Master of Science (MSc.) in Health Psychology

Course Overview

The Master of Science in Health Psychology (NFQ Level 9, 90 ECTS) is a one year full-time or two years part-time programme that provides learners with the theoretical background and practical skills to apply their psychological knowledge efficiently and productively to effect positive change in the world in the pursuit of  health promotion and illness prevention. The programme covers a wide range of specialist topics that provides learners with the knowledge of theories and concepts relating to the contribution of psychological processes to health and illness and helps them understand how this knowledge can be applied in a variety of contemporary settings at individual, community and global levels.

Learners will explore human behaviour from individual, social and biological perspectives and through a detailed understanding of the discipline, both theoretically and methodologically, and will be enabled to assess appropriate interventions and design appropriate solutions for health needs. Modules focus on the applied nature of professional and ethical issues and advanced research methods while others have a specific focus upon the application of theory to the ‘real world’ allowing learners to further develop and apply competencies and knowledge in Health Psychology. Finally, the programme offers a choice of elective capstone (30 ECTS) pathways that provide an opportunity for research placement and minor dissertation, or the production of a major dissertation. Learners who complete the full programme will therefore also develop and enhance their research capability through critical enquiry and detailed analytical problem-solving.

The programme's specific objectives are to:

• Enable learners to explore the various theories, concepts and processes of Health Psychology. 

• Facilitate critical evaluation of competing Psychological theories through critical analysis and appraisal of Psychological studies and projects in health and illness. 

• Enable learners to understand how these theories can be applied to understanding human behaviour from individual, social and biological perspectives.

• Relate Psychological concepts, theories and processes to a variety of professional individual and group settings and situations. 

• Develop in learners an understanding of contemporary local and global issues using a Health Psychological perspective. 

• Enable learners to assess appropriate interventions and design appropriate solutions for clients’ needs using a Health Psychological perspective.

• Develop in learners an understanding of the systematic, replicable and discoverable nature of Health Psychology.

• Enable learners to explore advanced research methods and demonstrate a detailed understanding of the theoretical and methodological considerations, evidencing these skills in a research placement or major research project.

• Provide graduates with the underpinning academic knowledge to enhance their employment and educational opportunities and achieve the award of a Master of Science in Health Psychology.

The programme contains an embedded exit award, the Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Health Psychology (60 ECTS, NFQ Level 9) which is available for those who cannot complete the research component of this programme for personal or professional reasons.

Please note this programme will not lead to PSI Accreditation.

Delivery

This is a multimodal programme. Learners are therefore timetabled to be in class or online. They will also have mandatory on demand content as contact hours that they can do in their own time and place.

Teaching and Assessment

DBS is committed to providing a flexible, active, peer-led, experiential and reflective learning environment for learners. As a result, throughout this programme, learners will experience a varied range of teaching and learning strategies, which have been selectively chosen and based on module content and suitability for assessment. While modules will be delivered through a mix of workshops, practical sessions, tutorials and lectures, teaching and learning will focus on the learner applying problem-solving skills and undertaking critical reflection and critique of case studies. The material will be presented during lectures and workshops with supporting material available via Moodle, DBS’s virtual learning environment. Learning, teaching and assessment for this programme, therefore, encourages learners to develop critical thinking, creative problem solving and analytical and evaluative skills relating to real-world scenarios. 

Entry Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a minimum of an upper Second Class Honours degree (or above) in Psychology at NFQ Level 8 award from a recognised University course, which confers eligibility for PSI membership or equivalent professional body in the case of overseas applicants. In exceptional cases, the college may accept a lower Second Class Honours degree in Psychology at NFQ Level 8 award from a recognised University course, on the basis of an interview. For applicants whose first language is not English, the minimum English language requirement is B2+ or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).