The course will train graduates to take up roles within different organizations where knowledge of mental health is required by teaching subjects that are relevant to the characterisation of typical and atypical behaviour, the causes and development of mental health problems in children and young people (including neurodevelopmental disorders) and an understanding of the most standard psychological therapies used in clinical practice and available support service systems. In addition, the course will provide you with a solid understanding of the most recent research methods applied in this area. The programme comprises 4 components:
- Typical and Atypical Development: Covers typical brain development and development of cognitive functions and social behaviours relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders, followed by a description/classification of the most common mental health problems in children and adolescents, including Autism, ADHD, conduct disorders, eating disorders, depression/anxiety, and antisocial behaviour. Students will also learn about the genetic, environmental/social factors that determine onset as well as persistence of these mental health problems across developmental stages.
- Research Methods and Statistics: Covers general statistics as well as more specialized methods/statistics applied in developmental neurophysiology, neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience and (behavioural)genetics.
- Therapy and Treatment: Covers the theoretical basis of mainstream psychological therapies used in clinical practice in infants, children, adolescents and their families. You will also learn why some therapies are indicated and preferred over others and the available support service systems. This module can be replaced by a credit-baring placement or clinical observership.
- Dissertation Project: This can be a research project or systematic review or clinical observership project or a communicating science project, with the possibility to link the project to your placement/obervership.
You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials.
Introduction to Statistics
Lectures (24 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (24 hours) | Self-study time (102 hours)
Psychology and Psychopathology
Lectures (35 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (5 hours) | Self-study time (260 hours)
Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (16 hours) | Self-study time (254 hours)
Placements
Lectures (10 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (5 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning ( 175hours) | Self-study time (110 hours)
Dissertation
Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning ( 400 hours) | Self-study time (200 hours)
Psychological Approaches to Treatment
Lectures (34 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (4 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning (6 hours) | Self-study time (256 hours)
Research Methods in Infants and Children
Lectures (19 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (2 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning (7 hours) | Self-study time (122 hours)
Twin Model-Fitting
Lectures (10 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-study time (120 hours)
Research Skills: Reviewing and Critical Analysis
Self-study time (150 hours)
Assessment
The primary methods of assessment for this course are written examinations, coursework and individual or group projects. The study time and assessment methods typically give an indication of what to expect. However, these may vary depending upon the modules selected.