Psychology - Conversion

MSc in Psychology (Conversion)
This one-year, full-time, intensive conversion programme covers a comprehensive curriculum in psychology with a strong focus on cutting-edge innovations in psychology, practice-based skills such as counselling and research skills.

The programme has been formally accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland.
Classes are timetabled for between 20-30 hours per week each semester.

Programme
• World-class programme delivered by a dynamic research-active team
Small class sizes that allow for individual attention from highly committed staff.
• Innovative teaching methodologies and high levels of technical expertise and support.
• Student-centred learning philosophy that places a major emphasis on gaining digital and transferable skills.
• High-quality research laboratories and research skills training supports.
• It provides the pre-requisite and pre-professional knowledge and skills to seek further training in psychology.
• It enhances opportunities for learners to enter or progress their careers in a variety of public and private settings.
• It benefits those keen to pursue more advanced and specialised postgraduate studies.

Course Life
This course offers a one-year intensive conversion route into the discipline of psychology where students are exposed to cutting-edge innovations in psychology and have the opportunity to develop practice-based skills (e.g. counselling). It contains applied modules, which focus on psychological issues in the real world today; technological innovations in psychology, clinical applications and the emerging field of social cognition. The course can allow a change in career direction for graduates who have studied some psychology and now wish to pursue a career in this field.

Programme
This course covers the key mandatory areas of psychology including:
• Biological Bases of behaviour
• Developmental and Lifespan Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Personality and Individual Difference
• Cognitive Psychology
• Research Design and Methods

The research skills module focuses on developing advanced research skills and students will also complete a year-long supervised individual MSc research project.

The course contains applied modules, which focus on psychological issues in the real world today; technological innovations in psychology, clinical applications and the emerging field of social cognition.

This course also offers a range of elective modules specifically designed for graduates who intend to pursue further study in applied settings including clinical, counselling and educational psychology.

This course covers the key mandatory areas of psychology including:

Biological Bases of behaviour
Developmental and Lifespan Psychology
Social Psychology
Personality and Individual Difference
Cognitive Psychology
Research Design and Methods

The research skills module focuses on developing advanced research skills and students will also complete a year-long supervised individual MSc research project.

The course contains applied modules, which focus on psychological issues in the real world today; technological innovations in psychology, clinical applications and the emerging field of social cognition.

This course also offers a range of elective modules specifically designed for graduates who intend to pursue further study in applied settings including clinical, counselling and educational psychology.

World-class programme delivered by a dynamic research-active team
Small class sizes that allow for individual attention from highly committed staff
Innovative teaching methodologies and high levels of technical expertise and support
Student-centred learning philosophy that places a major emphasis on gaining digital and transferable skills
High-quality research laboratories and research skills training supports
It provides the pre-requisite and pre-professional knowledge and skills to seek further training in psychology
It enhances opportunities for learners to enter or progress their careers in a variety of public and private settings
It benefits those keen to pursue more advanced and specialised postgraduate studies.

Programme Academic Structure for 2023 - 2024, MSc in Psychology (Conversion)
This information is provisional & subject to change.

Year 1 Core Modules:
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
PSYC500 Advanced Psychology Research Skills 10 Year long 40 60 1
PSYC501 Cognition 5 Semester 1 0 100 1
PSYC502 Biological Bases of Behaviour in the Brain 5 Semester 1 70 30 1
PSYC503 Social Psychology: From Theory to Translation 5 Semester 1 0 100 1
PSYC504 Developmental Psychology across the Lifespan 5 Semester 1 0 100 1
PSYC505 Psychological Health, Difficulties & Disorder 5 Semester 1 0 100 1
PSYC506 Advanced Conceptual Issues in Psychology 5 Semester 2 0 100 1
PSYC507 Advanced Individual Differences 5 Semester 2 0 100 1
PSYC508 Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology 5 Semester 2 50 50 1
PSYC509 Advanced Social Cognitive Psychology 5 Semester 2 0 100 1
PSYC510 Psychology Research Project 30 Autumn Semester 0 100 2

Year 1 Optional Modules -
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
PSYC511 Crime and Psychology 5 Semester 2 50 50 1
PSYC512 Psychology and Self-Control 5 Semester 2 0 100 1
PSYC513 Counselling and Psychology 5 Semester 2 0 100 1

Requirements
For admission to the MSc in Psychology (Conversion), entrants will typically hold:
• A (NFQ) Level 8 Honours Degree with a H2.1 or international equivalent in a discipline cognate to Psychology (e.g. Humanities; Human Sciences, Education Sociology, Health and Society, etc.) or have completed a Psychology Honours Degree that did not confer eligibility for the graduate basis from the Psychological Society of Ireland (otherwise known as Psychological Studies degree).
• Applicants should also have a minimum combined total of 60 ECTS in Psychology modules (or modules with a substantial element of Psychology, e.g Health Promotion, Human Resources, etc.) and Research Methods modules (or equivalent modules, e.g. Research Project/Thesis, Statistics, Data Analysis/Data Handling etc.)
• International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language.

Due to the specialist nature of this programme, additional criteria may be used to assess suitability to undertake this programme. For further information, please contact the Programme Chair using the contact details above

As part of the application process applicants may be called for interview.

In addition to the above, applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may be considered. This may include demonstrated substantial additional prior experiential learning in Psychology and/or Research Methods. These individuals will be considered on a case by case basis. We will particularly recognise those individuals who have substantial Research Methods and Statistics experience.

Application Deadlines
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:

• Closing date for non EU applicants is 16th March 2024.
• Closing date for EU applicants is 16th March 2023.4

Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.

All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.

Queries
Queries from EU applicants should be directed to postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie
Queries from non EU applicants should be directed to internationalapplications@dcu.ie

To apply for this programme:
• All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal.
• Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable.
• Provide a Personal Statement addressing why you wish to do this particular programme indicating clearly your experience in Psychology and Research Methods to date (academic, experiential and professional).
• Please upload a CV under the "Supplemental Items & Documents" section.
• If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements.

Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml

1 year full-time.

Classes are timetabled for between 20-30 hours per week each semester.

The programme commences in September 2024

Careers
This course has been designed to enable graduates to seek membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland upon completion. Such membership is a prerequisite for further study in psychology, including clinical and applied areas. Graduates from this course who wish to pursue further study in psychology as a discipline can go on to specialise with either masters and doctorate qualifications in counselling, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, educational psychology, research and a range of other specialist areas in psychology.

Most students study psychology because they aim to pursue a career as a psychologist. However, others choose to study psychology because it offers a broad training in a behavioural science, it develops a wide range of valued transferable skills and it can be used as a stepping-stone into several other careers.

Jobs options for graduates include:
• Assistant psychologist positions
• Marketing
• Management
• Research
• Data analysis
• Human resources
• Health promotion
• Community development