Masters Degrees in Psychology, Netherlands

The master’s programme in Psychology focuses both on in-depth study of theory and on the acquisition of professional and research skills. The distinctive feature of the Leiden master’s programme is that the teaching is not restricted to only the functioning of psychological processes; these processes are always connected to their behavioural consequences, with the aim of understanding self-regulation and behavioural control. In this way, students not only develop their knowledge of psychology as a science, but also learn to apply this knowledge in order to understand practical problems and to develop effective interventions for dealing with these problems.

Profile of the master's programme in Psychology

In line with the profile of Leiden University as a research-intensive institution, the teaching programme of the master’s programme in Psychology is based on state-of-the art scientific research and maintains a strong emphasis on the acquisition of academic and research skills. Completion of the MSc degree prepares students for subsequent academic master’s degrees, including a PhD.

Objectives of the master’s programme in Psychology

The objective of the master’s programme in Psychology is to equip students with advanced training in research methods and professional skills that prepare them both for a career involving psychological research as well as for the application of scientific knowledge and methods in various professional settings. Training is provided in all relevant skills, including reviewing the relevant literature, applying theoretical knowledge to analyse practical problems, developing hypotheses and writing research proposals, designing and carrying out empirical studies, designing and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, conducting advanced statistical analyses, and presenting results and recommendations.

Specialisations

• Applied Cognitive Psychology (MSc)
• Occupational Health Psychology (MSc)
• School Psychology (MSc)
• Social and Organisational Psychology (MSc)
• Child and Adolescent Psychology (MSc)
• Clinical Neuropsychology (MSc)
• Clinical Psychology (MSc)
• Economic and Consumer Psychology (MSc)
• Health and Medical Psychology (MSc)
• Methodology and Statistics in Psychology (MSc)

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The track Work and Organizational Psychology concentrates on sciencebased solutions to human problems in work and organizational settings. It aims to understand how to achieve each of the following objectives: optimizing performance, improving processes and relationships, enhancing fairness and equity, and increasing subjective well-being.

The European Network of Work and Organizational Psychology (ENOP) developed a reference model and standards for a curriculum in Work & Organizational Psychology. According to the ENOP model, the main areas to be considered are Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology. The track Work and Organizational Psychology adheres to these standards as far as possible, and offers a study program that deals with the most important topics in Work & Organizational Psychology at the individual, task, group and organizational level.

The program

Work and Organizational Psychology is a field with both a strong scientific base and an applied orientation. Thus, the program connects psychological theory and application whereby theoretical concepts are shown to lead to useful interventions. In each of the areas of Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, the program seeks to develop two types of knowledge and skills: explanatory and intervention.

Explanatory refers to theory devoted to the explanation of (the context of) human behavior and to diagnostic skills in work, organization, and personnel fields. This will prepare you to assess, diagnose, explain, and interpret phenomena and processes in the areas of work, organizations and personnel.

Intervention refers to change theory and intervention skills in work, organizational and personnel settings. This will prepare you to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate changes and interventions to improve behaviors, situations, and social processes in the fields of work, organizations, and personnel. This type of knowledge also prepares you to design new models, methods, and tools. The two types of knowledge and skills will be integrated as much as possible within the various courses.

Career Perspective Social Psychology

With an MSc in Social Psychology, you can work in positions at an academic level in research, communication, policy, consulting, human development and organization development in private, semi-private or governmental organizations. With this MSc, you are able to conduct theoretical and applied research to advance scientific knowledge in the areas of social, economic and work and organizational psychology. You are also able to contribute to many applied fields, because you will be able to develop tools and interventions to solve practical problems in the areas of social, economic and work and organizational psychology and to research the effectiveness thereof.

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The MSc in Psychology (research) is a two-year programme that is focused on acquiring research skills in a particular field of psychology.

Profile of the research master's programme in Psychology

This programme provides students with a rigorous training in the methodological and practical skills necessary to carry out scientific research on human behaviour. Students gain hands-on experience with how psychological theory can contribute to the analysis and solution of practical problems and how the application of existing theory guides further theoretical development. Students can specialise in the psychological subdiscipline of their choice, but are also trained in a broad multidiscipinary research approach.

Students who wish to expand their expertise in the domain of Brain and Cognition can choose from a wide range of elective courses offered within and outside the Institute of Psychology.

Specialisations

• Clinical and Health Psychology (research) (MSc)
• Cognitive Neuroscience (research) (MSc)
• Developmental Psychology (research) (MSc)
• Social and Organisational Psychology (research) (MSc)

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How should psychology be positioned between the humanities, life sciences and natural sciences? How do we weigh the evidence coming from such diverse sources as experiments, case histories or introspection? Reflecting on Psychology teaches students to put their skills and knowledge in a broader context.

