University of Wales Newport

Course Details

MSc Clinical and Abnormal Psychology

Course Description

As well as modules that will develop knowledge of the aetiology and treatment of a range of psychological disorders and abnormal behaviours, this programme includes a substantial research element. You will receive extensive training in research methods via a postgraduate statistics module and will complete a postgraduate dissertation in a related topic. Links with a number of agencies and the University of South Wales’ Psychology Clinic means that suitable students should have the opportunity for access to client groups in order to complete an applied dissertation. We aim to provide students with access to clinical populations to collect psychological data in order to complete an applied dissertation. This is possible through our links with local NHS trusts and local healthcare providers. In addition, the University of South Wales has recently invested in a new psychology clinic which provides clinical and therapeutic services. Suitable students will be able to benefit from in-house research opportunities and supervised voluntary experience. The course draws on the research and applied expertise of psychologists in the fields of developmental, clinical, health, sports and forensic psychology. You will learn about a wide range of developmental disorders including autism and conduct disorder, as well as dependence issues such as alcohol addiction and eating disorders. You will also explore interventions such as pharmacological and behavioural treatments, as well as research on depression, anxiety and personality disorders.You will study 180 credits comprising of the following modules: * Postgraduate Research Methods and Statistics (40 credits) * Dissertation (60 credits) * Psychopathology through the lifespan (20 credits) * Interventions (20 credits) * Addiction, dependence and deviance (20 credits) * Current and historical perspectives on psychopathology (20 credits) While completion of this programme will not qualify you to practice as a Clinical Psychologist in the UK, nor guarantee acceptance onto a DClinPsy course; the skills that you will develop should enhance your applications for professional training programmes, Assistant Psychologist posts, or Research Assistant posts in clinical settings. Career options Graduates of this masters programme will possess a diversity of skills that will enhance their applications for a range of popular training, employment, and research opportunities. These may include: Clinical psychology doctorate programmes: These are extremely popular and competitive training courses and successful applicants are likely to have work experience in an appropriate setting as well as suitable qualifications. Applied research experience including the collection of psychological data in a clinical setting should be a useful addition to an application for further training. The extensive research training and applied dissertation completed in this MSc programme should contribute to more robust applications to Clinical doctorate programmes. Assistant Psychologist posts: These are sought after positions with many applicants for every post; not least because experience as an Assistant Psychologist can help support an application to clinical doctorate training programmes. Successful completion of this MSc programme will suggest a commitment to a career in clinical psychology as well as the development of skills and knowledge that are more advanced than those gained during an undergraduate degree. This may help to help enhance applications for Assistant Psychologist posts. Research Assistant posts: Excellent psychological research is extremely important in the field of clinical psychology. The extensive research focus and the dissertation completed in this programme will provide graduates with a range of research skills including the ability to critically evaluate literature, research, and applications in the field of clinical psychology, as well as experience in designing, conducting, writing up and disseminating good quality psychological research. These are transferable skills that should be valued in a range of Research Assistant posts.

Course Duration

NumberDuration
1year

Career outcomes

While completion of this programme will not qualify you to practice as a Clinical Psychologist in the UK, nor guarantee acceptance onto a DClinPsy course; the skills that you will develop should enhance your applications for professional training programmes, Assistant Psychologist posts, or Research Assistant posts in clinical settings. Career options Graduates of this masters programme will possess a diversity of skills that will enhance their applications for a range of popular training, employment, and research opportunities. These may include: Clinical psychology doctorate programmes: These are extremely popular and competitive training courses and successful applicants are likely to have work experience in an appropriate setting as well as suitable qualifications. Applied research experience including the collection of psychological data in a clinical setting should be a useful addition to an application for further training. The extensive research training and applied dissertation completed in this MSc programme should contribute to more robust applications to Clinical doctorate programmes. Assistant Psychologist posts: These are sought after positions with many applicants for every post; not least because experience as an Assistant Psychologist can help support an application to clinical doctorate training programmes. Successful completion of this MSc programme will suggest a commitment to a career in clinical psychology as well as the development of skills and knowledge that are more advanced than those gained during an undergraduate degree. This may help to help enhance applications for Assistant Psychologist posts. Research Assistant posts: Excellent psychological research is extremely important in the field of clinical psychology. The extensive research focus and the dissertation completed in this programme will provide graduates with a range of research skills including the ability to critically evaluate literature, research, and applications in the field of clinical psychology, as well as experience in designing, conducting, writing up and disseminating good quality psychological research. These are transferable skills that should be valued in a range of Research Assistant posts.




MSc Clinical and Abnormal Psychology University of Wales Newport