Learning objectives
The aim of the Master psychology
The following is intended with the Master's programme:
- to provide specialised knowledge, skills and insight in the area of Psychology, and achieve the final qualifications stated in the second paragraph;
- to prepare students for the professional field as academic professional and further research training programmes in psychology in general and, specifically, in the field of Applied Cognitive Psychology, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology or Social, Health and Organisational Psychology.
Exit qualifications
The aims of this Master's programme translate into the following exit qualifications:
Knowledge and understanding
The Master Psychology provides graduates with knowledge and understanding of:
- recent developments and the current state of affairs of scientific knowledge in the area of Psychology;
- the professional field(s) and problem context in which scientific knowledge of Psychology is applied;
- assessments and psychodiagnostics that are used in the professional field and the theories underlying these assessments;
- intervention strategies that are used in the professional field and the theories underlying these strategies;
- customary methods of scientific research in the area of Psychology.
Application of knowledge and understanding
Graduates of the Psychology Master are able to:
- demonstrate an advanced understanding of the applications of psychological knowledge within the field of Applied Cognitive Psychology, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology or Social, Health and Organisational Psychology;
- use scientific knowledge in the area of Applied Cognitive Psychology, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology or Social, Health and Organisational Psychology;
- adequately analyse psychological issues in the relevant field of study;
- implement assessments and psychodiagnostics in the relevant professional area at a basic level;
- implement and evaluate intervention strategies used in the professional field at a basic level;
- set up, implement and report on scientific research in the relevant area.
Opinion forming
Graduates of the Psychology Master are able to:
- consider, in a critically reflective way, the consequences and ethical aspects of their own professional actions with respect to people in general and patients, clients and research participants as well as their direct environment in particular;
- keep in mind the ethical aspects of application in Psychology, including research;
- demonstrate understanding of the awareness of limited knowledge and skills, and act accordingly;
- take a critical view of psychological knowledge and practice, particularly in view of scientific standards for argumentation and proof.
Communication
Graduates of the Psychology Master are able to:
- approach people in general and patients, clients and/or research participants and colleagues in particular, establish a working relationship and hold themselves accountable to them for their professional actions and conclusions;
- transfer professional knowledge to colleagues and people outside the field, particularly related to topics in the chosen professional field;
- report both in verbal and written form on empirical research.
Learning skills
Graduates of the Master Psychology are able to:
- learn from scientific literature, from oral transfer of knowledge and expertise, and from feedback on their own academic and professional activities;
- learn at a self-directed and autonomous level.
The following is intended with the programme:
- Enable graduates to gain (specialised) psychological knowledge of problems in the area of mental health, to gain basic psychotherapeutic knowledge and skills, to gain training in the area of psychodiagnostics, and to explore behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy. This programme devotes special attention to the consequences of and interventions for anxiety disorders, depression, and conditions following major life events (trauma and grief). The programme strongly emphasises the acquisition of both the professional skills relevant to the practice of the profession in a practical setting and the academic skills needed to understand, develop and apply scientific insights. Therefore, a practical internship and empirical research form major parts of the Master’s programme.
- Prepare graduates for a position as a care professional, researcher or intervention/policy developer at an academic level.
- Enable students to fulfil the requirements of the NIP registration in psychodiagnostics (depending on the internship position chosen and assuming they have fulfilled the necessary requirements during the Bachelor’s phase, and following approval of the relevant report).
- Enable students to enter various Dutch post-Master programmes (Health Care Psychologist programme, Psychotherapist programme, or programmes leading to membership in specialised psychotherapy associations) or international post-Master programmes (depending on accreditation by the national association of psychologists of the particular country), assuming they have fulfilled the necessary requirements during the Bachelor’s phase.