Health Psychology MSc - 2021/2

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Level 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc Health Psychology

Subsidiary award(s)

Award Title
PGCert Psychology
PGCert Psychology
PGDip Psychology
PGDip Psychology

Professional recognition

British Psychological Society (BPS).
Successful completion of this programme fulfils stage one of the requirements towards Chartered Membership of the Society and full membership of the Division of Health Psychology.

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time PLD61007 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits
Part-time PLD61008 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Other internal and / or external reference points

Previous programme specification and review documents

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences - Psychology

Programme Leader

CROPLEY Mark (Psychology)

Date of production/revision of spec

08/09/2022

Educational aims of the programme

  • To provide students with advanced knowledge and understanding of theory and practice in Health Psychology in accordance with the requirements and standards pertaining to Stage 1 of the British Psychological Society criteria for an accredited MSc in Health Psychology
  • To train students in the informed and systematic application of the research-practitioner involving problem analysis and formulation, intervention design and evaluation
  • To enable students to harness relevant theory and evidence in the integrated formulation of a wide range of commonly encountered health problems and issues
  • To produce students equipped with the basic interpersonal, technical and creative skills required for the effective analysis and formulation of health problems, and for the effective design, implementation and evaluation of health interventions
  • To prepare students for professional work pursued in a highly responsible, self-regulated, self-efficacious and politically sensitive fashion
  • To facilitate self-reflection in support of personal and professional development via constructive feedback

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
Knowledge and understanding of Health Psychology as an applied science K
Knowledge and understanding of the relevance of theory to professional practice K
Knowledge and understanding of theory and evidence pertaining to the curriculum areas as detailed by the British Psychological Society: research and research methods; professional issues; contexts and perspectives in health psychology; physiological and psychosomatic disease processes; client groups and other stakeholders; health-related behaviours and cognitions; interventions; healthcare and professional settings plus measurement issues K
Knowledge and understanding of basic and advanced research design and methods of investigation (qualitative and quantitative), data analysis principles and techniques K
Knowledge and understanding of the contemporary economic and political context of health care work K
Knowledge and understanding of place and value of Health Psychology within an interdisciplinary framework K
Critically assess and comment on both published and unpublished sources of research and commentary on Health Psychology issues C
Critically weigh up the contributions and limitations of Health Psychology in addressing various problems and issues C
Analyse and theoretically formulate various problem scenarios and issues pertinent to the practice of Health Psychology using a range of models and theories consistent with the principle of 'integrative' practice C
Design, conduct and evaluate Health Psychology research and research based Health Psychology interventions C
Analyse and take into consideration the economic and political context of a health problem or issue in the process of designing and implementing tailor made interventions C
Reflect on particular case examples (hypothetical and real) with a view to informing theory development/elaboration in an iterative fashion. C
Select, design, implement and evaluate a wide range of research techniques pertinent to research and research-based practice in Health Psychology P
Acquire some preliminary skill in designing research-based health interventions P
Analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data in a competent and critical manner P
Present/communicate their work in a professional manner for both academic, non-academic and business audiences, in both written and verbal (one-to-one, group) formats P
Apply problem solving strategy and techniques P
Prioritise work, multi-task and manage time under pressure. P
Communicate ideas, principles, theories and problem formulations by oral, written and visual means T
Elicit high quality information and data from field sources T
Operate within a problem-solving research-based practitioner framework T
Conduct oneself in a professional (accountable, responsible), self-regulated and constructively critical fashion T
Use interpersonal and social skills as appropriate T
Apply analytical skill in a problem solving context T
Use information technology (e.g. www., CD ROM data bases, word processors, statistics packages) T
Pursue continuous improvement via self-reflection and other forms of professional and personal development activity. T
At the end of their programme of study PG Dip students would be expected to: Describe some of the theory and evidence pertaining to the core areas of Health Psychology PGDip
At the end of their programme of study PG Dip students would be expected to: Apply some basic and advanced research design and methods of investigation (qualitative and quantitative), data analysis principles and techniques PGDip
At the end of their programme of study PG Dip students would be expected to: Analyse and theoretically formulate various problem scenarios and issues pertinent to the practice of Health Psychology using a range of models and theories PGDip
At the end of their programme of study PG Dip students would be expected to: Critically evaluate the contributions and limitations of Health Psychology in addressing various problems and issues PGDip
At the end of their programme of study PG Cert students would be expected to: Describe some of the theory and evidence pertaining to the core areas of Health Psychology PGCert
At the end of their programme of study PG Cert students would be expected to: Apply some basic and advanced research design and methods of investigation (qualitative and quantitative), data analysis principles and techniques PGCert

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.

Part-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over two academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
PSYM060 COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Compulsory 15 2
PSYM004 CHRONIC CONDITIONS Compulsory 15 2
PSYM006 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE Compulsory 15 2
PSYM022 MAINTAINING HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN Compulsory 15 1
PSYM065 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS Compulsory 15 2
PSYM064 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS Compulsory 15 1
PSYM115 CONTEMPORARY HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE Compulsory 15 1
PSYM136 ACADEMIC RESEARCH TRAINING FOR HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Compulsory 15 1

Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Choose two modules to take in each semester.
Split the modules across two years as agreed with the Programme Leader. Part-Time students should consult with the Programme Leader at an early stage to discuss how best to address the course requirements across two years

Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
PSYM004 CHRONIC CONDITIONS Compulsory 15 2
PSYM006 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE Compulsory 15 2
PSYM022 MAINTAINING HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN Compulsory 15 1
PSYM034 DISSERTATION 8000-10000 WORDS Core 60 Year-long
PSYM060 COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Compulsory 15 2
PSYM064 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS Compulsory 15 1
PSYM065 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS Compulsory 15 2
PSYM115 CONTEMPORARY HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE Compulsory 15 1
PSYM136 ACADEMIC RESEARCH TRAINING FOR HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Compulsory 15 1

Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Complete remaining two modules in each semester.
Split the modules across two years as agreed with the Programme Leader. Part-Time students should consult with the Programme Leader at an early stage to discuss how best to address the course requirements across two years

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics N
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) N
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.