MSc Teaching of Psychology

Key Facts

• Achieve a Masters qualification alongside your teaching career and study 100% online
• This course is the only one currently running anywhere in the world
• The course is delivered entirely online
• We ensure that assignments have a direct relevance to student’s teaching responsibilities

Course Content

Specifically the course aims are:

• to equip students with the knowledge and critical skills required to teach effectively within the discipline of psychology.
• to encourage a critical consideration of a range of approaches to teaching psychological content and skills.
• to provide students with an up to date critical understanding of contemporary developments within both psychology and education
• to develop the research skills of students such that they are able to conduct and report on a piece of independent research to a publishable standard.

Modules

In year one all students will complete three modules. The first module is Issues in the teaching of Psychology. This module will focus on a range of areas pertinent to the teaching of psychology. The second module is Issues in the teaching of Research Methods in Psychology. This module will develop students’ independent research skills but the primary focus of this module will be to develop their ability to teach research methodology. Students will then have a choice between Negotiated Learning and Teaching Critical Thinking. The latter is designed to focus on the development of critical thinking skills within psychology although may also be useful for those who are thinking about delivering a critical thinking specification.

In year two students will study Contemporary Developments in Psychology, Contemporary Developments in the teaching of Psychology and a Professional Development module. The first of these will allow students to develop their knowledge of areas of psychology which have particular current relevance either within the subject as a whole or within developments in post-16 curricula. This module will concentrate on areas of current importance such as cyber-psychology, anomalistic psychology, neuroscience, forensic psychology and positive psychology. The second module will focus on contemporary developments within psychology (and related areas such as education) which impact on the teacher’s role. For example, recent developments in learning theories and cognitive neuroscience will be critically examined.

All year one and year two modules are 20 credits Finally, in their third year all students will complete an empirical dissertation worth 60 credits.

Exit awards

Students who have completed the Year One modules and have successfully achieved 60 credits will be entitled to exit with the award PG Certificate in Teaching of Psychology.

Students who have completed the Year Two modules in addition to the Year One modules and have successfully achieved 120 credits will be entitled to exit with the award PG Diploma in Teaching of Psychology.

Students who have completed all six Year One and Two modules and the Dissertation and have successfully achieved 180 credits will be entitled to exit with the award MSc Teaching of Psychology.

Entry Requirements & Applying

Entry onto the programme will be in accordance with the University regulations and Glyndŵr University’s access and equal opportunities policies. These are designed to make higher education accessible to the broadest range of participants. They ensure that all applicants will be considered solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential to succeed in their chosen course.

For entry onto the programme students will need to have a first degree (not necessarily in psychology but ideally in a subject that has an element of psychological content) and be currently teaching psychology in a school, sixth form college, further education college or other appropriate educational establishment. Candidates will also be subject to an interview (telephone or face-to-face).

Course Duration

Part-time:
3 years