, among others.

The engineering psychology track examines human capabilities to sense, perceive, store, and process information and how these human factors impact interactions with technology. This knowledge is applied to the design, use, and maintenance of human-machine systems. Courses emphasize the role of human behavior and performance in both simple and complex human-machine systems. Students are trained in both research methods of experimental psychology and application of the results to contemporary problems in industry. This track prepares students to function as effective engineering psychologists in industrial, governmental, or consulting organizations.

Electives

Students in the engineering psychology track must select two electives (students should check for course prerequisites or if permission of the instructor is required). Any graduate course at RIT can be taken as an elective, assuming prerequisites are met.

Thesis

Students select a thesis adviser during the first year. Selection of an adviser, thesis topic, and research proposal must be completed in the second semester of the first year of the program. Ongoing research activity is expected through the summer term of the program. At the completion of the thesis, students will publically present their findings and defend their research before a thesis committee.

Curriculum

Experimental psychology, MS degree course sequence differ according to the modules selected, see website for further details on available modules and electives: https://www.rit.edu/programs/experimental-psychology-ms

Other admission requirements

-Submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
-Submit at least two letters of reference from professors or supervisors.
-Submit a personal statement describing the applicant's goals for the program focusing on their research interests and possible thesis research (including possible thesis mentors).
-Complete a graduate application.

Additional information

Cooperative education:
The program includes an optional cooperative education component. Co-op is generally completed in the summer after the first year of the program. The co-op experience provides experiential learning that integrates with classroom education and allows students to apply psychological principles to problems in a variety of work environments. Co-op may be completed in any business or industrial setting.

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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a thriving center of intellectual excellence that encompasses 14 academic departments and 80 degree programs. Its more than 2,500 students are engaged in a wide variety of challenging courses and hands-on learning experiences that extend across all areas of the humanities and sciences – from the great philosophers and classic literature to the world economy and environmental sustainability.

At the core of each department are faculty members who have garnered national acclaim for their best-selling books, ground-breaking research and creative endeavors. Together, students and their professors explore globally significant subjects and work towards the goal of improving every aspect of the way in which human beings live. To learn more about a specific area of study, click on the left-hand navigation bar for a full listing of academic departments.

The department

As a student in the Department of Psychology, you will undertake a survey of current knowledge and viewpoints about the science of behavior and cognitive processes. You will learn the research methods by which such knowledge is obtained, and be given the opportunity to study basic psychological processes, their development, the nature of behavioral aberrations, their treatment, and selected applications of this knowledge.

The undergraduate and graduate programs in Psychology encompass child and adult psychology, abnormal behavior, therapy, and psychological testing. The curricula explores the sciences of psychology—learning, perception, behavioral neuroscience, developmental processes, and normal and abnormal processes—and their practical application. In addition to classroom studies, you will gain hands-on experience at community youth centers, hospitals, human resource departments, and agencies that serve developmentally disabled children and adults.

Fully accredited by the American Psychological Association, the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Psy.D.), trains students who want to practice as clinical psychologists with a strong interest in traditionally underserved populations. In addition to mastering a rigorous core curriculum, Psy.D. students gain special competencies in two of four areas: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Assessment and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, Interventions with High-Risk Families, and Serious Mental Illness.

M.A. in Experimental Psychology

In earning this 36-credit Master of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology you will strengthen your research, writing and critical-thinking skills while broadening and deepening your knowledge of behavior. The core curriculum provides a foundation in the basic topics of statistics, experimental methods, behavior analysis and learning, perception and cognition, and the neuropsychological bases of behavior. You will have unique opportunities to conduct original hands-on research.

In designing a program to fit your own interests and needs, you will have an opportunity to choose from a full menu of electives, including “Social Psychology,” “Personality,” “Applied Behavior Analysis,” “Psychopathology,” “Psychopharmacology “ and “Theory and Practice of Psychotherapy.” In addition to paving the way for further study on the graduate level, the M.A. in Psychology will prepare you for a wide range of positions in research, education, industrial organization, management training and human resources.

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Studying in the School of Experimental Psychology will give you the opportunity to be part of a vibrant postgraduate community and a world-class department. Our postgraduate students are a very important part of the departmental research culture and are a key component in maintaining our international research reputation.

Before submitting an application, we recommend that potential applicants make informal contact with the member of academic staff whose research you are interested in.

Research groups

Research activity in the school is organised into two research themes: Cognitive Processes and Brain, Behaviour and Health. Within each theme, there is a set of focused research groups. An important feature of this research structure is the extent of collaboration across research groups and across the themes. All groups address fundamental questions and look at the impact of their work more broadly in industry, healthcare, education and society. Across these thematic research groups, there are particular strengths in computational neuroscience and neuropsychology.

Cognitive Processes
Focused research groups in cognitive processes are:
-Developmental (includes the Bristol Cognitive Development Centre and Bristol Autism Research Group).
-Language (speech comprehension, speech production, reading and dyslexia, language and thought).
-Memory (short-term memory, modelling, dynamics, lifespan memory).
-Social (social cognition and evolutionary social psychology).
-Vision (fusing cognitive science and information technology to tackle research problems that cannot be comprehensively addressed by the single disciplines alone).