Using perspectives from Philosophy of Science, Science and Technology Studies (STS), Sociology, Anthropology and Cultural Studies, this master encourages students to open up the black box of Psychology, and to explore its relations with other parts of science and society. Questions that might be discussed or explored include:
• How should psychology be positioned between the humanities, life sciences and natural sciences?
• How do we weigh the evidence coming from such diverse sources as experiments, case histories or introspection?
• What is the value of MRI-scans in moral and scientific debates?
• Where should we draw the line between treatment and enhancement when it comes to psychotropic drugs?
• How do media creations of autism in novels and films influence the clinical reality of autism?

Reflecting on Psychology aims to attract a relatively small number of students who will be supervised individually and encouraged to come up with their own research topics. Students from Reflecting on Psychology will become skilled in writing, qualitative analysis and reflection

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In our progam, you learn about economic and psychological reasoning and theories and how to apply them in order to understand decisions and motivation behind consumption and other economic behavior in daily life. You develop an understanding of the basic principles of the psychology of economic behavior and, as such, our graduates become experts on consumer behavior, financial behavior, negotiation and bargaining. The focus of the program is on basic theories of economic behavior, basic theories of consumer behavior, and more specific courses on marketing and money. Our core curriculum focuses on the integration of psychological and economic theories and practice, consisting of four unique courses is a minimum to ensure this and to prepare you for a career in which you will collaborate with economists, marketers and business researchers.

Economic Psychology

The track Economic Psychology is embedded in the Master's program Social Psychology. Economic Psychology studies the psychological mechanisms that underlie consumption and other economic behaviors. It is an area where psychology and economics intersect. It deals with economic preferences, choices, decisions, and factors influencing these, as well as the consequences of economic decisions.

Career Perspective Social Psychology

With an MSc in Social Psychology, you can work in positions at an academic level in research, communication, policy, consulting, human development and organization development in private, semi-private or governmental organizations. With this MSc, you are able to conduct theoretical and applied research to advance scientific knowledge in the areas of social, economic and work and organizational psychology. You are also able to contribute to many applied fields, because you will be able to develop tools and interventions to solve practical problems in the areas of social, economic and work and organizational psychology and to research the effectiveness thereof.

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Past victimization, previous offending, psychopathology, aggression, being male: Which of these variables might be the best predictor of future violent (re)offending? Which variables might increase the chance of (re)victimization? How can interventions help to prevent crime? How can victims of violence and crime overcome their victimization?

If you are intrigued by questions about the psychology of violence and crime, and you are not satisfied with easy answers, consider entering the Master's degree programme 'Clinical Forensic Psychology and Victimology'. In this programme we aim to understand acts of violence and crime from both the victims' and the offenders' perspective. You will gain a theoretical insight into the correlates of violence and crime and their consequences. Moreover you will acquire practical skills to enable you to assess and intervene in both offender and victim contexts. Our unique integrative approach aims to highlight the many psychological nuances between the black-and-white of the victim and offender dichotomy.

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Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology focuses on the behaviour, attitudes, cognitions and feelings of people in the organizational context.

The study of Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology includes topics that have clear relevance for the understanding of a variety of situations that occur in the organizational context and in which intra-individual, inter-individual, or intragroup processes play a central role. Examples include leadership and power, productivity, innovation, motivation, decision-making, skill acquisition and training.

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How can psychology contribute to solving conflicts between groups, to a better environment, or health?

The programme Applied Social Psychology concerns the relationship between the everyday behaviour of 'normal' individuals and its large-scale influence of that behaviour on society and organisations. You can choose one of the specializations or compose your own programme within ASP.

The social psychologist studies, explains and influences behaviours 'in the street' and in groups, in companies and organisations, on the internet and in large crowds.

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The Clinical Psychology program focuses on three important, inter-related topics: a better understanding of psychopathology (theory), determining what is going on (diagnosis), and bringing about change (intervention).

The program takes an evidence-based approach in that the course material covering these three areas is based on findings from (experimental) empirical research.

The research program informing the curriculum of the master-track Clinical Psychology includes diverse topics, for example:
•cognitive biases
•social cognition in psychotic disorders
•diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders
•trauma, memory, and dissociation
•eating disorders and unexplained physical somatic problems

Master's thesis research projects may be carried out within the research group Experimental Psychotherapy and Psychopathology as well as at external institutions. In addition, students may take the initiative to arrange a clinical internship that counts towards course credit.

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How do we store information in working memory? What changes in that process during ageing? How does mood affect our perceptions? What brain areas allow you to switch between two tasks? And how does all that mental activity affect the body? Cognitive psychology and psychophysiology studies cognitive functioning (memory, learning, perception, etc.) of healthy people.

In the master track Cognitive Psychology and Psychophysiology you study – amongst others – these questions. You will learn about the latest theories and insights in this broad area, and you will get hands-on experience with research tools such as advanced reaction time analyses, EEG and TMS. You will put all this knowledge into practice during your master's research project. In the programme, we put a strong emphasis on applications of all the theory you study: over and over again, we will ask “how can we use this knowledge in everyday life?”

