Programme summary for MSc Applied Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology is a scientific study of optimal human functioning and flourishing. Many branches of Psychology focus on the ‘disease model’ and concentrate on treating individuals who are undergoing difficult situations. Positive psychology, on the other hand, focuses on factors that enable individuals and communities to thrive and build the best in life.

UEL is proud to offer the UK’s first postgraduate degree in Applied Positive Psychology, enabling students to become actively involved in this exciting new area and to shape its future development. Aimed at psychologists, business, health and education professionals, executive and life coaches, local government and charity workers and graduates from related disciplines.

About the programme

Positive psychology is the scientific study of optimal human functioning and flourishing. Instead of drawing on a ‘disease model’, it focuses on factors that enable individuals and communities to thrive. Areas of research and application include wellbeing and its determinants: positive emotions; resilience; creativity; optimism; character strengths; and positive institutions. Taught by the pioneers of positive psychology in Europe, the programme particularly emphasises skills development, including facilitation, intervention and research skills.

Programme structure

The programme offers both full-time and part-time modes of study. Following the September start, the programme is offered over Semesters A, B and Summer. It follows an executive education model, in which teaching takes place through intensive learning days approximately once a month. In the first year in Semester A, Semester B and Summer part-time students take the following modules: Foundations of Positive Psychology (double) and Research Methods & Dissertation 1. During this year students are expected to attend 18 learning days, six per each module, delivered over weekends (various combination of Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays). A double Advanced Positive Psychology: Theory and Practice module and Research Methods & Dissertation 2 take place in the second year. In this year students will be expected to attend face-to-face teaching over 14 learning days and spend the summer or their last semester working on the dissertation.

It should be noted that these learning days include the dissertation support seminars held during the last semester of the two-year period to ensure that students are appropriately supported, in addition to individual supervisions and peer study groups.

If students decide to follow a full-time mode of study, during Semester A students take the following two modules: Foundations of Positive Psychology (part 1) and Advanced Positive Psychology: Theory and Practice (part 1). During Semester B students take Foundations of Positive Psychology (part 2) and Advanced Positive Psychology: Theory and Practice (part 2). Research Methods & Dissertation 1 and 2 are completed during the summer.

The programme offers two intermediate awards. A Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology is awarded following successful completion of 60 credits (Foundations of Positive Psychology). A Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology is awarded for achieving 120 credits for the following two double modules: Foundations of Positive Psychology and Advanced Positive Psychology: Theory and Practice.

Career opportunities

Graduates are likely to develop careers in organisational or business consultancies through their knowledge of tools for transforming business, institutions or practice. Business executives, human resource personnel and managers are likely to enhance their career prospects, whilst life coaching is another possible career pathway for graduates.

The MSc is valuable for qualified clinical psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, nurses and doctors who intend to use positive psychology theory, research and applications in their clinical work. Qualified teachers can use positive psychology expertise to inform their teaching practice. Importantly, a number of graduates are likely to develop specialisation in positive psychology within a research career, and can use the programme as a stepping stone towards a doctorate.

Support

1. On the first day you will take part in a relevant and comprehensive Induction Programme to help you settle in.

2. Students are offered personal tutor support to address learning queries and discuss any issues affecting progress.

3. The programme operates a genuine open door policy, which means that members of staff, including module tutors, programme leader and dissertation supervisor are accessible to students and can be contacted through WebCT and email.

4. There are substantial learning, library and research resources accessible on and off campus, including positive psychology books and journals (e.g. Journal of Positive Psychology and Journal of Happiness Studies).

5. Lectures and seminars are accompanied by comprehensive lecture notes, handouts and on-line materials, accessible from your home or work place.

6. The campus provides computer and experimental labs.

7. You will receive training in appropriate research methods, enabling you to develop your research skills and apply these to positive psychology.

8. You will have a dedicated dissertation supervisor who is familiar with the topic area and is there to guide and support you during the specialist research stage.

9. Specialist support (e.g. financial advice, careers advice, counselling and learning support) is available from central University Services. The University also has disability and dyslexia advisors.

Admission

An undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in psychology, sociology, health and social welfare, counselling, education studies, human resources, business or social enterprise studies or other related disciplines with a minimum 2.2 classification (or equivalent).
A written application outlining academic and professional background, career objectives and reasons for choosing the MAPP Programme at UEL. Students whose academic background is outside of the above mentioned disciplines should explain how their professional or life experience has prepared them for studying positive psychology. The application should not be more than 2, 000 words in lengths.
Two supporting references, one of which is preferably academic.
In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes
Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.