Brain, Behaviour and Health
Focused research groups in brain, behaviour, and health are:
-Neuropsychology (neural basis of both typical and pathological cognition, using a range of methodologies including EEG and fMRI).
-Nutrition and Behaviour Unit (effects of substances on cognition and performance; appetite, weight control, and diet).
-Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group (social drugs and social cognition; plain packaging of tobacco products; carbon-dioxide inhalation model of anxiety).
-Decision-making and rationality (areas of current focus include selecting the appropriate movement response; how properties of the environment shape decisions; structuring the world to facilitate good decisions; food choice and dietary decisions; the origins of supernatural beliefs).

Careers

Many of our PhD graduates work in academia; others work in the private sector or in government institutions.

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This MSc is a conversion course that gives you a thorough grounding in psychology. You don’t need any prior formal psychology education. You cover:
-Biological, cognitive, social and developmental psychology
-Philosophical and ethical perceptions of psychology
-Research methods

Accreditation
This MSc is accredited by the British Psychological Society as a qualification for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).

How will I study?
This MSc is intensive and consists of lectures, tutorials, seminars and practical classes on the core modules, plus accompanying reading and essay writing.

As well as unseen examinations, you complete an experimental dissertation supervised by a member of faculty.

Scholarships
Our aim is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to despite financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique individuals.

Chancellor's International Scholarship (2017)
-25 scholarships of a 50% tuition fee waiver
-Application deadline: 1 May 2017

ESRC 1+3 and +3 Scholarships (2017)
-A number of ESRC-funded standalone PhD and PhD with Masters scholarships across the social sciences.
-Application deadline: 30 January 2017

HESPAL Scholarship (Higher Education Scholarships Scheme for the Palestinian Territories) (2017)
-Two full fee waivers in conjuction with maintenance support from the British Council
-Application deadline: 1 January 2017

USA Friends Scholarships (2017)
-A scholarship of an amount equivalent to $10,000 for nationals or residents of the USA on a one year taught Masters degree course
-Application deadline: 3 April 2017

Careers
Our graduates have gone on to pursue careers in mental health, administration, counselling, research, nursing, teaching and lecturing, and clinical psychology. Others have gone on to further studies at doctoral level.

Employers of our graduates include:
-Charities
-Universities
-Local councils
-Health authorities, trusts and the NHS

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The Department of Psychology has approximately 30 faculty members and 40 graduate students. Faculty have active research programs in many areas of psychology, many of which rely on volunteers from the community.

Psychology is also part of the interdisciplinary Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology (CABE) program, which offers both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees. Interested students should apply directly to the CABE program.

The MSc program involves courses and a thesis and can be completed in two years of full-time study. Students can focus their research areas on behavioural neuroscience, cognition, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, or social psychology.

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Sunderland's Psychology Department was rated top four in the UK for teaching excellence by the Sunday Times University Guide 2013.

Course overview

This course is a conversion course that is suitable for graduates who have not studied psychology as a first degree. Successful completion provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership by the British Psychological Society, which is an essential first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist. It also supports careers where professional insights in human behaviour are valuable such as social work, public services, advertisement, general management and Human Resources.

This course provides in a compact form the same grounding in psychological science as a three-year undergraduate course but at a masters level of skill and knowledge. As a result, this conversion course is both challenging and demanding.

This course is not suitable if you have already studied psychology at undergraduate level. Instead, you may wish to consider MSc Psychological Research Methods. The course has three parts, consisting of:
a) the six core areas of psychology, which include social psychology, individual differences and developmental psychology, as well as cognitive psychology, biological psychology and conceptual and historical issues in psychology
b) qualitative and quantitative research methods and statistics
c) the Masters Project, which provides an opportunity for in-depth research into an area of psychology near to your personal interests and career aspirations. The research elements of the course are supported by Sunderland’s thriving Health Sciences and Well-being Research Beacon that explores many different aspects of mental health and health behaviours

At the end of the course, you could choose to undertake the further study that is required to become a chartered psychologist. Alternatively, your understanding of psychology will help you in sectors such as advertising, social work, public services, general management and Human Resources.

Course content

The course mixes taught elements with independent research and self-directed study. There is flexibility to pursue personal interests in considerable depth, with guidance and inspiration from Sunderland's supportive tutors. Modules on this course include:
-Everyday Motivations and Biases (30 Credits)
-Experimental Design and Analysis in Psychology (30 Credits)
-Non-experimental Design and Analysis in Psychology (30 Credits)
-Cradle to Grave: Stability and Change (30 Credits)
-Master Project (60 Credits)

Teaching and assessment

We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. The research aspects of the course are supported by Sunderland’s thriving research programme. Our tutors’ specialisms include social psychology and evolutionary psychology, and the University carries out research into health behaviours and mental health.

Compared to an undergraduate course, you will find that this Masters requires a higher level of independent working. There are around three hours of contact time a week.

