Program discription / Studiengangsbeschreibung
Overview
Program discription
Program structure
Module book
Optional study plan
Program discription
The Master of Science in Psychology is a two-year program comprising 120 ECTS points. It offers a broad and consecutive degree at an advanced level with a focus on psychological science. It comprises basic and application-oriented fields. Core areas are cognitive neuropsychology, the interplay of cognition and action, higher cognitive functions, learning and instruction, economic psychology, and issues of sustainability and communication. The Master of Science in Psychology also enables students to understand and apply advanced research methods as they relate to these fields. Students will furthermore acquire competence in planning and implementing research projects on basic and application-oriented research questions in different contexts and in psychological diagnostic processes and procedures, including the writing of expert reports. The curriculum consists of required modules as well as a broad range of elective modules, which permit students to create a profile of areas in which they deepen their competences and understanding. This is complemented by a module in which skills are acquired that enable students to apply acquired knowledge and competences in small hands-on projects. Examples comprise the application of specific complex research methods, skills in the area of open science and science ethics, practice in science communication and in scientific writing.
The master program conveys the competence to work in a wide range of occupational fields and as a freelancer psychologist based on scientific knowledge and methods. Graduates are qualified to work in fields requiring competence in work and organizational psychology such as in the human-resources field. They are qualified to offer diagnostic and consulting services in different fields – for example, in educational contexts such as in schools and in adult education. Graduates are equipped with the methodological competence and communication skills required for employment in fields such as marketing, data science, and public relations. Another large field of employment open to graduates is academic and non-academic research both in basic and application-oriented research.
The master program is organized in modules. A module is a self-contained unit within a scientific topic or area that is defined by specific learning goals. Modules may consist of one or more courses. There are different types of courses including lectures, seminars, and colloquia. ECTS points define the associated workload for the student. One ECTS point is equivalent to a workload of 30 hours.
A module may require course work to be delivered by the students as prerequisite for being admitted to the examination (Prüfungsleistungen). Course works (Studienleistungen, pass/fail assessments) are individual written, oral, or practical works that are produced by students as part of a course. They can, for example, consist of completed exercise sheets, written protocols, oral presentations, and project work. Modules and courses are examined concurrently with the module or course, respectively.
Modules in the following areas are parts of the program:
Methods
• Module Diagnostics and Assessment (10 ECTS)
• Module Research Methods (10 ECTS)
Basic and Application-Oriented Psychological Science
• Module Basic and Application-Oriented Psychological Science I (10 ECTS)
• Module Basic and Application-Oriented Psychological Science II (32 ECTS)
Skills / Project-Oriented Learning
• Students choose four individual skills (research methods, open science, science communication and outreach, scientific writing and working, teaching, application/coaching) to build an individual portfolio (8 ECTS)
Interdisciplinary Studies
• Non-psychological elective module (Biology, Educational science, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Criminology, Neurolinguistics, Philosophy, Sociology, Sports Science, Economic Sciences, 6 ECTS)
Internship
• Professional work experience of a duration of 300 working hours in Germany or abroad (10 ECTS)
Master’s Module
• comprises the master’s thesis as well as two colloquia (34 ECTS)
Module descriptions clarify elements such as title, qualification goals, teaching and learning methods, prerequisites for participation, course content, type of assessment, and how many ECTS points according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) the student will earn when completing the module successfully.
The optional study plan specifies which modules are planned for which semester, which modules are required modules and which ones are elective modules as well as how many ECTS points can be acquired per course.
