What you will study
The course also considers how other disciplines such as human resource management and sociology inform occupational and business psychology.
The modules for this course investigate various approaches to applying psychological principles in the workplace and how these ideas can increase organisational, team and individual performance. You will learn to critically evaluate the evidence base when making decisions.
You will apply theories and evidence to case studies, examples from the field and real-life practice. You will also learn about ethical considerations and your role as a psychologist in organisations, enhancing your professional skills. You will complement this by learning about ways of overcoming the barriers many occupational and business psychologists face when trying to implement their programmes in an organisation.
Other practice-based training will also be offered, including psychometric testing (offered as an additional short course).
MSc
You can choose to study this course in one year, with our full-time programme, or in two years, with our part-time programme taught at weekends. Both courses cover the same core modules, and both are taught by research-active academics and experienced practitioners.
This course is made up of five core modules.
Core modules
Research Methods and Dissertation
60 credits
This is a core module for students studying at master's level. The module introduces students to the role that research methods play in developing discipline knowledge, and in providing the knowledge that underpins evidence-based practice. Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate research articles and other documents from a methodological perspective. They will develop the skills to conduct high quality research. Core factual material and learning resources will be provided electronically via Canvas. Classroom sessions will take the form of workshops where possible, and will cover topics such as reviewing research literature systematically; research design; qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and data analysis techniques; writing up and presenting research. For the dissertation, each student will have a personal supervisor who will provide guidance on planning and conducting the research, and on writing it up.
Career Counselling, Training and Development
30 credits
This module explores how organisations, managers and employees approach career management and associated learning and development.
You will take both academic and practitioner perspectives, and reflect on your own development to-date. You will then assess how your career has unfolded, and gain practical tools and information to consider possible future directions. This module will help you evaluate:
- the links between career expectations, personal development and learning;
- the modern, practical approaches to training and development at work; and
- the evaluation techniques used.
Leadership, Change and Consultancy
30 credits
This module helps you understand leadership and the processes and practice of change in organisations, and the essential building blocks for organisational development. You will study:
- key concepts, such as organisational structure, cultures and group relations;
- leadership and management challenges for development and change;
- the contemporary organisation developing within societal trends and situations;
- implementing change and change agents, and evaluating change strategies;
- power and politics, negotiating and bargaining;
- theories of creativity from basic to more cutting-edge approaches;
- employee motivation through rewards systems (such as pay, leadership and job design);
- consultancy practices and interventions from both internal and external perspectives; and
- ethical contracting and the consultancy cycle.
Wellbeing and Work
30 credits
This module introduces you to a range of elements of wellbeing across psychological sub-disciplines, and will examine the relevance of wellbeing with regards to a range of practical implications. You will explore:
- facets of wellbeing: their definition and relevance in organisational settings
- emotions in the workplace, bullying and harassment
- stress in the workplace: causes, prevention and management
- motivation, psychological contract and organisational justice
- work patterns and the work - non-work interplay
Psychological Assessment at Work
30 credits
This module explores the theory and practice of applying psychological assessments to people at work, typically focusing on assessment in a selection context, and for the purpose of conducting performance appraisals. The module is concerned with the application of fair, standardised and rigorous techniques for assessing people for job positions, in terms of understanding their current level of suitability and their potential to develop this in the future. The module addresses contemporary issues in assessment, selection, and developmental contexts and equips students with the ability to critically appraise the suitability of assessment methodologies for different scenarios.
Optional placement year
The professional placement year is optional. It takes place after the full-time year. It allows students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The work placement is an assessed part of the course and is therefore covered by a Student Route visa.