Assessment methods are a combination of exams and coursework including essays, reports and seminar presentations.

Facilities & location

The University has specialist psychological and computer laboratories, plus dedicated space (the ‘sandbox’) for psychology students to develop ideas collaboratively. The course is based at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s, on the banks of the River Wear and less than a mile from the seaside.

Our specialist facilities include:
-Cognitive Laboratory
-Visual Psychophysics Laboratory
-Linguistics Laboratory
-Computing Laboratory
-Multimedia and Games Research Room

University Library Services
The University boasts a collection of more than 430,000 books with many more titles available through the inter-library loan service. There are nearly 9,000 journal titles, mostly in electronic format. Each year the University invests around £1 million in new resources.

Learning environment
Sunderland offers a vibrant learning environment with an international dimension thanks to the presence of students from around the world. At the same time, the University is fully plugged into relevant industry organisations, with strong links and an exchange of ideas and people.

IT provision
When it comes to IT provision you can take your pick from hundreds of PCs as well as Apple Macs in the David Goldman Informatics Centre and St Peter’s Library. There are also free WiFi zones throughout the campus. If you have any problems, just ask the friendly helpdesk team.

Employment & careers

On completing this course you will be equipped to apply for the further postgraduate training that is required to become a chartered psychologist. There are nine types of psychology in which it is possible to become chartered: clinical, educational, forensic, occupational, counselling, sport & exercise and health psychology, as well as neuropsychology and teaching/researching in psychology.

As an example of salaries, clinical psychologists within the NHS typically have a starting salary of around £30,000, progressing up to more than £80,000 for higher level posts. Salaries in private hospitals and private practice will vary.

Equally, the course prepares you for employment in a broad range of sectors. The insights, rigour and methodology of psychology are valued in roles in management, advertising, marketing, Human Resources, the police force, the prison service, social care, health services and teaching.

In addition, a Masters degree will also enhance career opportunities within Higher Education and prepare you for further postgraduate studies.

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Course Summary

The Graduate Diploma in Psychology offers a fast route to eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) - the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

Course details

The Graduate Diploma in Psychology comprises seven modules that make up 160 credits in total. The course therefore provides you with a thorough grounding in the theory, themes, issues and practical skills that are central to any undergraduate psychology course. You will also be allowed to participate in up to one additional module per semester free of charge; but will not be assessed in such modules.

The 2006 British Psychological Society (BPS) regulation for Graduate Diploma students means that if you APL for any of the 20 credit modules you are required to take a substitute module at level 6. However, you can APL only 50% of the level 5 modules, and not the dissertation.

You will conduct and submit a research project as part of this course, and must achieve 160 credits with an overall mark of at least 50 percent, to be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership with the BPS.

Semester 1 (Level 5)

Biological and Atypical Psychology (20 Credits)

The overall aim of Biological and Atypical Psychology is to introduce students to the study of the brain and its interaction with the environment (e.g. behaviour). The module covers the structure and function of the nervous system from the micro (genetics and neurons) to the macro (gross anatomy and function of the nervous system) as well as applied aspects such as the biological psychology of mental health, addiction, stress and other psychologically relevant aspects of biological psychology.

Atypical psychology is embedded in each of these topics. Lectures present the background concepts, theories, and related issues while seminars involve a variety of learning activities including lab-based demonstrations of neuroanatomy, physiological measurement of behaviour, group discussions of talks by leading academics in the field, and use of online activities to self-assess and develop students’ understanding of key issues.

Students' ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of basic concepts will be assessed through a short group presentation and accompanying 500 word essay, and by a 1.5 hour unseen examination (60 multiple choice questions).

Individual Differences (20 Credits)

This module examines the concepts, theories, methods and findings in the psychology of personality and intelligence. A key component is principles of measurement and psychometric testing in the study of similarities and differences between people. A variety of learning activities, including guided reading, lectures, and seminar activities will be employed throughout the module. Students’ ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of basic concepts will be assessed through a written portfolio and by an unseen examination.

Further Research Methods (20 Credits)

This module takes students beyond the introductory level in their research methods training in psychology and will cover some more key concepts/ issues and additional methods at a more advanced level. It will cover some more complex experimental designs, survey designs, psychometrics, and more advanced qualitative methods. The lectures will provide an overview of the key concepts, issues and procedures while the workshops will provide hands on experience of the research process. As part of the process students continue to develop skills in all aspects of the research process getting closer to the goal of becoming competent in carrying out independent research projects.

Semester two (Level 5)

Lifespan Development (20 credits)

This module examines the concepts, theories, methods and findings in the field of developmental psychology. The module takes a lifespan perspective, focusing on human development from early childhood through to later developmental stages such as adolescence, adulthood and old-age. A variety of learning activities, including guided reading, lectures, and seminar activities will be employed throughout the module. Students’ ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of basic concepts will be assessed through a critical review and an unseen examination.

Cognition in Action (20 credits)

An overview of cognitive psychology is given by going through a range of classical topics such as perception, attention, imagery, memory, problem solving, decision making, thinking, language and concept formation. A variety of practical exercises are undertaken and several methodological approaches are visited.

