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University College Cork

Mindfulness Based Wellbeing

This MSc in Mindfulness Based Wellbeing trains student to teach mindfulness in schools, the workplace and in everyday life. Mindfulness can assist with developing greater resilience, stress reduction and self-regulation while at the same time developing greater self-awareness and better engagement with people, teams, challenges and opportunities.

Year one of this programme explores the foundations of mindfulness and examines the eastern philosophy of mindfulness and how it engages with western psychology. It explores the central themes incorporated in Mindfulness Based interventions and develops an appreciation for their inclusion. The attitudes of mindfulness are explored while the student is challenged to reflect on and contextualise the role of mindfulness practice in everyday settings and particularly in their own life and in their own personal mindfulness practice. Part one offers the student the opportunity to choose between receiving training on the teaching of mindfulness in school settings or in Organisational / workplace settings.

Year two of the programme explores the role of self-compassion in mindfulness while also exploring Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT). It examines the role of mindfulness in the therapeutic setting and in the building and maintaining of productive relationships. Finally the student is trained to teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT / MBSR)

Why Choose This Course
This programmes trains the student to teach mindfulness in schools or in the workplace and to deliver Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy programmes (MBSR / MBCT). The Post Graduate Certificate will equip the student to teach mindfulness in schools or in workplace settings in year one while in year two the Post-graduate Diploma further deepens knowledge and practice. Completion of the MSc trains students to teach the full MBSR or MBCT programmes. This MSc brings together a team of lectures with extensive experience in the delivery of mindfulness training in diverse settings and to a wide range of audiences. The fostering of wellbeing in schools is now a central value in educational settings. The workplace too is increasingly conscious of the duty of care which it has for all of its employees. Having a mindfulness trainer as part of a staff offers a cost effective way of providing wellbeing support to employees in the workplace or to students in schools. Classes are delivered at evenings, over weekends, one day workshops and during a residential training retreat. Students on this programme not only develop a strong personal practice but also learn to teach mindfulness and to facilitate mindfulness groups. Students should have access to a group with whom they can deliver mindfulness training as part of their preparation in year one and two.

Entry requirements

Applicants should:
- Normally hold a level eight honours degree or equivalent qualification within a relevant field such as health care, education, social care, family care or workplace development. Applicants whose primary degree is not within these disciplines may still apply if they have at least five years of relevant professional experience within a relevant field such as health care, education, social care, family care or workplace development.

All applicants must also:
-Have completed a teacher-led 8-week mindfulness course (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)
-Have a regular meditation practice of mindfulness meditation, preferably as taught in MBSR and MBCT.

An interview forms an important element in assessing a candidate's suitability for the programme, final decision on the inclusion of a candidate onto the programme will be determined by this process.

Duration

2 years
Lectures are delivered over weekends / evening classes / day workshops. There is continuous assessment in the form of assignments and mindfulness logs. Garda vetting will be completed.

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information
On completion of this MSc programme the student will have learned the skills required to deliver mindfulness training in a diverse range of settings. This training prepares the student to engage with wellbeing within their current place of work or to deliver training in Mindfulness Based Interventions including in wellbeing to other audiences.

Further enquiries

Programme Coordinator: Pat O'Leary and Pascale De Coninck
p.oleary@ucc.ie
+ 353 87 3298052/ 087 2248607

http://www.ucc.ie/study/ace/

Programme Administrator: Noreen Delea
n.delea@ucc.ie
021 490 4737

Subjects taught

YEAR 1

AP6811 Foundations of Mindfulness (10 Credits)

Provide participants with a strong foundation in mindfulness. Deepen awareness and understanding of the ways we experience ourselves and the world and of our responses to internal and external events. Introduction to academic literature on mindfulness.

AP6812 Mindfulness Teaching and Personal Practice (15 Credits)

Formal practices of mindfulness, informal practices of mindfulness, self enquiry, awareness of experiences, responding to experiences, implications for teaching mindfulness

And either:

AP6813 Teaching Mindfulness in Schools (20 credits)

Prepares students to teach mindfulness in schools while continuing to develop their own personal practice.

AP6814 Teaching Mindfulness in the Workplace (20 credits)

Prepare students to teach mindfulness in the workplace while continuing to develop their own personal practice.
YEAR 2 PART 1

AP6815 Mindfulness Based Interventions and Relationships (15 Credits)

The use of acceptance and commitment training (ACT), the use of compassion in mindfulness, mindfulness and wellbeing.

YEAR 2 PART 2

AP6816 Research dissertation on the Teaching of MBCT / MBSR (30 Credits)

Developing the skills of a mindfulness based teacher in teaching MBSR / MBCT, Teaching Assessment Criteria. Design research project, complete research, produce dissertation.