Psychology - Applied Psychology

Overview
This Master of Science in Applied Psychology provides learners with the theoretical background and practical skills to apply their Psychological knowledge efficiently and productively to effect positive change in the world. It has been designed with an integrated delivery from end-to-end, covering a wide range of specialist topics that provide learners with the knowledge of theories, concepts and processes relating to Psychology and helps them understand how these can be applied in a variety of contemporary settings. 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 clients’ needs. Modules focus on the applied nature of professional and ethical issues, neuroscience, life transitions and interventions and advanced research methods. Other modules have a specific focus upon the application of theory to the ‘real world’ allowing learners to further develop and apply competencies and knowledge in both Health Psychology and Organisational Psychology-themed applied modules.

Finally, the programme offers a choice of elective capstone pathways (30 ECTS) that provide an opportunity for independent placement or research and the production of a Placement Project or Research 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 specific programme objectives are to:
• Enable learners to explore the various theories, concepts and processes of Applied Psychology.
• Facilitate critical evaluation of competing Psychological theories through critical analysis and appraisal of Psychological studies and projects.
• 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 an Applied Psychological perspective.
• Enable learners to assess appropriate interventions and design appropriate solutions for clients’ needs.
• Enable learners to explore advanced research methods and demonstrate a detailed understanding of the theoretical and methodological considerations, evidencing these skills in a placement and/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 Applied Psychology.

Structure
The programme consists of 60 ECTS of mandatory taught content and culminates in an elective choice of either Research Placement (Capstone 1) or Major Dissertation (Capstone 2), each weighted at 30ECTS. The assessment components for each of these modules are due in the summer semester (April-August) for the full-time programme and Semester four (January-April) on the part-time programme. Work will typically will commence in the previous semester following the completion of the ethics process.

The programme contains an embedded exit award, the Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Applied 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.

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.

Modules will be delivered through a blend of asynchronous content and discussion forums with live online tutorials and in-class workshops, practical lab sessions and lectures, while teaching and learning will use a wide range of materials to assist learners as they enhance their knowledge and understanding of core Psychology concepts.

Guest lectures, clinical site visits and case studies are utilised to anchor learning in the real world. In-class individual and group exercises are also used to test understanding and drive applied discussions.

Semester One
• Advanced Quantitative Research Methods and Analysis
• Advanced Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis
• Addiction and Rehabilitation
• Psychometrics and Psychometric Testing
• Life transitions and interventions
• Professional Issues and Ethics in Applied Psychology
• Capstone 1 (Research Placement)
• Capstone 2 (Major Dissertation)

Semester Two
• Applied Neuroscience
• Motivation, leadership & positive Psychology
• Public and Community Health
• The Psychological Practitioner and the Therapeutic Relationship
• Life transitions and interventions
• Professional Issues and Ethics in Applied Psychology Semester
• Capstone 1 (Research Placement)
• Capstone 2 (Major Dissertation)

Semester Three
• Capstone 1 (Research Placement)
• Capstone 2 (Major Dissertation)

A first qualification in Psychology of an upper Second Class Honours (2.1) at NFQ Level 8 or above accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland or show eligibility for accreditation by the Psychological Society of Ireland. (In exceptional cases, the college may accept a lower Second-class Honours degree in Psychology on the basis of an interview).

For applicants whose first language is not English, the minimum English language requirement for entry to the programme is IELTS score 6.5 (or equivalent).

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2024.

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years

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 Learning Strategy
All modules are delivered through blended learning. DBS offers fully-blended learning through a combination of the following modes:
• Face to Face Classroom Tuition
• Live Online (LOL) Tuition
• On Demand Learning

Blended Learning allows for the most appropriate mode of delivery to be applied to different parts of the syllabus. Blended Learning Programmes on average are split out to 40% Face to Face Classroom Tuition, 30% Live Online and 30% On Demand Learning but this does vary.

This programme is blended. This means you may have some face-to-face, on campus classroom delivery, live online and on demand content. The face-to-face, on campus classroom delivery will be shown on your timetable. In addition, some classes are delivered as on demand content which means you may have videos and learning materials to engage with alongside your timetable. Please consult your Module and Assessment Guide and Moodle page for information, once the term has commenced.

Next Intake: September 2024

Career Opportunities
Potential career options for those pursuing this programme therefore include both cognate and noncognate opportunities in research and evaluation posts, teaching/lecturing and Human Resource management, as well as market research, psychologists, social policy advocates, administrative positions, health care settings and training and development specialists. It will also appeal to those keen to pursue further postgraduate studies in the field of psychology.