Psychology

MSc in Psychology
This masters degree provides a valuable opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of a range of areas in psychology, including cognitive, social, forensic and counselling psychology. You'll develop critical appraisal skills in the evaluation of psychological research and practice. You will also gain an understanding of the reciprocal relationship psychological research has with medicine, public policy, public opinion and the media. Completing this rigorous masters degree will enable you to source, select and review psychological research independently, evaluate its relevance for complex real life issues, assess its validity, and clearly communicate your findings to a range of different audiences.

Key features of the course
• Enhances your analytical and communication skills, as well as developing research literacy skills
• Bespoke teaching materials and experienced tutors guide you through fascinating, cutting-edge topics and research
• Relevant for existing professionals or those wishing to pursue a career in all areas of public policy, social justice, management, the health services and marketing.

Please note that this masters degree is not accredited by The British Psychological Society.

Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits as follows:
Compulsory modules
• Principles of social and psychological inquiry (DD801) 60
Next start: 01 Oct 2022

• Evaluating psychology: research and practice (DD803) 120
Next start: 01 Oct 2022

Please note that Evaluating psychology: research and practice (DD803) is worth 120 credits. Fees for postgraduate modules are based on the number of credits you study. Therefore the fee for this 120-credit postgraduate module will be double that for a 60 credit module Principles of social and psychological inquiry (DD801).

You should note that the University's unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

You must hold a UK honours degree (2:2 at least) or equivalent to be accepted for the MSc in Psychology. Your first degree need not be in forensic psychology or psychology, but you must have the skills expected of a social sciences graduate.

All students will begin the masters degree with the postgraduate foundation module, Principles of social and psychological inquiry (DD801). This module will help equip you with the requisite skills needed to undertake postgraduate-level study, but it does not offer remedial training for those with an unsuitable bachelors degree or inadequate experience.

You must be able to:
• write accurately, clearly and concisely
• read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
• classify evidence precisely and assess its value and reliability
• argue logically and consistently
•marshal evidence to support a logical argument.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the IELTS website for details. If you're not sure whether your English skills are good enough, there is some help and guidance at our Skills for OU Study website.

This qualification has a required study order, so there is only one pathway. This provides you with the opportunity to study with a cohort of peers throughout, while modules and assessment build on one another systematically.

2 years.

How long it takes
You will be able to complete this masters qualification within two years by studying one module each year.

Career relevance
By studying this psychology postgraduate programme you will develop advanced skills in assessing psychological claims and evidence in key specialisms in psychology. These skills are relevant to a broad range of careers related to public policy, social justice, management, advertising and marketing, as well as the third sector.

The skills developed will be recognised by employers in all fields who value people who can complete a complex psychological project independently; communicate clearly and effectively to diverse academic and non-academic audiences; analyse and evaluate complex information; and who are capable of independently seeking out and selecting good research evidence relevant to real-life issues.

This qualification is not accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.