University of Brighton
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Community Psychology
MA (PGCert PGDip)

  • Course summary and entry requirements

    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 1 year

    Part-time: minimum 2 years

    About the course

    Community psychology is an internationally recognised sub-discipline of psychology that brings community participation and social change to the forefront of the way that we understand and promote psychological wellbeing. Community psychology injects critical, liberal and human rights perspectives into psychology and is concerned with political processes and value-based enquiry. As such, it is able to reflect on traditional modes of scientific enquiry and what they mean for groups and individuals struggling with issues of marginalisation within diverse communities.

    This course is of interest to anyone currently practicing psychology in voluntary and NGO organisations, clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists and other mental health professionals wishing to broaden their areas of expertise, and those interested in developing a career in community mental health and advocacy.

    Typical entry requirements Help

    Individual offers may vary.

    For non-native speakers of English:
    IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in writing.

    Degree and/or experience:
    Normally a 2.1 degree in a social science subject but candidates with professional qualifications and directly relevant work experience may be considered.

  • Course content

    Course structure

    Community psychology takes different forms in various parts of the world. Our course introduces students to local and international examples of community psychology in practice. Teaching is developed from current research studies of such diverse areas as homelessness, older adults, disadvantaged young people, LGBT mental health, organisational wellbeing, and mental health literacy in Cambodia. Core teaching staff include Carl Walker, Katherine Johnson and Liz Cunningham who have a range of experience of utilising participatory action research approaches in community psychology settings.

    All students undertake an action-orientation project within a community psychology setting. Those working in a relevant profession will be able to relate this to their current practice or employer needs. Students who are not currently in a relevant profession will be able to carry out their project in a range of vibrant community and voluntary organisations including Mind, Age Concern and the Richmond Fellowship. These partnerships are facilitated through the university's outstanding Community University Partnership Programme (Cupp).

    Through lectures, workshops, seminars and the facilitation of community research partnerships, this course provides opportunities to explore the appropriateness and significance of how we work as community psychologists and to understand better the role of ideology inherent in the creation of an effective community psychology. It achieves this while retaining a degree of flexibility within the syllabus such that you are able to tailor your learning towards the kinds of areas most relevant to your work and interests.

    The course is primarily taught through intensive teaching sessions where modules run over blocks of 2-3 days. Some optional modules require attendance of weekly lectures and seminars.

    Syllabus

    Core modules include:
    Community Psychology: theory and practice
    Participation and Democracy
    Social research practice (in a community psychology setting)
    Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Science or Doing Qualitative Research
    Dissertation

    Options include:
    Challenging Concepts in Mental Health
    Critical Psychology
    Personal and Social Transformations
    Topics in Psychosocial Studies

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2013-14. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

    What's included in the fee?

    When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

    You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

    Community Psychology (MA)  [L1BD048]
    UK/EU (Full Time)4,500 GBP
    Island Students (Full Time)8,100 GBP
    International (Full Time)11,500 GBP

  • Location

    Location Help Falmer

    Our Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton. Approximately 7,000 students are based here.

    View campus maps and directions

    Living in Brighton

    Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.

    Social scene

    Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

    Music event on the beach

    Arts

    The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.

    Burning the Clocks winter solstice festival

    Sports

    Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.

    Playing volleyball on the seafront

  • Career opportunities

    The course explores processes of social change and participatory engagement and equips graduates with theoretical knowledge, research skills and practical insights for working in the field of community psychology. It also serves as an ideal grounding for the further use and study of participatory modes of enquiry at doctoral level.

    Visit the careers service website.

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01273 643475
Email sassenquiries@brighton.ac.uk

Why study Community Psychology?
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