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MSc - Psychology: Interpersonal Violence and Abuse

This programme offers a stimulating and challenging environment where you can build on your existing learning experiences to advance your academic and professional development in Psychology.

You will gain specialised knowledge and a critical awareness of issues at the forefront of interpersonal violence and abuse studies. Teaching is done through a variety of blended learning and campus-based activities explicitly designed to meet the needs of learners working in a range of contexts.

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Course Overview

If you have a background in psychology, sociology or criminology, our MSc course will allow you to gain deeper insight into the effects of being abusive or being abused.

You'll develop comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a broad range of topics pertinent to interpersonal violence and abuse. You'll examine the impact of abuse in different international, cultural and social contexts, and you'll have the chance to examine practice and research from theoretical perspectives.

On this course you will...

  • Be able to explore and apply psychological literature to current issues, contexts and experiences around interpersonal violence and abuse.
  • Recieve high quality support and guidance by our lecturing team who are active in their research and practice.
  • Learn valuable transferrable skills in PG research, which are highly sought after by employers.
  • Have the opportunity to choose topics and areas that you want to learn more about to tailor your learning experience.
  • Have the opportunity to shape your MSc experience to your own interests and career goals, allowing our team to help you to reach your ideal future career.
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Course Structure

What you will learn

The Psychology: Interpersonal Violence and Abuse course provides a set of modules that will enhance specialist subject knowledge and key skills for working in research and practice, all delivered by subject specialists. It is designed to build on your existing learning experiences and offers flexible learning opportunities to improve your career prospects.

The MSc Psychology: Interpersonal Violence and Abuse is designed to build on existing learning experiences and offers flexible learning opportunities that will enhance the academic and professional knowledge and skills of learners with a view to improving career prospects. It recognises the status of the student as an expert in identifying what they want or need to study. All MSc Psychology: Interpersonal Violence and Abuse learners will be required to have undertaken the following core modules: Research Skills and Methods (20 credits), Professional Values and Ethics (20 credits) Negotiated Learning (20 credits), and a Dissertation (60 credits). You will also be required to complete three compulsory modules: Interpersonal Violence and Abuse (20 credits), Psychology of Violent Behaviour (20 credits) and Critical Perspectives in Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults (20 credits).

Modules
  • Research Skills and Methods
    Introduction to a range of qualitative and quantitative methodology. You will be trained in the methods required to design and execute an empirical study, ways to keep the methodology scientific and other research design issues.
  • Critical perspectives in safeguarding vulnerable adults
    Develop an awareness and critical viewpoint about the issues underpinning the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, including the need for formal procedures to supply the appropriate support.
  • Psychology of Violent Behaviour
    Develop a comprehensive and detailed knowledge and understanding of the psychology of interpersonal violence and other violent behaviour.
  • Professional Values and Ethics
    Engage in a series of critical debates; providing you with a knowledge and understanding of a number of ethical and practice issues that you may face within the workplace.
  • Interpersonal Violence and Abuse
    Learn to distinguish between differing forms of interpersonal violence, to critically assess theories of violence produced within Cultural Studies, Criminology, Political Science, Philosophy, and Psychology, and to help improve our understanding of the impact of violence and abuse.
  • Negotiated learning
    Undertake an independent piece of work to develop your specialist knowledge and expertise in an area that is pertinent to your chosen pathway.
  • Dissertation
    An independent project that provides the opportunity to demonstrate your competence in critically reviewing, synthesising and drawing conclusions from the literature and research.

Attend an Open Day at Cumbria

An Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.

Take the next step towards achieving your dreams.
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