About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: L99A12
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Health and Applied Social Sciences
- Campus: Frenchay
- Delivery: Part-time
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Nigel Williams
Introduction
Are you interested in the relationship between the personal and the social/political? Are you interested in developing Research and Intervention skills?
This course develops dialogues between the psychological insights of psychoanalysis, continental philosophy and neuroscience and the social analysis of politics, sociology and other social sciences. Students taking the Masters in Psycho-Social Studies have the opportunity to enrich theoretical knowledge, reflexive practice and applied skills. The course is designed to enable you to choose what proportion of each you give emphasis to. As such it is suitable to those newly graduated, particularly in the social sciences, as well as to more experienced practitioners, particularly those involved in social care, counselling/psychotherapy and community development/conflict work.
Whilst different schools of Psychoanalysis are the central focus of the course, other non - rationalist views on the human subject are also explored. The course includes intersubjective perspectives on human development, from individual, group and social view points. There is also a strong emphasis on embodied knowledge and reflexivity, and this is supported by a focus on body and brain involving an exploration of the most recent findings from developmental neuroscience.
The course aims to enable you to:
- Develop as a psycho-social practitioner whose focus may be therapeutic practice, research or social action.
- Acquire a thorough knowledge of several principal strands of contemporary psycho-social theory, and, depending on optional modules, knowledge of at least some of the following: psychoanalytic theory and concepts; affect, emotion and society; theories of modernity and post modernity, therapeutic practice and, interventions in groups, organisations and communities.
- Develop the ability to apply these ideas to contemporary cultural, social and political issues such as racism and other hatreds and the politics of identity.
- Become equipped with the research skills, and methodological, epistemological and theoretical knowledge, needed to carry out research in Psycho-Social Studies and related disciplines.
- Engage in the reflexive evaluation of complex theories and to develop alternative theoretical constructs.
Structure
Content
The course has been designed to offer flexibility and academic coherence. It is available in part-time and full-time formats and, for students who wish to, it provides for specialisation through three different pathways:
- therapeutic practice
- social theory and research
- intervention in social systems such as groups or situations of conflict
Unless otherwise stated modules are worth 30 credits. Some of the modules are intensive and workshop based, taught over teaching blocks of 2/3 days. Others are taught via weekly lectures/seminars. Students taking the Postgraduate Diploma are required to take four taught modules (two core, two options), the optional modules enable you to specialise in your own area of interest. Students pursuing the Master's award will be required in addition to the above to submit a dissertation of approximately 15,000 words (60 credits).
Compulsory core modules
- Affect, Emotion and Society: This module, which is taught in the autumn term, examines the nature of human feelings and the way in which they are a constitutive element of the social and the political. The module will draw on sociological theory, continental philosophy, neuroscience and psychoanalysis to explore the bodily/somatic and cognitive dimensions of feelings and the ways in which the social life of family, community and organisation gives expression to, contains and is disrupted by affects and emotions.
- Researching Beneath the Surface: How do we research and inquire into human experience, particularly the affective and less conscious dimensions of this experience and what are the ethical implications of this process of coming to know the other? This module will bring together current praxis from a variety of related fields including contemporary psychoanalysis, psycho-social research methods, co-operative inquiry and action research, Group Relations and Group Analysis to develop new approaches to research 'in depth'.
- Masters in Psycho-Social Studies Dissertation (not required for Diploma). On successful completion of the taught parts of the course you may proceed to the dissertation. Here you have an opportunity to explore an area of research of your own choice under supervision from a member of the academic team. Your research may focus on a contemporary social or political issue or it may be an opportunity to explore an area related to your own work and practice.
Option modules
- Addressing Community Tensions: Conflicts and their Contexts
- Conflict, Communication and Transformation
- Identities
- Internship Module
- Psychoanalysis: Theorists and Concepts
- Researching the Unconscious: Psychodynamic Research for Clinical Practice
(Options available may vary in some years and modules can be subject to change).
Students will also be able to take optional modules from adjacent programmes, such as MSc Criminology and MSc Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care, and adjacent programmes such as the MA Human Rights, MA Peace and Conflict Studies and the MSc Coaching and Mentoring.
Teaching and learning
This course is specifically designed to include innovative approaches to teaching and learning. There is an emphasis on student-centred learning at an advanced level where you will be encouraged to draw on your own life experiences, your practice, action research, inquiry projects, case studies, theory and research as appropriate.
The programme is taught through lectures, workshops, seminar/discussion groups and personal tutorials. There will be regular opportunities for you to discuss papers and prepare presentations, share thoughts and ideas.
The MSc award is led by Nigel Williams who is senior Lecturer in Psycho-Social Studies, a psychotherapist and supervisor.
The Centre for Psycho-Social Studies at UWE, co-founded by Professor Simon Clarke and its current director Professor Paul Hoggett, is at the forefront of this emerging paradigm and has an international reputation for its research on issues including the role of emotions in political life and ethical behaviour; the role of loss and mourning in the constitution of community; the nature of identities; the resources resilient people draw upon when facing adversity and the development of psychoanalytically informed research methodologies.
Teaching staff are drawn largely from academics and Visiting Fellows in this interdisciplinary centre and have backgrounds in sociology, politics, social policy, psychotherapy, consultancy and conflict transformation.
The Centre for Psycho-Social Studies has a thriving doctoral programme involving an international group of students and is the editorial base for several international journals and book series. Students will be encouraged to attend events and seminars organised by the centre as part of their studies.
Assessment
We use a variety of methods of assessment and each module is assessed differently. The most common types of assessment are an extended essay with a viva, a project and/or a portfolio of work. A student will be eligible for the Postgraduate Diploma on passing four taught modules. A student will be eligible for the award of MSc having achieved a pass in the dissertation in addition to having passed the taught modules.
Entry
Entry requirements
The normal minimum entry requirement is an upper second class degree in a relevant discipline although a good lower second may be eligible in some circumstances. However, other qualifications or experiences which demonstrate the candidate possesses appropriate knowledge and skills at honours degree standard may be accepted.
Fees
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarship information.
How to apply
Please apply online using the link on the right hand side of this page.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011