Programme Specification for Business Psychology MSc
|
Final award |
MSc |
|
Intermediate awards available |
Post Graduate Diploma |
|
UCAS code |
N/A |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
|
Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
N/A |
|
Date specification last up-dated |
November 2012 |
Profile
The summary - programme advertising leaflet
Programme content
The MSc is designed to provide the foundation for students wishing to become practising business psychologists. The programme covers the following areas of knowledge, organised into 4 modules:
- human-machine interaction/design of the environment and of work
- selection and assessment/training and development
- performance appraisal and career development/counselling and individual development
- employee relations and motivation/organisational behaviour and organisational development
In addition, it includes 2 further modules to develop students' awareness of professional issues and research skills:
- research methods and statistics/dissertation part one
- professional practice/dissertation part two
The MSc Business Psychology at UEL
This MSc differs from others in the following ways:
- open to non-psychologists
- additional modules in research and professional practice
- taught by full-time staff who are all chartered occupational psychologists
- taught by consultancy and research active staff
- significant contribution from practising occupational and business psychologists
- emphasis on underpinning theory as a means to develop practical skills of business psychology
- real world teaching and assessment
- live organisational consultancy assignments to carry out
Admission requirements
Minimum 2:2 Honours in any degree. Work experience is an advantage but not essential.
In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then 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.
Programme structure
The full-time route is of one year's duration, taught over one day each week, with six additional specialist workshops throughout the year. The part-time route takes two years and is taught over one afternoon each week, with six additional workshops across the two years. Entry points are in September & February each year.
Learning environment
Mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, guest speakers, organisational visits
Assessment
Modules 1, 2, 3 & 4 (which cover the BPS 8 areas of knowledge) consist of two individual examinations and one piece of coursework, which is a combination of a group report and an individual reflective account. Module 5 comprises an individual examination and the successful completion of the introduction section of the dissertation. Module 6 comprises the preparation of a journal ready article and press release, together with a reflection on handling an interview with a journalist, and the successful completion of the methodology, results and discussion sections of the dissertation. All modules must be passed to attain the MSc Business Psychology. Passing all modules but failing the dissertation leads to award of Postgraduate Diploma in Business Psychology.
Relevance to work/profession
All teaching and assessment reflects the work of the professional business psychologist. All coursework is set within real organizations. Dissertations must be work-based. The Professional Practice module requires students to write a press release and journal-ready article, and handle an interview with a journalist.
Thesis/Dissertation/project work
Dissertations are devised by the student, negotiated with the tutor, and carried out within the student’s own organisation. Occasionally students are unable to use their own organisations (too small, subject too sensitive etc): in these cases we use our network of contacts outside.
Added value
Offers significant professional knowledge, skills and experience.
How we support you
Contact with all tutors at any time Monday to Friday office hours. Module Tutors, Programme Tutor and Dissertation Supervisors each have specific responsibilities. A genuine open door policy.
Bonus factors
Level A and Level B Certificates in Occupational Testing are offered to course members. The costs of additional delivery needed will be dispersed to those course members who elect to undertake this extra training.
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Aim one: gain a thorough understanding of the discipline of business psychology
- Aim two: develop awareness and competence in practical and professional practice
- Aim three: gain a thorough knowledge of research methods and data analysis
- Aim four: develop a critical and reflective approach
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- A thorough and contemporary knowledge of the discipline of business psychology
- A thorough and contemporary knowledge of research methodologies as applied to real world environments
- A knowledge of and exposure to real organisations with real issues to address
Thinking skills
- Developing a critical approach to the evaluation of theories, models etc applied to the world of work
- Seeking evidence based research to support/refute some of the more fanciful claims of certain commentators on the workplace
- Developing confidence in the use of a range of research methodologies
Subject-Based Practical skills
- Designing and evaluating a training intervention
- Undertaking a counselling-based appraisal interview
- Carrying out an ergonomic analysis of a safety critical system
- Investigating a morale/motivation issue in the workplace
- Qualifying in the use of ability and personality tests
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- Becoming a more ethical practitioner
- Becoming a more effective team worker
- Becoming more effective in negotiating around sensitive and difficult organisational issues
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 180 M Level Credits.
Typical duration
The typical duration of this programme is 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. The maximum registration period for this programme is 6 years.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year is divided into two semesters of roughly equal length, with guided dissertation work occupying the summer semester. A typical full-time student will study two modules per semester. A typical part-time student will study one module per semester.
What you will study when
| Level | UEL Module Code | Module Title | Credit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
M |
PYM401 |
Employee Relations and Motivation/ Organisational Behaviour and Organisational Development |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
PYM402 |
Selection & Assessment/Training & Development |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
PYM404 |
Appraisal & Career Development/ Counselling and Individual Development |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
PYM405 |
Design of the Work Environment/Human Machine Interaction |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
PYM403 |
Dissertation Part 1 |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
PYM406 |
Dissertation Part 2 |
30 |
Core |
Requirements for gaining an award
- In order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits at Level M.
- In order to gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level M.
- In order to obtain a Masters degree, you will need to obtain 180 credits at Level M. These credits will include a 60 credit level M core module of advanced independent research.
Masters Award Classification
Where a student is eligible for an Masters award then the award classification is determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of all marks and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification
|
70% - 100% |
Distinction |
|
60% - 69% |
Merit |
|
50% - 59% |
Pass |
|
0% - 49% |
Not Passed |
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge is developed through
- Weekly teaching sessions
- Independent reading and literature reviews
- Discussion and collaboration in study groups
- Specialist workshops
- Organisational visits
- External expert speakers
Thinking skills are developed through
- Reflecting on the research literature
- Reflecting on own organisational experience
- The process of conducting desk research for coursework and dissertation
- The process of conducting live research and interventions for coursework and dissertation
Practical skills are developed through
- Independent study and practice
- Practical tasks and presentations
- Supervision tutorials
- The practical inteventions required in all coursework
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
- All of the above
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by
- Carefully constructed coursework, each piece requiring theoretical knowledge, practical application and critical self-reflection.
- Carefully constructed examinations, each reflecting a proper mix of real-life scenarios and the application of theory to practice
- An extensive research dissertation requiring multiple skills of consultancy, research, technical knowledge, critical analysis and effective writing skills.
Thinking skills are assessed by
- Critical self reflections on experiences gained during coursework assignments
- Examinations which test critical and analytical powers, and the ability to integrate information from across the curriculum
Practical skills are assessed by
- The practical element of all assignments, which requires student groups to undertake an intervention within an organisation, such as designing and running a training programme
- The research dissertation, which requires students to identify a real organisational or employment issue, to negotiate a contract with the client, and to gain access to staff within the organisation
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
- All of the above
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before the programme started, the following was checked:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.
Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module Evaluations
- Student/Staff Consultative Committee (meeting twice a year)
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- circulating the minutes of the programme committee
- providing details on the programme noticeboard
- informal discussion
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Questionnaires to former students
- Questionnaires to existing practitioners
- Questionnaires to employers of current students
- Questionnaires to those employers who participate in the Professional Practice Module
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
| Location | Which elements? | Taught by UEL staff | Taught by local staff | Method of Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AKMI Metropolitan College, Athens Thessaloniki, Greece |
Entire Programme in Greek Language (English Language IELTS do not apply) |
No |
Yes |
Full and Part time |
Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site
- The student handbook
- Programme study guides
- UEL Manual of Regulations and Policies http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- UEL Quality Manual http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/manual
- Regulations for the Academic Framework http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework/
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
