Why study Health Psychology at the University of Westminster?

• The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (since 1999) and was one of the first to be established in 1995.
• Completion of the course confers Stage 1 qualification which is a prerequisite for further training (Stage 2) to register with the Health Professions Council as a Health Psychologist.
• The course includes an innovative portfolio of assessments, consistently praised by the external examiner, that are geared to transferable skills and relate directly to the world of work. Several of our students have published their research projects in peer- reviewed journals.
• The course has been commended for its enthusiastic and supportive team of staff.
• The research-active staff provide expertise across a broad spectrum of health psychology, ranging from the social to the biological – the strong links between teaching and research within the course has been commended by external reviewers.
• The Department of Psychology is based in the heart of London, at the University flagship building at 309 Regent Street, nr Oxford Circus.

Course Aims

• Provide students with a strong foundation in health psychology for work in the public and/or private sector.
• Provide students with a strong foundation in health psychology for work in the public and/or private sector.
• Cultivate the skills necessary to communicate research findings effectively and succinctly.
• Provide students with an understanding of the social, cultural and economic contexts of health psychology research.
• Offer the opportunity to understand a range of self-help, treatment and rehabilitation approaches derived from psychology intervention programmes.
• Provide a forum within which the methods of health psychology can be evaluated, assessed and debated in regard to their value, degree of scientific validity and the credibility of their guiding principles.
• Provide the opportunity for participants to expand and develop their own experience of health and illness (work and personal) through critical analysis, research and collaborating understanding.

Course content

This course provides an in-depth understanding of the theoretical and applied bases of health, illness and disease. The principal consideration is the facilitation of intellectual growth and the development of the theoretical and methodological skills essential for conducting independent research and applying health psychology in practice. The course provides a coherent programme of study covering the content, methods and application of health psychology as defined by the core Stage 1 curriculum of the British Psychological Society, Division of Health Psychology. In particular, it emphasises the importance of an evidence-based approach to health psychology and develops the core skills necessary for Stage 2 training. Although all modules are core, there is considerable flexibility within the module structure for you to choose particular areas of study of interest.

Modules

Basic Issues in Health Psychology

This introductory module explores a broad range of topics in health psychology within a multidisciplinary framework. It considers the social and cultural context of health and illness, the importance of social cognition models in health care, and issues around communication and health care decisions. It emphasizes theoretical and methodological issues in health psychology research and application and describes the historical context within which it has been developed. It encourages the critical evaluation of research and methodology in health psychology.

Health and the Lifespan

This module takes a developmental approach to understanding relationships between biological and social factors that influence health and disease through the lifespan. It  emphasises the dynamics of change rather than a ‘stage’ approach. Using this approach a number of key topics will be examined including children’s health and the family context, normative transitions and life events, vulnerability and resilience. Age-related and gender issues are explored.

Data Handling and Research Methods

Lectures, seminars and practical classes address the theoretical and practical issues involved in acquiring and analysing quantitative and qualitative data for health psychology research. The main topics covered are as follows: experimental designs: hypotheses, models and theories, Anova/Manova, multiple regression,  an introduction to discriminant, factor and cluster analysis, survey design and sampling, power analysis, epidemiological statistics, and questionnaire design. From a qualitative perspective, we explore: interview techniques & interviewer effects, qualitative analysis including content analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis and grounded theory.

Specialist Topics in Health Psychology

This module focuses on the appropriate methods and theoretical knowledge that will allow students to critically re-evaluate, review and propose future research in specialist topics in health psychology. A defining feature of the module is that students chose 2 specialist areas of health psychology to study – one in the form of a critical review article and the other in the form of a grant application to be presented at an end of module conference. Inter professional working relations and national and international perspectives on health psychology are also considered as are methodological and design issues in research including ethics.

Individual Differences, Health, Stress and Illness

This module aims to provide students with an appreciation of the role of individual differences (including social and cultural factors) in health and illness. It will introduce students to the biological mechanisms by which stress can impact on physical and psychological health (psychoneuroimmunology) and how stress and well-being can be measured to enable evaluation of stress-management interventions. It will also consider the physiological and psychological correlates of acute and chronic pain; theories, perception and management in chronic illness and the meaning and mechanism of action of the placebo effect.

Health Psychology in Practice

A range of issues relating to health psychology practice including client related issues, intervention issues, professional development in Health Psychology and ethical considerations. Contributions from practising Health Psychologists will be invited. Teaching and learning takes place in interactive group sessions in which issues relating to current health psychology practice is discussed. Sessions will involve a range of teaching and learning methods which will give the experience of participation whilst also modelling good practice for running sessions as trainers/leaders. Practical sessions will allow the experience of ‘putting theory into practice’.

Research Based Project

This module is designed to enable the student to realise his/her training in the context of a particular research problem, aspect of methodology or policy. The area of work should bring together a students own occupational experience or preference with the substantive material covered during the taught components of the course. Projects are intended to allow students maximum flexibility to select an appropriate area of application and to investigate and assess potential research sources and their relevance to the existing field of knowledge.

Course Structure

 

Course length:

1 year full-time; 2 years part-time.

Attendance:

Full-time students attend Tues and Wed, 10 am-5 pm; part-time students attend Tues 10 am-5 pm in the first year of study, Wed 10 am-5 pm in the second year of study. 

Course dates:

Induction and enrollment is on the Tues 20th Sept 10 am-5 pm. Teaching starts in the week beginning Monday 26 September 2011.

Associated careers

The course is a prerequisite for those wishing to pursue Stage 2 training leading to Registration with the HPC as a Health Psychologist. However, it also serves as a precursor to those wishing to pursue a PhD in psychology, and other areas of applied psychology such as clinical or counseling. It may also serve as professional development for those working within the healthcare sector. The majority of our graduates work in the health related professions.

Fees and Entry Requirements

Normally you should have a good Honours degree that confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership  (GBC) of the British Psychological Society.  However, we will consider candidates without GBC with some evidence of interest in the discipline. This can be demonstrated by your choice of undergraduate modules, undergraduate project area or work experience within health psychology or a related field. You may be invited for an informal interview and asked to provide a sample of academic work. You will need fluent written and spoken English to study at postgraduate level. If your first language is not English, an attainment of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent must be demonstrated. The University offers pre-sessional summer programmes if you need to improve your English before starting your course.

Fees

Home & EU: Full-time £4220; Part-time 2,115
Overseas: Full-time £10,785; Part-time 5,395

Some scholarships and bursaries are available: http://www.westminster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding

Open Days

Please check the University webpages for the next postgraduate open day.

How to Apply

Initial deadline: 31st May 2011.

Find out more information on how to apply here

Further information

Course Leader
Professor Tony Towell
T: +44 (0) 207 911 5000 x 2173
E: towella@westminster.ac.uk

Admissions Tutor/Deputy Course Leader
Dr Tina Cartwright
T: +44 (0) 207 911 5000 x 2093
E: cartwrt@westminster.ac.uk