University of Leicester Online Masters in Occupational Psychology
The BPS accredited Masters in Occupational Psychology is a Distance Learning degree that equips students with an excellent level of understanding on a broad range of Occupational Psychology topics. The course teaches the strength and limitations of research based evidence, an appreciation of Psychology theory and how to use research to help employees and the organisation. It is also stage one of a full BPS Qualification.
Learn how to apply Occupational Psychology skills and methodologies to solve real-life workplace issues. Core psychological theories are expanded about using contemporary research and practices. Develop a range of applied skills including questionnaire design, interviewing and evaluation.
A 2 day optional Course Conference is held at the University of Leicester annually, consisting of study skills sessions and workshops. The Conference provides the opportunity to learn from both academics and practitioners on areas related to occupational psychology.
As part of the Masters in Occupational Psychology, students can undertake the optional psychometric test training courses. (At an additional cost)
Accreditations:
- Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and Association for Business Psychology (ABP)
Students will learn to use acquired knowledge to solve real-life problems in organisations through the application of occupational psychology methodologies.
This master degree program will not only illustrate core psychological theories but also present the latest findings and examples from research & practice.
The programme utilises an online learning platform enabling the student to learn in a highly interactive learning environment while accessing the learning material 24/7.
You also have the option to attend a three-day residential Course Conference in April at the University where you can attend workshops and study skills sessions.
In addition to providing support for your studies, the conference gives you the opportunity to hear esteemed speakers, both academic and practitioner, on areas of occupational psychology. It is also a great opportunity to meet academics and other students.
Career Path
Our graduates tell us that graduating from the MSc in Occupational Psychology enabled them to swiftly move into senior and directorial levels such as CTO “Chief Talent Officer”, Senior HR Consultant, HR Director, Talent Manager as well as senior positions on boards of directors.
Progression
- In addition to the ability to pursue Doctoral studies , this MSc is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society and enabling you to go on to stage 2 to become a Chartered Occupational Psychologist.
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Entry Requirements
A Second class honours degree in Psychology that confers Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and also must have some occupational experience
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
The University of Leicester English Language Test which takes only 90 minutes and is available on demand.
Learning, Training and Development
In this module you will explore psychological approaches to learning, training and development in the workplace, focusing on learning theories, skill acquisition and the organisational and social factors in training and development. We will look at the importance of the training cycle, from needs analysis through design, implementation, transfer to evaluation. We will also consider how training can be organised to bring about effective learning, and look at psychological research on the role of different training media. We will also discuss employability, trainability and theories of occupational choice and career development.
Psychological Assessment at Work
In this module you will study how psychological research has influenced the practice of psychological assessment in the workplace. We will look in detail at reliability, validity, performance criteria and utility. We will also cover job analysis, including competence and competency profiling in relation to pre-selection through to its use in development and change activities.
We will review assessment methods including interview, assessment centres and situational judgement tests – considering their strengths and weaknesses together with the role of psychometrics. We will also explore the measurement and evaluation of work performance, choosing assessment methods, and considering bias and equality.
Work Design, Organisational Change and Development
In this module you will learn how an understanding of human physical and psychological capabilities should be used in the design of jobs and work environments. We will also consider the influence of physical capabilities and social systems on safety, risk management and error prevention. We will cover traditional psychological approaches in the study of organisational culture, change and communication processes as well as globalisation and international aspects of the business environment. You will also study consumer and economic psychology as complementary disciplines relevant to all aspects of work design and organisational change and development.
Leadership, Engagement and Motivation
In this module you will study how psychology can contribute to the understanding of motivation and engagement at work. We will focuses on theories of motivation, and consider the psychological contract and the role of organisational citizenship. We will look in particular at leadership and the way power and influence operate in organisations at a psychological level. We will also examine the psychology of groups and teamwork and consider how counterproductive work behaviours affect these organisational systems.
Research Methods
This module will introduce you to a variety of research and data analysis methods and techniques that can be used when conducting psychological research, and to their underlying principles.We will explore issues such as research validity and reliability, considering how these issues can be assessed and the inherent trade-offs between different methodologies. We will also discuss ethics in occupational research, and will look at ‘big data sets’ and evaluation strategies in practical organisational problems.
Application of Occupational Psychology
In this module you will study the application of occupational psychology to individual employees and organisations. We will focus on evidence-based practice and helping you to become a scientist practitioner. We will consider the practice of ethics within this discipline and discuss concepts of project management and the consultancy cycle. You will learn about interview techniques, report writing, presentations, focus groups and giving feedback. This will all be centred around understanding, analysing and responding to client needs.
Wellbeing at Work
In this module you will explore aspects of diversity, work-life balance and stress at work. We will consider the influence of changing employment trends on patterns of employment (and the associated topics of unemployment and under-employment). We will discuss the role of positive psychology, as well as occupational health psychology, resilience and emotion in the workplace.
