MSc Psychology

Course Overview

Our MSc Psychology offers the opportunity to develop your career potential by studying the application of psychology within the modern workplace.

You will develop your understanding of issues such as special educational needs and disability, criminality, mental health and dementia and will have a greater understanding of working with and supporting a variety of different people. The programme is delivered in small groups, through a wide range of teaching and learning activities. The assessments not only review your knowledge but offer the opportunity to develop skills for the modern workplace.

More Info

This MSc Psychology explores the key areas of psychology: cognitive, biological, developmental, social, individual differences and psychological research methods, plus you will complete an independent project and research dissertation. An application for course accreditation has been submitted to The British Psychological Society (BPS).

Why this course at Marjon?

Dedicated psychology lab spaces.
Quiet location on campus: ideal for data collection.
Small groups.
Flexible study opportunities.
Create your own focus throughout the programme.

Perfect if you're curious about:

Has the popularisation of mindfulness reduced its impact?
How does dementia impact on communication and language?
Does smiling influence running speed?
Can psychopaths change?
Can language analysis help detection of potential criminals?
Does lack of coffee or cravings for caffeine impair memory?

Book an Open Day How to apply for this course

Modules

The following modules are compulsory:

Neuropsychology and cognition
Discuss the relationship between neurological structure and function and the impact of disease, injury and degeneration.
Identities, relationships and groups
Explore the concept of self and personality, discover how the groups we belong to influence our behaviour and thinking patterns and apply this knowledge to yourself and working with others in our professional contexts.
Typical v non-typical development
Across a lifetime we humans develop and change. This module address the key topics of developmental psychology and puts them to the test in the study of atypical individuals.
Theory and Methods in Psychology
Building from your undergraduate research methods, you will explore research methods utilised by psychologists, from interview to discourse analysis, from experiment to conversation analysis.
Current topics in psychology
A small scale independent project: you design and complete, with supervision, a small scale piece of research.
Empirical project
Your time to shine, with support from the team, you design, complete and write up your own piece of research, which you will present at the end of programme conference.

How will you be taught?

The ethos of the programme is blended learning, where lectures are online, or in person if you prefer, and small group discussions are the key to generating knowledge and critical thinking. You will have open access to the psychology labs, time and space to run your own research and opportunities to deepen your understanding through online materials.

How will you be assessed?

We have literature reviews, project reports, designing of assessments and artefacts, presenting, or writing an article. Assessments are deigned to offer you the ability to demonstrate your knowledge and provide you with skills for your career.

Course Leader

Dr Hazel Bending

Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences

Dr Hazel Bending is a chartered member of The British Psychological Society (BPS). Together Hazel and a team of students manage the Marjon Memory Café, offering companionship, conversation and mirth for people with dementia, their carers and friends. Her research has focussed on how students in Higher Education best learn; investigating how various techniques from using technology to reflective practice and wellbeing can enhance students’ experiences and skills.

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Lecturers

Dr Sarah Griffiths

Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy

Sarah is a senior lecturer and speech and language therapist, specialising in adult acquired neurogenic communication disorders. She teaches on motor speech disorders and research methods modules and runs on-site clinics for adults with motor speech disorders.

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Dr Sean MacBlain

Reader in Child Development and Disability

Sean is a widely respected national researcher and published author in Special Education Needs and supports SEN research studies.

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Dr Alister McCormick

Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology (Registered Sport & Exercise Psychologist)

Alister teaches psychology and its applications to sport, exercise, and health. His main research interest is how psychological interventions can be used to improve the performances of people who participate in endurance events, such as middle- and long-distance running, cycling, swimming, and triathlon events.

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Esther Pettit

Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy

Esther is a speech and language therapist and clinical academic. Her specialist area is aphasia (acquired language disorder) and she runs University-based clinic for people with acquired literacy difficulties

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