Child and Adolescent Mental Health - MSc

Program Overview

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc program provides a comprehensive study of mental health and educational issues in children and adolescents. It covers theoretical and practical aspects, equipping graduates for careers in mental health, education, and related fields. The program emphasizes resilience, mindfulness, and clinical skills, and utilizes open science principles. Graduates are prepared for diverse career paths, including clinical psychology, social work, and teaching.

Program Outline

Child and Adolescent Mental Health - MSc

Degree Overview:

This MSc program offers a comprehensive and in-depth study of the mental health and educational issues of children and adolescents. It delves into theoretical and practical issues concerning the major factors influencing pediatric mental health from various perspectives. Upon completion, graduates will be equipped to pursue or advance careers in mental health, education, or other related fields.

Outline:

Year 1 Modules (Autumn Semester):

• Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology: This module explores core theories and models of social and cognitive development in children and adolescents.
It covers key topics like attachment, language development, gender identity, and fantasy-reality distinctions. You'll learn to critically analyze research methods and examine the universality of developmental processes.
• Psychopathology: This module introduces core aspects of psychopathology and clinical practice, exploring mental health conditions and neuropsychological disorders from biological, social, and behavioral perspectives.
• Resilience and Mindfulness: This module investigates the role of resilience and mindfulness in healthcare practices, emphasizing the integration of these approaches for client and practitioner well-being.
• Introduction to Skills-Based Practice: Equips you with academic and professional skills for conducting scientific research at postgraduate level.
You'll develop key skills in written and oral communication, numeracy, data management, reflective practice, ethical research, and open science principles.
• Research Project: This module guides you through the entire research project process, from planning and execution to writing up.
You'll work with a supervisor and gain crucial skills in independent study, critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, and scientific writing.

Year 1 Modules (Spring Semester):

• Clinical Skills for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioners: Develop key skills for working in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) including clinical skills, therapeutic skills, and intervention design.
You'll examine inter-professional perspectives on child and adolescent mental health and learn to evaluate key theories and research evidence for diagnosis, treatment, and intervention.
• Research Design and Analysis for Psychology: Provides a broad introduction to various methods of psychological investigation.
The module will hone your ability to integrate and evaluate various research lines and reflect on their ethical implications.

Assessment:

The course utilizes a diverse range of assessment methods to evaluate your academic development and knowledge, including:

• Essays
• Case studies
• Oral presentations
• Critical and systematic reviews
• Qualitative and quantitative research reports

Teaching:

The program is delivered by experienced practitioners, researchers, and scholars in the field of child psychology and mental health. The teaching methods are designed to enhance your training and prepare you for different career paths in the field. You'll benefit from:

• Interactive lectures and seminars
• Practical workshops and exercises
• Individual and group tutorials
• Research supervision guidance

Careers:

Upon completion of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc, graduates are equipped to pursue diverse career paths including:

• Clinical and educational psychologists
• Social workers
• Mental health practitioners
• Teachers and educators
• Researchers and academics

Other:

• The course utilizes open science principles, encouraging open access to research findings and data.
• Students with extensive relevant experience and education may be considered for accelerated study.
• Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) allows you to gain credit for relevant qualifications obtained prior to starting the course.