The course will train graduates to take up roles within different organisations where knowledge of mental health is required by teaching subjects that are relevant to the characterisation of typical and atypical behaviour, the biological and environmental 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 course comprises three components:
- Typical & 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.
- Advanced Methods in DPP: Covers general statistics (mandatory) as well as more specialised optional methods/statistics applied in developmental neurophysiology, neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, behavioural and statistical genetics, and qualitative research methods. There is also an optional Therapy & Treatment module which 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. Finally, within this component it is also possible to pick an optional credit-bearing placement or clinical observership. Thus, you will be able to select the modules that best suit your interest and future career, choosing from those with a more statistical/biological, or a more clinical/developmental, focus.
- Dissertation Project: This can be a research project, a systematic review, a clinical observership project or a communicating science project, with the possibility to link the project to your placement/observership. Many large-scale longitudinal datasets with developmental, clinical and/or genetic data are available for study if a research project is chosen. You will work alongside one of our experts to complete a piece of high-quality scientific research.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Compulsory and optional modules are listed below.
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)
Molecular Genetics (lab skills)
Lectures (12 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (2 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning (11 hours) | Self-study time (125 hours)
Genetic Association Analysis
Lectures (10 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (20 hours) | Self-study time (120 hours)
Qualitative Research: Methods & Practice
Lectures (20 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (0 hours) | Field/lab/studio/ supervised learning (5 hours) | Self-study time (125 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.