Applied Child Psychology, MSc

The MSc in Applied Child Psychology looks at the advanced study of psychological development with regard to children and adolescents. It focuses on the implications of psychological theory and research for policy and practice across a range of applied settings, for example, education, clinical and social contexts.

About the MSc Applied Child Psychology course
The MSc Applied Child Psychology combines an in-depth critical evaluation of current theory pertaining to psychological development in children and adolescents with advanced training in relevant research methods.

The implications of psychological theory for policy and practice in various areas, including education, clinical and social contexts are also considered. This an ideal course for anyone wanting a career that involves working with children or for those interested in securing a doctoral training place in educational psychology.

Contact us
Email
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 4460
School of Social Sciences website

MSc Applied Child Psychology students complete a variety of modules including;

• Social and Cognitive Development in Children
  You will about learn the importance of social and cognitive explanations for understanding, and critically explaining, children’s development within different education settings. This module considers aspects of social and cognitive developmental psychology within an applied educational setting and aims to challenge some of the traditional approaches to understanding a range of issues related to children within the school context.
  
• The Child in Context: Understanding Disability
  This module aims to challenge understandings of child development that have emerged within the discipline of psychology. It will examine the range of ways by which knowledge and understanding of the psychology of childhood (both with regard to ability and disability) has been developed, referring to the social construction of childhood from contemporary, historical and cross-cultural frameworks.
  
• Research Methods for Working with Children
  You will get an introduction to the quantitative and qualitative research methods that are typically used to study child and adolescent psychology. In doing so this module aims to facilitate a critical understanding of the field and explore research methodology that leads to applied initiatives in child and adolescent development.
  
• Observational Methods
  This module will provide you with a knowledge of, and practical skills in, observational methods. You will work with other students on a collective observational analysis of video-taped material in order that you build up your skills such that you will graduate from the module competent to use structured observational methods in your own research studies.
  
• Understanding Atypical Development
  You will consider current theory and research in atypical development and explore to what extent biological explanations can be integrated with wider social and cultural explanations. A number of developmental disorders will be discussed, such as specific language impairment, autism, and dyslexia.
  
• Clinical Aspects of Behavioural Disorders
  Within this module you will consider contemporary approaches to understanding clinical aspects of children’s behaviour. You will examine some of the challenges involved in the labelling of clinical disorders, the role of inclusion and disability and the diagnosis and treatment of children
  
• Child Psychology Specialist Essay
  This module provides you with the opportunity to explore an area in child psychology of their choice and is supported by a series of tutorials.
  
• Child Psychology Research Project
  This module will enable you to develop and demonstrate professional psychological research skills appropriate to the discipline. Under the guidance of an appropriate supervisor you will design, address ethical issues, and use a suitable research methodology to undertake an extended independent research project in psychology.

You will complete an extended essay on a relevant topic of your choice and an empirical research project, both under the supervision of a research active member of staff.

Study and support
The course will be delivered through a combination of methods including:

• taught modules
• lectures
• interactive workshops
• small group teaching
• individual project supervision (MSc only).

There will also be an expectation that students will engage in independent study during the course. All staff teaching on the course is research-active in their field of interest which includes members from the Communication for Inclusion Research Unit (CIRU) and the Specific Language Impairment Research Unit (SLIRU). Students will also have access to the extensive new facilities within the Division of Psychology and the University's Virtual Learning Environment.

International students in psychology can also access additional language and study skills support, as well as help in acclimatising, via our own International Student Support Officer.

Delivery and assessment
The course is delivered through lectures, interactive workshops, small group teaching and one-on-one supervision.

You will be assessed in a variety of ways and on a modular basis through:

• examination
• coursework
• essays
• laboratory reports
• literature reviews
• research project.

Psychology resources and facilities
The University has made significant financial investment in the Psychology Division over recent years upgrading accommodation, facilities and equipment used exclusively for the provision of our psychology courses and for research. We have a state-of-the-art undergraduate teaching laboratory suite opened in 2006, and a further phase of development, opened in 2007, includes a second teaching laboratory specifically catering for postgraduate students.

In addition there are specialist suites dedicated to particular areas of interest in psychology, including:

• social interaction, group work and interviewing
• computer gaming and cyberpsychology
• eye-tracking
• cognitive modelling and visual analysis
• psychophysiology.

Alongside these are new flexible cubicles for student project work, a psychometric test bank library, and a technical workshop.

International students in psychology can also access additional language and study skills support, as well as help in acclimatising, via our own International Student Support Officer.