Social Psychology (20 credits)

Social Psychology focuses on a variety of issues concerned with the social and interactive aspects of human behaviour. The module provides an overview of the main areas of study and introduces the diversity of social psychology, presenting the findings on a variety of topics central to social psychological enquiry. In addition, this module lays the foundation for subsequent study and research that may be pursued for the dissertation. It provides a basis for further academic consideration of these issues in social psychology.

Semesters 1 and 2 (Level 6)

Graduate Diploma Psychology Dissertation (40 credits)

This module helps you conceptualise and carry out a piece of empirical psychology research, to a standard suitable for submission for publication. You will learn how to present research ideas to peers and the wider academic community in verbal and poster presentations. It is the practical and theoretical realisation of what you will have learned in the Further Research Methods modules and other theory-driven modules.

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Psychology at Kent offers a supportive, dynamic and diverse environment for creative research and learning.

During your research, you are supported by a panel including a main and secondary supervisor. Your supervisors are individually selected for you based on their compatibility with your research interests. Typically, you meet with your supervisors more frequently at the initial stages of research than during the phases of data collection and analysis.

You receive training in research-specific and broader ‘transferable’ skills, including academic writing, career management and presentation skills. You also have the opportunity to train for an advanced teaching qualification (ATAP). The Advanced Statistics and Methodology module from our taught MSc programme is available for doctoral students that have not already completed an advanced statistics and methods course.

During term-time, our research groups hold weekly meetings to discuss ongoing work, and weekly seminars also take place featuring external speakers. Numerous data analysis and research methods workshops are available (recent examples include structural equation modelling; hierarchical linear modelling; meta-analysis; EPrime experimental software), as well as individual training opportunities.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/79/social-psychology

The School of Psychology

Kent's School of Psychology supports research in a number of areas, including: social psychology; developmental psychology; forensic psychology; cognitive psychology; existential psychology; personality and motivation.

We conduct both basic and applied research in several areas, and we are highly regarded as a leading European centre for postgraduate research. We have a long-established international reputation in social psychology, and this is complemented by our strengths in cognitive, developmental and forensic psychology. The School attracts excellent visiting scholars and postgraduate students from both within the UK and overseas.

Study support

- Postgraduate resources

The School has excellent facilities for both laboratory and field research, including advanced laboratory and teaching facilities. Resources include:

- three fully equipped colour video laboratories for face-to-face group research, together with ten satellite laboratories connected via remote-control CCTV and two-way audio links

- 58 research laboratories, all containing networked computers

- a further 80 PCs available exclusively to Psychology students, including a designated MSc computer-networked room providing full email and internet access

- shared offices and a personal, networked computer for research students

- a full range of computer-based experiment generators and productivity software installed on all the School’s systems

- an upgraded laboratory suite with equipment for digital sound and vision recording

- four Brain Vision EEG labs (including one for simultaneous TMS & EEG, and one portable EEG system)

- two trans-cranial direct current electrical stimulators (GVS, Magstim)

- Neuroconn tDCS/tACS electrical stimulator with facilities for simultaneous EEG

- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) PowerMAG Research 100 High Frequency Stimulator

- two Tobii eye-trackers (Tobii X120 & Tobii T60 XL portable)

- one Arrington eye-tracker

- a suite equipped with Bio-Pac recorders to allow for a range of physiological measures to be taken during stressful and other tasks

- specialist laboratories equipped for face processing and vision research

- CRS ColorCal II Colorimeter/Photometer

- CRS Audiofile for synchronized audio-visual presentation

- numerous PC and Mac labs to run behavioural experiments

- Mirror Stereoscopes for dichoptic presentation and stereo vision research

- immersive virtual reality lab (including integrated eye-tracker)

- a social cognition laboratory

- creation in 2010 of the Kent Child Development Unit and research team focusing on how children learn about their world, about other people and about the language they hear around them.

- Dynamic publishing culture
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology; Child Development; Clinical Psychology Review. Details of recently published books can be found within the staff research interests.

- Researcher Development Programme
Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subjectspecific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.

Careers

Our postgraduate students commonly go into the fields of health, teaching or further education. For instance, many of our graduates take up roles as assistant psychologists in the NHS with a view to becoming a professional clinical or forensic psychologist. Upon completing our Master’s courses, graduates have also pursued doctoral study and academic careers at higher education institutions.

The programmes we offer help you to develop general critical, analytic and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of settings.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

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Psychology at Kent offers a supportive, dynamic and diverse environment for creative research and learning.

During your research, you are supported by a panel including a main and secondary supervisor. Your supervisors are individually selected for you based on their compatibility with your research interests. Typically, you meet with your supervisors more frequently at the initial stages of research than during the phases of data collection and analysis.

You receive training in research-specific and broader ‘transferable’ skills, including academic writing, career management and presentation skills. You also have the opportunity to train for an advanced teaching qualification (ATAP). The Advanced Statistics and Methodology module from our taught MSc programme is available for doctoral students that have not already completed an advanced statistics and methods course.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/78/psychology

The School of Psychology

Kent's School of Psychology supports research in a number of areas, including: social psychology; developmental psychology; forensic psychology; cognitive psychology; existential psychology; personality and motivation.

