Occupational Health Psychology – (M.Sc.)

Course Content

You will be required to study the following core modules in semester one:

* Introduction to Occupational Health Psychology
* Introduction to Health Promotion and Psychology
* Organisations, Stress and Health
* Law and Occupational Health Psychology
* Environmental Psychology and Design
* Core research Methods

Semester two covers the core modules listed below:

* Risk Assessment for Work Stress
* Applied Research Methods
* Ergonomics, Work Design, Health and Safety
* Theories and Methods of Behavious Change Consultancy Skills Workshop

In addition, you will be able to choose one of the following optional modules:

* Training in Organisations
* Organisational Development and Change

Please note that all module details are subject to change.
Over the summer period towards the end of the course, you will have to choose one of the options listed below:

* Applied Research Project or
* Minor Dissertation in Occupational Health Psychology and
* Major Dissertation in Occupational Health Psychology

Course Structure
The MSc in Occupational Health Psychology is delivered on a full-time basis over one year or part-time over two years. The course comprises 180 credits, split across 120 credits´ worth of core and optional taught modules. The remaining 60 credits are shared between a Consultancy Skills Workshop, Research Project and/or Dissertation.

Part-time students on this course are taught alongside full-time students and the choice of modules (and therefore the timetable) is flexible and a matter for agreement between student and course director. In all cases, part-time students can access a wide range of teaching and learning facilities remotely via the student portal.
We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Psychology, which mirrors the taught component of the MSc but does not include the Consultancy Skills Workshop, Research Project or Dissertation.

You may also be interested in the MSc or Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Psychology by e-Learning, which offers a flexible, distance learning route through this course.

Modules
Organisations, Stress and HealthThe module explores the role of psychological, social and organisational factors in individual and organisational health. A major theme is the nature of work-related stress - its nature, causes and effects. The most common causes of work-related ill-health concern adverse aspects of the way jobs are organised and people are managed. The experience of stress offers one vehicle for understanding the link between those adverse working conditions and individual and organisational ill-health. The module also considers other major contemporary concerns such as absence from work and the implications of an ageing workforce. The focus of the module then shifts towards an exploration how these problems and others can be best controlled and managed. An overarching model of prevention and organisational interventions is suggested, and future challenges, both theoretical and practical identified.Environmental Psychology and DesignThis module explores some of the ways in which the physical environment influences peoples´ attitudes, behaviour and well-being. The focus of the module is upon the workplace and other organisational settings e.g. health care environments. Evidence is presented throughout the module to show that the Physical environment, whether natural or built, can influence attitudes, behaviour and well-being either directly or indirectly, i.e. in interaction with elements of the social environment. Loud noise, for example, is directly responsible for damage to the hearing system, while even low volume noise can make one feel very agitated if you are trying to sleep, or read a complex scientific paper! A range of what might be termed psycho-geographic concepts are covered in the module including personal space, privacy, window access, personalisation and `supportive design´. Consultancy SkillsThe module covers the core consultancy skills required of occupational, work and organisational, occupational health and health psychologists.It also considers ethical issues and the Code of Conduct of the British Psychological Society. Applied Research ProjectEmpirical research project in applied psychology. Law and Occupational Health PsychologyThis module is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of European and British law as it applies to psychological, social and organisational issues at work, particularly work stress and related issues. However, it also seeks to explore these aspects of the law in countries outside the European Union as represented in the countries of origin of the students taking the module. The module focuses on legislation and guidance relevant to employers' responsibilities for employee health and safety eg Health and Safety legislation, Equal Opportunities and Disability Discrimination. Recent examples of case law are presented and discussed.Introduction to Health Promotion and psychologyThis module introduces the key concepts and principles of health promotion in relation to public health, education, the voluntary sector and the workplace. Risk Assessment for Work StressThis module covers the core professional skills required of occupational and occupational health psychologists undertaking risk assessments for work stress. Students will focus on issues of work design and management. The module considers systems-level rather than individual level solutions, and is framed within current European and UK health and safety legislation. Organisational Development & ChangeSummary of content: This module provides an introduction to various approaches to understanding organisations and the environments in which they operate. Areas covered include: o Perspectives on organisational development and change o Evaluation of change o Groups, teams and team development o Organisations & organisational culture o Complexity, Whole Systems Working and Large Group Interventions o Strategic Leadership and change Minor DissertationThis module aims at expanding students´ knowledge and understanding of a specific area of occupational health psychology. It aims at the enhancement of students´ critical appraisal skills and synthesis of knowledge. It will present major theoretical issues in the field of occupational health psychology and encourage students to explore in depth different issues of debate. Major DissertationThis module aims at enhancing students´ independent thinking and evaluation of a particular field of study within occupational health psychology. It encourages students to explore the particular field and review major theoretical and research questions relating to it critically. The students have to show originality of thinking and capacity of evaluating issues relating to research and practice. Introduction to Occupational Health PsychologyThis module provides students with an introduction to occupational health psychology as a discrete discipline focusing on issues of research, career development and professional practice, and education. In doing so, it provides a learning framework for the Masters course in occupational health psychology. Time will be spent considering its implications for student learning at the postgraduate level..Ergonomics, work design, health and safetyThe module discusses several contemporary issues in ergonomics, safety and health, including accidents and musculo-skeletal disorders. In addtion this module will explore issues in Human Factors, such as the perceptual, cognitive and actions involved in dealing with equipment within varying organisational contextsTraining In OrganisationsThe module focuses on theories of learning and the application of these to training development and design in organisations. The module also considers training needs analysis, training transfer and evaluation of training. Using case studies and organisational scenarios students will develop practical skills in the development and delivery of training programmes. This module will be assessed by an examination and coursework - students will be required to pass each element.Theories and Methods of Behaviour ChangeThis module builds an appreciation of a) the planning and design of health interventions; b) the evaluation of health-related outcomes and c) theories and methods of individual and population behaviour chanage. Core Research MethodsThis module discusses the nature and philosophy of psychology as a social science. Students will be introduced to basic issues relating to the nature, philosophy and strategies of social science, to related issues of research methods and ethics. The module will consider the practical and social psychological issues involved in conducting research in field situations (eg obtaining participants, sampling, keeping records)Applied Research Methods