Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience MSc

Gain both theoretical and applied knowledge of clinical cognitive neuroscience. Cognitive neuroscience combines techniques and skills including psychometric testing, electroencephalography (EEG), eye tracking and imaging techniques – for application to neuropathological and healthy groups in clinical, academic or biomedical settings. Various neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive and perceptual functions with demonstration of practical recordings, as well as psychology experimental software are taught on the course.

This course is ideal if you

• are a graduate with an applied or pure science degree including psychology, biosciences and nursing, and want to pursue a research, clinical or biomedical career in neuroscience
• work in a related area and wish to formalise and develop your skills, knowledge and expertise as part of continuing professional development
• want to open alternative career pathways
• are an EU or international student with the appropriate background and qualifications.

The course gives you the knowledge and skills to evaluate cognitive and brain function and dysfunction in healthy and neuropathological groups. You learn to understand the important ethical issues involved in neuroscientific research targeted at various age groups and people with range of cognitive abilities, as well as developmental disorders.

You have an opportunity to learn psychophysiological recording techniques, including electrocardiogram (ECG), Skin Conductance (SC), performance speed and accuracy, as well as perceptual mechanisms using Eprime, Martlab and other specialist software.

We also build your research skills enabling you to work as an independent researcher in this area. You have the opportunity to attend workshops run by experts from relevant professions and fields of work. Examples include private clinical consultants, NHS neuropsychologist, teaching staff from the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course at the University of Sheffield and alumni from our course working in academia and the private sector.

Our specialist learning resources include psychometric measures for assessing cognitive function and 3D model brains for understanding neuroanatomy. You learn to use specialist equipment including • EEG • transcranial magnetic stimulation • analysis of Biopack • structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data • visuo-psychophysics equipment.

Some lectures are taught by guest tutors including clinical psychologists and neuroimaging experts.

You are automatically affiliated with our Brain, Behaviour and Cognition Research Group, which

• delivers targeted neuroscience workshops
• organises subject specific presentations
• has regular research meetings
• has strong collaborative links with other institutions.

International students are most welcome on this course. At Sheffield Hallam University we provide international students with a wealth of support, from pre-arrival right up to, and including, study support while you are studying here. Please see the International Experience Team webpage for more information.

Course structure

Full-time – one year

Part-time – typically one day per week for two years

Core modules

• Neursopsychopharmacology
• Neuron to neuropathology
• Cognitive neuroscience methods
• Electrophysiology
• Perception and cognition across the lifespan
• Research dissertation

Assessment

• coursework
• seminar activities
• examinations
• dissertation

Employability

This course gives you the skills to work in both academic and clinical settings with healthy population and diverse neuropathological groups.

Graduates have the skills and knowledge to work in roles involved in assessing and evaluating cognitive function and dysfunction in healthy ageing across the lifespan and patient groups including people with Parkinson’s disease, head injury, dementia, and other neuropathological conditions.

During the course you benefit from employability sessions, where our alumni currently working in academia or industry, clinical psychologists and professionals from private research companies discuss possible career choices.

You may find roles in academic and clinical contexts using methods of neuroscience such as • functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) • structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) • electroencephalogram (EEG) • transcranial magnetic stimulation • eye tracking techniques • visual psychophysics.

You can also complete further cognitive neuroscience postgraduate academic work.

Visit the Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience MSc page on the Sheffield Hallam University website for more details!