Study structure

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How is the course structured?

The Master's degree course in Psychology in accordance with the Examination Regulations (PO) 2020 has a modular structure and consists of 12 modules.

It is a research-oriented degree program that combines content from specific aspects of the classic basic and applied subjects of psychology. In contrast to the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy degree program, the Master's degree program in Psychology is not primarily aimed at students who are aiming for a career in psychotherapy. Rather, it enables students to acquire current knowledge from a wide range of psychological sub-disciplines and qualifies them for activities in various professional fields of psychology, especially beyond psychotherapy. An eight-week work placement is designed to deepen knowledge in practical application.

Study plan

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General

A degree program consists of modules that are defined in the examination regulations and described in more detail in the module handbook. In terms of content and time, it makes sense to study these modules in a certain order. There is a sample study plan for each degree program, which shows you an ideal course of study. If you study in this way, you can complete your studies within the standard period of study. This is not always possible, so there may be individual deviations from the suggested course. When planning, you should bear in mind that not every module is offered in the winter and summer semesters and that some modules build on each other or have other participation requirements. The Student Advisory Service will help you to plan your studies individually.

Each of the modules is associated with a certain workload. 1 credit point corresponds to a workloadof approx. 30 hours. The entire Master's program comprises 120 credit points (ECTS).
Active participation in the courses as (ungraded) coursework is just as relevant for passing the module as the (graded) examinations. Ungraded coursework is e.g: Preparation of protocols, presentations, posters, seminar designs. Examination achievements are usually taken in the form of written examinations, term papers or oral examinations.

 

The individual PO2020 modules at a glance

The Master's degree program in Psychology is divided into compulsory modules and compulsory elective modules and also includes a practical module (internship) and the Master's degree module (Master's thesis). The five compulsory modules are briefly described below. This is followed by the compulsory elective modules.

Module 1 Research Methods (10 ECTS)

This module comprises a lecture (Multivariate Statistics and Data Analysis) with a corresponding tutorial, in which multivariate methods are examined in depth. The course also includes a seminar (evaluation and intervention research). Overall, students learn how to form, collect, evaluate, interpret and summarize certain questions appropriately.

Module 2 Psychological Diagnostics (10 ECTS)

This module comprises a lecture (psychological diagnostics) and an accompanying seminar (in-depth seminar on diagnostics). The handling of psychodiagnostic procedures is deepened in terms of systematic development, evaluation and applicability. In addition, students learn how to prepare expert reports according to the latest scientific standards in a further seminar (Preparation of expert reports).

Module 3 Clinical Psychology (5 ECTS)

This module comprises two lectures (Clinical Psychology I & Clinical Psychology II). Mental disorders and mental aspects of physical illnesses are taught, from causes and differences to diagnostics and treatment based on important research findings.

Module 4 Science Communication (5 ECTS)

This module consists of a seminar (science communication), participation in 9 research colloquia and an ungraded examination in the form of a scientific presentation. By dealing with various forms of science communication, students learn how to use and present research results appropriately to convey information.

You can find out more about the courses on offer and how to register here: https: //www.uni-kassel.de/uni/studium/psychologie-master/im-studium/wissenschaftskommunikation

Module 5 Supplementary subject (8 ECTS)

Students can complete this module in one of the following areas: Sociology, Political Science, Philosophy, Biology, Economics, Art Science, Cognitive Science Linguistics, Sports Science. You will learn to reflect on and use interdisciplinary models, methods and processes to gain knowledge.

You can find out more about the courses on offer and how to enrol here: https://www.uni-kassel.de/uni/studium/psychologie-master/im-studium/ergaenzungsfach

You can choose four out of five compulsory elective modules to focus your course of study (a total of 40 ECTS credits required). Each compulsory elective module consists of one examination and two course achievements. Registration for the examination is considered a binding choice of specialization that cannot be revised!

Module 6 Advanced Research Methods and Statistical Computing (10 ECTS)

Students will learn to select, apply and evaluate suitable multivariate procedures according to current statistical methods and to interpret, document and present the results accordingly.

Lecture: Research methods and statistical modeling

Seminar I: Advanced data analysis

Seminar II: Advanced statistical modeling

Cognition, Education and Development (10 ECTS)

In the three areas (KBE), students learn to work independently on topics in a theoretical, empirical or application-oriented manner, to carry out empirical studies and hypothesis-generating practical surveys and to critically evaluate methods, as well as to develop, design and evaluate psychological training and teaching materials.

Lecture: Cognition, education and development

Seminar I: In-depth seminar on cognition, education and development (I) - freely selectable from one of the three thematic areas

Seminar II: In-depth seminar on cognition, education and development (II) - freely selectable from one of the three thematic areas

Module 8 Legal Psychology (10 ECTS)

On the basis of legal psychology assessment areas, students learn to examine relevant questions in accordance with methodological standards and also to critically discuss models and current research findings on phenomena relevant to legal psychology and apply them to practice.

Lecture: Introduction to legal psychology

Seminar I: Legal psychological assessment

Seminar II: Current research on the psychological foundations of legal psychology

Module 9 Man, Work, Technology (10 ECTS)

Students can acquire in-depth knowledge of work, organizational or business psychology, applied social psychology or human-machine systems engineering and can apply this knowledge to develop, test and communicate psychologically sound concepts and, if necessary, to conceive and design human-machine systems.

Completion of 6 SWS, selectable, from courses in the subject areas/sub-focus areas of Business Psychology and Social Psychology or Human-Machine Systems Engineering or Work and Organizational Psychology

Note: Courses from business psychology and social psychology can be mixed. However, if you would like to choose something from Human-Machine Systems Engineering or Work and Organizational Psychology, you can only complete your coursework within one of the two sub-specializations and cannot combine it with another subject area. In total, you must complete two course achievements and one examination achievement whereby you can choosefreely between lectures and seminarsdepending on the courses offered.

Module 10 Environmental Psychology (10 ECTS)

Students acquire in-depth knowledge of the theoretical concepts, research and intervention methods, as well as the results of environmental psychology and learn to embed and apply these in the problem-oriented context of behavior modification.

Lecture: Environmental Psychology Master

Seminar I: Advanced seminar in environmental psychology I

Seminar II: In-depth seminar in environmental psychology II

Click here for a detailed description (module handbook)

Career-oriented internship