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University College Cork

Psychology - Applied Psychology

Course Outline

The MA in Applied Psychology is currently open for applications 2020. All online applications must be submitted online by the closing date for this programme: Friday 10 April 2020.

The MA in Applied Psychology gives you an advanced understanding of the discipline of psychology in applied settings. The course is designed to help you appreciate the potential and values of applied psychology, think critically about psychological theory and practice and give you the opportunity to explore your own particular interests.

Applied psychologists use research and theory to analyse real-world situations, develop appropriate interventions, and evaluate outcomes. The course has strong links with community-based partners working with children, families and communities. The course will enable you to pursue postgraduate professional training opportunities and to pursue a variety of career paths where psychological expertise is needed.

Who teaches this course

The MA in Applied Psychology is delivered by staff from the School of Applied Psychology in the main. Contributions are also made from other professional/voluntary bodies where appropriate.

Why Choose This Course

The MA in Applied Psychology will appeal to psychology graduates who want to pursue a professional career or take further professional postgraduate training in psychology. The particular strength of this course lies in its applied ethos. Graduates from the MA have found their placement and research experiences to be particularly beneficial in supporting their successful application to specific professional education courses in psychology.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Students on the MA in Applied Psychology have the opportunity to gain relevant work experience through the six-month placement module (AP6153).

Entry requirements

A candidate for this MA programme must:

1.Hold an honours undergraduate degree in Psychology.

2.Satisfy the eligibility requirements for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society.
This can be demonstrated by:

Evidence that your undergraduate degree is accredited by the PSI or BPS (see www.bps.org.uk) or

Evidence from the BPS that they consider your undergraduate degree to be equivalent to a PSI/BPS accredited degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society.

3.The name and contact details of a Referee will be required and may be contacted. Written references will be required for placement interviews.
4.Supply a personal statement conveying:
An understanding of what applied psychology entails;
Reasons for applying to the programme and how this programme fits with the applicant's experience and career objectives;
A proposed topic for research dissertation that demonstrates your ability to identify a research problem and design a study to address it.

5.A second-class honours grade one degree is required. Consideration will be given to second-class honours grade two candidates, where for example an applicant has significant and directly relevant work experience or has performed impressively in another Master's degree acceptable to the School selection committee. In such cases, the applicant should set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the supplementary statement

Eligible candidates may be interviewed. Selection from amongst eligible candidates will be made according to the following criteria:
1.Academic performance
2.Research Capacity
3.Commitment to the area of applied psychology

Note: A minimum intake of 10 students will be required to run this programme.

Garda Vetting

Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

English Language Requirements

Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

International/non-EU applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

Duration

1 year full-time.

This is a one-year full-time course. Lectures take place on Monday-Fridays. A placement, which is a non-compulsory module (AP6153), is considered a unique learning experience that will give you workplace experience over a six-month period. Please note that placements are not guaranteed for every student.
There may be travel costs associated with module AP6153, a non-compulsory placement module."

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (NFQ Level 9, Major award)

Students who have completed and passed modules to the value of at least 60 credits in Part I and who do not wish to proceed to Part II may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology.

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information

On completion of this course you have:
The ability to critically appraise psychological research and practice in a range of settings

Advanced knowledge of the professional and ethical issues that may arise in the application of psychology

An adequate level of competence in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues

Skills in planning and implementing an effective research course

Further competencies developed through this course include interview, assessment, communication and presentation skills.

Further enquiries

Dr. Angela Veale
a.veale@ucc.ie
+ 353 21 490 4509

Dr. Sharon Lambert
sharon.lambert@ucc.ie
00 353 21 4904594

Subjects taught

Modules

Students take 90 credits as follows

Part I

Core Modules - Students take 30 credits as follows:
AP6016 Research Methods and Data Analysis (10 credits)
AP6023 Psychological Assessment (5 credits)
AP6177 Critical Community Psychology (5 credits)
AP6173 Service Design and Evaluation (10 credits)

Elective Modules - Students take 20 credits from the following:
AN4009 Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
AN4012 Medical Imaging and Biomedical Devices in the Neurosciences (5 credits)
AP3015 Forensic Psychology (5 credits)
AP3110 Psychological Therapies (5 credits)
AP6128 Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Skills (5 credits)
AP6129 Health Psychology (5 credits)
AP6153 Applying Psychology in Community-Based Settings Placement (15 credits)
AP6174 Clinical Presentations (Child, Adolescent, Adult, and ID) (10 credits)
AP6176 Cognitive Enhancement (5 credits)
AP6178 Psychological Principles and Skills in Working with Children and Families (5 credits)

(Electives may be subject to minor changes. AP6153 Placement is offered each year).

Part II
AP6137 Dissertation in Applied Psychology (30 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

Further details on the content and modules are available in the: Postgraduate College Calendar

Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
https://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/modules/

Assessment method

A variety of assessment methods are incorporated into the MA in Applied Psychology. These include essays, research funding applications, portfolios, reports, class tests, research proposals, journal of learning, class presentations, research thesis, taped practice work with transcript and analysis.

Application date

Applications for academic year 2020/2021 are open.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made four times a year on a rolling basis. Some courses have one specific closing date, please check your course prospectus page for this information.

The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of full applications:
For all completed applications received by January 10th 2020
Offers will be made by January 24th 2020

For all completed applications received by March 2nd 2020
Offers will be made by March 16th 2020

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2020
Offers will be made by May 15th 2020

For all completed applications received by July 1st 2020
Offer will be made by July 15th 2020

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.

Non-EU Closing Date: 24h April
Non-EU Applicants: Information for Non-EU applicants may be found on the International Office Website https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/