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The Master’s program in Social Psychology focuses on both individual and group behavior in formal and informal social contexts. It studies how people behave in their social surroundings and what influences this behavior. Particularly problems related to consumer behavior, work and organizational behavior and decision making in social, economic and organizational contexts are important themes in this Master’s program. Related to these themes, two separate tracks have been formed, both with its own focus and study program:

•Track Economic Psychology
•Track Work and Organizational Psychology

Career Perspective Social Psychology

With an MSc in Social Psychology, you can work in positions at an academic level in research, communication, policy, consulting, human development and organization development in private, semi-private or governmental organizations. With this MSc, you are able to conduct theoretical and applied research to advance scientific knowledge in the areas of social, economic and work and organizational psychology. You are also able to contribute to many applied fields, because you will be able to develop tools and interventions to solve practical problems in the areas of social, economic and work and organizational psychology and to research the effectiveness thereof.

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Which factors induce environmentally harmful behaviour and what motivates us to act pro-environmentally? What determines the impact and acceptability of interventions that aim to encourage pro-environmental actions and a sustainable energy transition?

Climate change has been labelled as the greatest threat to our future and that of generations to come (Obama, 2015). In recognition of this threat, almost 200 nations agreed to fight this environmental problem caused by human behaviour. So which factors induce environmentally harmful behaviour and what motivates us to act pro-environmentally? What determines the impact and acceptability of interventions that aim to encourage pro-environmental actions and a sustainable energy transition?

Questions like these that are essential for reaching our environmental ambitions are addressed in the Master's programme 'Environmental psychology'. In this unique programme you will acquire theoretical knowledge and methodological skills that enable you to understand the human dimension of environmental and energy-related problems. The programme focuses on the relationships between humans and the built and natural environment , and the human dimension of environmental and energy problems . After completing the programme, you will be able to develop theory-based strategies to promote environmental quality. You will learn to work in interdisciplinary settings and apply the acquired knowledge in practice. You will be challenged to critically reflect on scientific knowledge and you will be offered possibilities to join ongoing research projects with other universities, governmental organisations, companies, and industry.

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Social, Health and Organisational Psychology

Project-X parties organized via Facebook. Unhealthy eating habits. Workplace bullying. Although a wide range of issues, the same rule applies to all of them: it comes down to the way in which people affect each other's behavior. In this Master’s programme, you study human behavior and behavior change in a social, health, or organisational context.

Tracks

During this Master’s programme, you will choose between the following three tracks:
-Social Influence: about the social influence of behavior and attitude change
-Health Promotion: about improving health-related behavior
-Work and Organisation: about the functioning and well-being of individuals and teams in organisations

This Master’s programme connects closely to our research programmes Social-cognitive and Interpersonal Determinants of Behavior, Health Psychology: Self-regulation, and Work and Organisational Psychology. Connecting theory and practice is essential in our master. You will develop theory-driven interventions by means of the PATH model (Problem-Analysis-Test-Help).

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Modern life and society require people to stay mobile. While this is true for all stages of life, it is in particular important when we grow older. This master programme equips you with the knowledge and skills to study human behaviour in traffic, and to conceive of interventions that keep people mobile.

Reduced mobility in old age results in a significant increase in the cost to society, not only because of the need for hired transport but also because of secondary consequences, like less social integration, lower satisfaction with life, and reduced mental agility, which can then lead to tertiary consequences like isolation and depression.

This programme makes you an expert in this field. Different disciplines cover the broad theme of mobility and offer courses that examine social perspectives, that consider how a decline in the ability to process information affects mobility, and that focus on the clinical effects of ageing (e.g. dementia). A practical course element provides hands-on training using state-of-the-art assessment techniques and instruments. This will enable you to acquire the skills you will need in the applied and research field, e.g. for assessment in the field and in advanced driving simulators.

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The Master of Science in Psychology, a Program with many possibilities.

The student can choose one of five sub-programmes:
- Clinical Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Psychology and Psychophysiology
- Industrial- and Organisational Psychology
- Social Psychology and its Applications
- Free-Choice Programme

Read more about the five sub-programmes http://www.rug.nl/gmw/psychology/education/master/eenjarige-master-uk/

Why in Groningen?

The Master of Science in Psychology at the University of Groningen provides scientific education in which research in and the application of science is central. Therefore, an important component of this programme is an indepedent, academic research project reported in an Master's thesis.

Job perspectives

Psychologists often find work in mental healthcare institutions. They can intermediate between research and clinical practice. They can be adviser or consultant. You may also find them in companies and organizations, where they assess and select new personnel, or train employers. It is also possible to do research at a universty or a private research institute.

Job examples

- Public information officer
- Career advisor
- Neuropsychologist
- Market researcher
- Crisis manager
- Vocational and organizational expert
- Communications consultant
- Marketing consultant
- Cognitive ergonomist
- Traffic psychologist
- Sport psychologist
- Policy researcher

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