We conduct both basic and applied research in several areas, and we are highly regarded as a leading European centre for postgraduate research. We have a long-established international reputation in social psychology, and this is complemented by our strengths in cognitive, developmental and forensic psychology.

Study support

- Postgraduate resources

The School has excellent facilities for both laboratory and field research, including advanced laboratory and teaching facilities. Resources include:

- three fully equipped colour video laboratories for face-to-face group research, together with ten satellite laboratories connected via remote-control CCTV and two-way audio links

- 58 research laboratories, all containing networked computers

- a further 80 PCs available exclusively to Psychology students, including a designated MSc computer-networked room providing full email and internet access

- shared offices and a personal, networked computer for research students

- a full range of computer-based experiment generators and productivity software installed on all the School’s systems

- an upgraded laboratory suite with equipment for digital sound and vision recording

- four Brain Vision EEG labs (including one for simultaneous TMS & EEG, and one portable EEG system)

- two trans-cranial direct current electrical stimulators (GVS, Magstim)

- Neuroconn tDCS/tACS electrical stimulator with facilities for simultaneous EEG

- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) PowerMAG Research 100 High Frequency Stimulator

- two Tobii eye-trackers (Tobii X120 & Tobii T60 XL portable)

- one Arrington eye-tracker

- a suite equipped with Bio-Pac recorders to allow for a range of physiological measures to be taken during stressful and other tasks

- specialist laboratories equipped for face processing and vision research

- CRS ColorCal II Colorimeter/Photometer

- CRS Audiofile for synchronized audio-visual presentation

- numerous PC and Mac labs to run behavioural experiments

- Mirror Stereoscopes for dichoptic presentation and stereo vision research

- immersive virtual reality lab (including integrated eye-tracker)

- a social cognition laboratory

- creation in 2010 of the Kent Child Development Unit and research team focusing on how children learn about their world, about other people and about the language they hear around them.

- Dynamic publishing culture
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology; Child Development; Clinical Psychology Review. Details of recently published books can be found within the staff research interests.

- Researcher Development Programme
Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme (http://www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/skills/programmes/tstindex.html) for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subjectspecific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.

Careers

Our postgraduate students commonly go into the fields of health, teaching or further education. For instance, many of our graduates take up roles as assistant psychologists in the NHS with a view to becoming a professional clinical or forensic psychologist. Upon completing our Master’s courses, graduates have also pursued doctoral study and academic careers at higher education institutions.

The programmes we offer help you to develop general critical, analytic and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of settings.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

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This degree is ideal for all those wishing to become professional researchers in psychology working either in an academic or professional institution.

About the course

On this course, you will be introduced to a wide range of experimental tools used in research, and will learn how to plan, conduct and critically appraise research to a professional standard. As part of the course, you will also have the opportunity to work on a research apprenticeship with a senior researcher and develop your own independent research project.

In addition to these skills, you will be given professional training on how to disseminate your work to a non-academic audience through presentation skills, speaking with the media, and managing your profile. The course aims to develop practical skills that are essential to becoming a researcher, including how to write a peer-review of a journal article and how to prepare for a viva (oral) examination.

You can also tailor your qualification to suit your needs. Firstly, you can choose between having a focus on advanced quantitative or qualitative analysis depending on the type of research you would like to specialise in. You can then choose to specialise in your own area of psychology from a selection of optional content modules in different areas of psychology (subject to availability). The course offers a set of transferable skills for a variety of research settings involving:
-Appropriate information presentation
-Evaluation and analysis of data,A range of methods of communication results
-Effective use of information technologyTeaching skills

“The course has been really beneficial for my understanding of statistics and research methods at both a theoretical and practical level. The knowledge and skills I learnt throughout the course have been really useful throughout my PhD, I use my notes from the course all the time!” Amelia Hall, PhD student

Why choose this course?

This course offers:
-Teaching in advanced research and data analysis
-Exposure to a wide range of research tools in psychology, including software (R, LaTeX) and hardware (eye-tracking apparatus, BIOPAC)
-Professional training on how to speak with the media and disseminate your work to a non-academic audience
-Development of practical skills, including how to write a peer-review of an academic publication, how to give a good presentation, and how to record a video abstractAn opportunity to prepare for a viva (oral) examination (as required for a PhD)
-An opportunity to work on a research apprenticeship with a senior researcher in the department and to develop your own independent research project
-The ability to tailor your degree to suit your needs by choosing to specialise in quantitative or qualitative analysis, or a mixture of both, and by selecting optional modules in different areas of psychologyAccess to departmental research seminars across a range of subjects in psychology

Careers

This course can be used as the basis for professional training in research, and gives you transferable skills that are of great value in pursuing a career as a researcher. It is also ideal for those who would like to complete a professional doctorate in psychology. However, students on this course can have a wide range of careers in research, both in an academic or professional institution.
Previously, our students have gone on to study PhDs in a variety of different areas of psychology, and some have also used this qualification to work in health organisations and charities.

