Health Psychology MSc

This module takes a development approach to understanding relationships between psychology, biological and social factors that influence health and diseases through the lifespan. It emphasis the dynamics of change and a number of key topics are examined including children's health and the family context, normative transitions and life events, and vulnerability and resilience. Student-led panels explore the most current issues, controversies and methods within a lifespan framework.

This introductory module explores a broad range of topics in health psychology within a multidisciplinary framework. It considers the social and cultural context of health and illness, the importance of social cognition models in health care, and issues around communication and health care decisions. The module emphasises theoretical and methodological issues in health psychology research and application, including intervention design and evaluation.

Through lectures, seminars and practical classes, this module addresses the theoretical and practical issues involved in acquiring and analysing quantitative and qualitative data for health psychology.

This module examines a range of issues relating to health psychology practice, including client-related issues, ethical considerations, interventions, and professional development. You will have the opportunity to learn techniques such as mindfulness and motivational interviewing, with a range of practising psychologists contributing to the module. Personal and professional development is fostered through reflective practice and experiential learning, including designing and evaluating an individualised behaviour change intervention.

This module explores the role of individual differences (including social and cultural factors) in health and illness. It introduces the biological mechanisms by which stress can impact on physical and psychological health (psychoneuroimmunology), and how stress and well-being can be measured to enable evaluation of stress-management interventions. You will also explore the physiological and psychological correlates of acute and chronic pain, the theories and management of chronic illness, and the meaning and mechanism of action of the placebo effect.

This module will cover the areas of review writing skills, systematic review protocol, design critique, and grant application writing skills. Relevant professional issues will also be explored, including: inter professional working; research ethics; presentation skills; careers; portfolio development for project research; national and international perspectives on applied psychology; and practice specific issues.

This module is designed to enable you to realise your training in the context of a particular research problem or aspect of methodology. The area of work should bring together your occupational experience or preference with the substantive material covered during the taught components of the course. Projects are intended to give you maximum flexibility in selecting an appropriate area of application, and investigating and assessing potential research sources and their relevance to the existing field of knowledge.

This module provides the opportunity to apply psychology to a real-world work situation. You will work in voluntary or paid positions in health-related settings to gain valuable work experience and develop skills which will help to prepare you for the workplace. Students who take this optional module will then take a 40 credit Research Based Project.

The masters project in applied psychology is an extended piece of research on a relevant topic selected by the student with the approval of the Course Leader. The topic will draw on knowledge, skills and methodological techniques covered by the course. This may involve an in-depth exploration of one aspect of the taught course or a related aspect not formally covered in depth.