Teaching methods

The teaching of this course is delivered mainly through lectures and seminars but it is also accompanied by one-to-one supervision from professional staff members. As well as exams and coursework, this course is assessed by a range of practical assessments, including a peer review of a journal article, an oral presentation, and an examination viva.

The course comprises eight taught modules with a research project. It has a set of mandatory elements but offers you the flexibility to tailor your studies to your own particular interests or career aspirations.

Structure

Core Modules
-Research Apprenticeship in Psychology
-Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology
-Research Project in Psychology

Optional
-Advanced Methods of Quantitative Data Analysis
-Core Research Skills - Psychology
-Critical Appraisal of Research
-Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology
-Research Apprenticeship in Psychology
-Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology
-Research Project in Psychology

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Overview

The MSc in Social & Community Psychology prepares psychology graduates for the next stage of their career in research or applied areas of social and community psychology.

Keele has a vibrant, well-established and ever-expanding community of researchers in aspects of social and community psychology, combining tradition and innovation. Students will benefit from their expertise across a wide range of areas including experimental social psychology, group dynamics, cyberpsychology; and critical social psychology, qualitative, participatory and arts-based research approaches. MSc students are made to feel part of this research culture both through the formal modules and through involvement in research seminars and meetings.

- Career destinations:
Many of our MSc graduates go on to take up positions in the workplace or register for a PhD in psychology.

See the website https://www.keele.ac.uk/pgtcourses/socialandcommunitypsychology/

Course Aims

The programme provides taught content and research training in a range of areas in social & community psychology, building on areas of staff research expertise. Strengths include critical social psychology, qualitative, participatory and arts-based research approaches; community-based action research; experimental social psychology, group dynamics, and cyberpsychology.

Course Content

The programme addresses written and communication skills, independent learning skills, data analysis, critical reflection and critical evaluation. Our students benefit from a wide range of support including accessible academic staff with a wide range of expertise, laboratory and other research space, study space, and access to IT and research tools.

List of Module Titles:
- Advanced Study in Social & Community Psychology (30 credits)
- Contemporary Research in Psychology (15 credits)
- Advanced Research Skills & Design (15 credits)
- Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)
- Advanced Quantitative Statistics (15 credits)
- Research Apprenticeship in Psychology (15 credits)
- Dissertation (75 credits)

Teaching & Assessment

The course is of one year duration for full time and two years for part-time.

The course is assessed through written coursework, unseen examination, verbal presentation of research, and independent research written up as a dissertation.

Additional Costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate programme. Limited support is available for research-related expenses.

Scholarships

There are substantial scholarships available, please see this link: http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/bursariesscholarships/internationalfunding/postgraduate/
or
http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/bursariesscholarships/

Closing Date

30th June 2016

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Our Psychology MA is a new course designed to offer advanced study in psychology with an emphasis on both research excellence and critical writing skills. Following two semesters of academic study, students write a stand-alone literature review in an area of psychology that particularly appeals to them. This may be an idea or theory that the graduate is already developing, or may be in an area that they become interested in during the course. An academic supervisor will help students to develop their ideas and hone their writing skills, providing support for the literature review. Students can choose to follow a general programme or specialise in the following areas by choosing particular options in semesters one and two.

Read the course leaflet.

View the MA Psychology modules.

During the first two Semesters of this course, content modules are split between core research foundation courses providing an in depth knowledge of how psychological experiments are designed, carried out, analysed and written up, as well as a focus on evaluating scientific research and writing with an appropriate scientific style, and courses offering a variety of subject matters that students can choose from. Courses are taught by the highest calibre research academics and we provide an excellent teaching and learning environment through the use of innovative teaching tools, media and environments. Some courses integrate both undergraduate and graduate classes and so provide a rich and vibrant atmosphere for learning and social interactions.

The course is especially recommended to graduates who want to:

pursue a career in psychology-related humanities, the health-care professions and social-sciences such as scientific journalism, business management, occupational psychology, marketing and medical care;
give their CV an additional boost
explore a particular area of psychology in detail through researching and writing a literature review.
It should be noted that the course does not qualify a student for PhD study at Bangor Psychology, but that should not deter students from applying to psychology departments in other universities and for PhD study in other disciplines. For example, our MA graduates have pursued PhD study in Sociology, Business and Marketing, and Medical History and Humanities.

Programme Aims
To provide post-graduate foundation in psychology and psychological research;
To evaluative psychological research methodology, experimental design and analysis;
To provide the conceptual tools necessary for insight into psychological processes and meanings within several key domains of psychology that the student selects;
To enable students to develop a critical and evaluative understanding of different approaches to psychological study;
To develop key skills in psychological research such as scientific writing, critical analysis of research and communicating research in psychology;
To enable students to produce a substantial written thesis demonstrating their ability to understand, evaluate and integrate psychological research into a coherent body.
Content and Structure
This course consists of taught components along with a literature review. Semesters one and two involve both core modules and a selection of content modules. During the second semester, students work, with the support of an academic supervisor, to identify a theory, model or research question that they wish to explore through their review. This is then completed during the third semester.

Core modules for Semester 1: Issues in Qualitative & Quantitative + 3 Options.
Core modules for Semester 2: Project Proposal, Communicating Research in Psychology + 2 Options.
Students choose the five optional content modules based on their areas of interest (see module list).
Teaching and Learning Assessment
Teaching occurs via lectures, seminars and tutorials given by research experts in the School. All teachers are actively engaged in research programmes. Assessment methods include written exams, essays, oral presentations and a research thesis.

Literature Review
The thesis is the key component of this course allowing the student to demonstrate their learning, knowledge and understanding. Each student focuses on a specific research question or theory and, along with their supervisor, they will develop their ideas, review the relevant literature and write a thesis.

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This exciting MSc reflects the broad-ranging and strong neuroscience research profile of our Department, equipping you with a rigorous grounding in the theory and applications of cognitive, clinical, and developmental neuroscience- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/msc-cognitive-clinical-neuroscience/

We offer two pathways on this Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (CCN) MSc:

Cognitive Neuropsychology pathway

The Cognitive Neuropsychology pathway has been developed in partnership with the Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre and Neurodisability Service. The emphasis of this pathway will be on research and clinical aspects of cognitive neuroscience.

You'll take six modules, including a research dissertation:

Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology
Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology
Biological Aspects of Brain Functions
Methods and Techniques in Neuroscience
Statistics
Research Project

Methods and Techniques pathway

The emphasis of the Methods and Techniques pathway will be on practical hands-on training in methods and techniques used in cognitive neuroscience research.

You'll take six modules, including a research dissertation:

Advanced Methods and Techniques
Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology
Biological Aspects of Brain Functions
Methods and Techniques in Neuroscience
Statistics
Research Project

"It has been great to see so many of my fellow peers get onto doctoral training – I think this really highlights the strength and quality of the Goldsmiths CCN course. I am very honoured to have been offered the opportunity to complete it."
Romena, former student

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Val West.

Structure

Cognitive Neuropsychology pathway

This programme is intended primarily for graduates in Psychology, or closely related disciplines, who want to pursue further academic research (MPhil/PhD) in experimental psychology or neuroscience; to teach in higher education; or to develop further knowledge for clinical careers involving work with brain-damaged patients or people suffering from developmental cognitive disorders.

During the course of the MSc, there are opportunities for some students to gain highly relevant clinical experience through case demonstrations and voluntary/paid work at the Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre and Neurodisability Service or in one of the several clinical sites we collaborate with. In some cases, there may also be the possibility of carrying out research for your dissertation in these clinical settings.

Assessment:
The programme is assessed by written examinations, coursework, an oral presentation, journal club and a research dissertation.

Methods and Techniques pathway

This programme is intended primarily for graduates in Psychology, or closely related disciplines, who want to pursue further academic research (MPhil/PhD) in neuroscience and to teach in higher education. During the MSc, students will receive highly relevant hands-on training in essential methods and techniques used in contemporary cognitive neuroscience research.

Research Project (60 credits)
The project requires you to carry out an empirically or theoretically based psychological project, which can be in any area of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Development Cognitive Neuropsychology, Brain stimulation or Neuroimaging (EEG). You will give an oral presentation of your project in addition to providing a full written report.

Assessment:
The programme is assessed by written examinations, coursework, an oral presentation, journal club and a research dissertation.

Skills

The programme will provide you with knowledge of theory and practical issues relevant to neuroscience and clinical psychology in the UK health services and research centres. The two pathways allow students to shape their study plan according to their interests and career objectives. You will have the opportunity to develop your own research project under the supervision of a member of staff and relevant external clinical/research sector staff.

Careers

This programme is intended primarily for graduates in Psychology, or closely related disciplines.

The Cognitive Neuropsychology pathway is aimed at students who want to develop further knowledge in clinical cognitive disordersto apply to UK clinical doctorate programs or to students who want to pursue further academic research (MPhil/PhD) in experimental psychology or neuroscience.

The Methods and Techniques pathway is mainly addressed to students who want to apply for a research doctorate (MPhil/PhD) in cognitive neuroscience and related disciplines.

During the course of the MSc there are opportunities for some students (Cognitive Neuropsychology pathway) to gain highly relevant clinical experience through case demonstrations and undertaking clinical activity at the Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre and Neurodisability Service or in one of the several clinical sites we collaborate with. In some cases, there may also be the possibility of carrying out research for your dissertation in these clinical settings. Students on the Methods and Techniques pathway will be able to acquire valuable “hands-on” experience and build a research portfolio by means of ad-hoc tutorials, research projects and workshops on some of the most recent cognitive neuroscience techniques (mainly TMS, tDCS, EEG).

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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The MSc in Psychology is a conversion programme that provides graduates in disciplines other than psychology with the opportunity to obtain the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

GBC allows you to pursue postgraduate training in applied areas of psychology associated with the Societies’ Divisions (e.g. Educational, Clinical Psychology etc). GBC is the first step toward gaining status as a Chartered Psychologist.

What will I study?

You will cover all the core areas of psychology as specified and required by the British Psychological Society for the accreditation of conversion courses.

You will examine the nature of personality and individual differences, including intelligence, developmental patterns and changes in social and cognitive abilities, interpersonal behaviour and the impact of social contexts on behaviour.

Exploring Cognitive Language and Biological Psychology, you will gain an understanding of the role of biology in underpinning behaviour and the nature of attention, perception, language and memory.

A research methods module will equip you with the ability to organise, analyse, interpret and report findings of research involving quantitative (numerical) data before you are introduced to approaches to qualitative research and analysis.

The programme concludes with a Masters dissertation in an area of psychology of particular interest to you. This will be supervised by a member of academic staff in the department.

How will I study?

Teaching methods follow a variety of formats from traditional style lectures to tutorials, seminars and workshops.

How will I be assessed?

Most modules are assessed by a mixture of examination and coursework though some are assessed solely by coursework.

Coursework assignments might be essays, research project reports, group presentations or the critical analysis of research papers.

Who will be teaching me?

Psychology is a rapidly growing department at Edge Hill University, currently with eighteen members of staff. The programme team are all research active, particularly in the areas of thinking and reasoning, work psychology, psychological aspects of substance abuse, counselling, close relationships and the functioning of working memory.

Members of the team have been published in major national and international peer reviewed journals such as The British Journal of Psychology, The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, The Journal of Experimental Psychology and Learning, Memory and Cognition, Cognitive Neuropsychology, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Psychological Review, and Human Perception and Performance.

What are my career prospects?

The programme is accredited with the British Psychological Society to provide eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).

There are two clearly identifiable career routes. Firstly, successful completion of this programme will open up a number of further postgraduate training and career opportunities, notably educational psychology, clinical psychology, work psychology, health psychology and teaching and research in further and higher education.

Secondly, you will be well qualified to enter a wide range of professions from advertising and the caring professions, through to personnel or teaching (further training required). The Psychology team at Edge Hill University has a strong record of research and encourages new graduates to register for higher degrees such as MPhil and PhD.

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Discover how psychological functions are produced by the brain. Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a focus on the neural substrates of mental processes. It is a branch of both psychology and neuroscience, overlapping with disciplines such as physiological psychology, cognitive psychology and neuropsychology.

This course provides a thorough grounding in the scientific investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying human behaviour with a particular reference to cognitive processes.

You explore topics including:
-The physiological bases and practical applications of cognitive neuroscience techniques
-The theoretical and biological foundations of cognitive science
-Advanced statistical training
-Cognitive neuropsychology
-Experimental psychology

Our research is challenging and ground-breaking, with 90% rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014), placing us in the top 15 in the UK. We are supported by some of the most prestigious funding bodies, including the European Commission and the Leverhulme Trust.

We are a warm and friendly Department, and we wish to welcome both recent graduates of psychology (or a related subject), and mature students who may wish to upgrade their qualifications, refresh their CV, or return to academic study after a period of time away from education.

Our expert staff

Our academic staff include award-winning teachers and prize-winning researchers who are international experts in their own research areas.

The Cognitive and Developmental Psychology Group are researching attention, language, decision-making, and memory. Recent projects have investigated the psychology of energy reduction, the enhancement of human memory through technology, and improvements in the usability and design of transport maps.

The Social and Health Psychology Group work on motivations, needs, intercultural contact, and sexual attraction. Recent projects include the impacts of living and studying abroad, and how personal relative deprivation is linked to problem gambling.

The Cognitive and Sensory Neuroscience Group research brain function and human behaviour. Recently they have been working on projects on the neural processes underlying language production, how motivations are communicated through tone of voice, and how the brain performs 3D vision. They previously developed the BioAid mobile phone app that turns an iPhone into a biologically inspired hearing aid.

Our department is expanding, and has recently appointed a number of excellent researchers whose expertise increases the diversity and depth of our skills base.

Specialist facilities

We are committed to giving you the best access to state-of-the-art facilities in higher education, housed entirely within our purpose-built psychology building on our Colchester Campus:
-Dedicated laboratories including a virtual reality suite and an observation suite
-Specialist areas for experimental psychology, visual and auditory perception, developmental psychology and social psychology
-Study the development of perceptual and cognitive abilities in infants in our Babylab
-Our multimillion pound Centre for Brain Science (CBS) contains specialist laboratories, office space for research students, and research rooms and social spaces which foster opportunities for innovation, training, and collaboration

Your future

With the skills and knowledge you acquire from studying within our Department of Psychology, you will find yourself in demand from a wide range of employers.

Our graduates have been employed in clinical psychology, educational psychology, criminal and forensic psychology.

We also have excellent links with the research community; we are recognised by the ESRC as providing excellent postgraduate training and are an accredited Doctoral Training Centre, offering several studentships.

Our recent PhD students have taken up post-doctoral positions in other top UK universities and international universities (in the US, Italy and Australia), as well as being appointed to lectureships.

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