UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she
takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and Location
of Delivery
University of Central Lancashire
Preston Campus
ICPS, Athena
3. University School/Centre
School of Psychology
4. External Accreditation
None
5. Title of Final Award
MSc Psychology of Child Development
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Full-time and Part-time
7. UCAS Code
N/A
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
Psychology
9. Other external influences
None
10. Date of production/revision of this
form
September 2015
11. Aims of the Programme
Subject Benchmarks
 The major aim of this MSc. is to provide a quality programme that will develop students’ knowledge
and understanding of Developmental Psychology to a professional level.

In particular, the course aims to provide a thorough grounding in methodology and analysis, to
produce a well developed ability to critically assess and synthesise psychological literature, and to
develop further student’s ability to engage in empirical study.

In addition, the aim is to provide coverage of a variety of current topics that will give a good overview
of current research and theoretical perspectives in the Psychology of Child Development.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
A1: Select and apply a wide range of quantitative, analytic techniques currently employed in the discipline,
and an understanding of their rationale and application.
A2. To identify, explore and critically evaluate a range of psychological theories and topics pertaining to the
psychology of child development
A3: Demonstrate application of the role of ethics within the discipline.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures and tutorials provide the core information, and are supported by workshops where guided practice
is important.
Assessment methods
Assessment is through coursework (i.e. practical assignments, presentations and essays), and the research
project.
B. Subject-specific skills
B1: To demonstrate ‘computer literacy’, especially with respect to advanced statistical packages
B2: To critically appreciate the theoretical debates in the literature concerning design and analysis, and
recognise how these have implications for the researcher choosing an analytic technique.
B3: To conduct a substantial piece of empirical research.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures and tutorials provide the core information, along with workshops and individual project supervision.
Assessment methods
Practical exercises in PS4700 are used to develop competence in the use of software packages (e.g. SPSS)
and choice of statistical analyses, and in qualitative analysis. Furthermore, the research project requires
students to develop research specific skills.
C. Thinking Skills
C1: Demonstrate competence in critical reading, assessing and evaluating primary sources in the
discipline.
C2: Evaluate controversies in depth and synthesise literature to develop an overview of the current state of
a particular research literature.
C3: Formulate hypotheses and plan research in a systematic and meaningful way.
C4: Interpret and present data appropriately, and to communicate these effectively in written
reports
Teaching and Learning Methods
Teaching and learning is by lectures, workshops, tutorials, guided independent learning and individual project
supervision.
Assessment methods
The course structure incorporates a large component of coursework (e.g. essays) where literature searching,
critical evaluation, integration and presentation of information is important. The research project is a test of
the student’s ability to integrate and synthesize information in an organized and purposeful manner.
Completion of the research project requires students to develop skills in research methodology and statistical
analysis, along with the ability to integrate and synthesize information in an organised and purposeful
manner. C3 and C4 will also be demonstrated via individual pieces of PS4700 coursework.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
By the end of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate the following skills:
D1: Written communication, organization and presentation
.
D2: Independent learning appropriate to postgraduate study.
D3: Oral delivery.
D4: Reflection on practice in the ‘real world’, its relationship to the published literature and the skills it
requires.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Teaching and learning is by lectures, workshops, tutorials, guided independent learning, the placement
experience and individual project supervision.
Assessment methods
Written communication skills are assessed through coursework which also requires independent learning,
and oral delivery skills are assessed through oral presentations. Reflection is a fundamental element of the
diary assessment on PS4711.
13. Programme Structures*
14. Awards and Credits*
Level
Level 7
Module
Code
PS4700
Module Title
PS4906
Advanced Developmental Psychology
Project
60
PS4711
Advanced Workplace Credit
20
PS4118
Social Relationships in Childhood
20
PS4211
Development in Context
20
PS4212
Language, Literacy and Learning
20
Advanced Methods in Psychology
Credit
rating
40
MSc in Psychology of
Child Development
Requires 180 credits at
level 7
Postgraduate Diploma in
Psychology of Child
Development
Requires 120 credits at
level 7
Postgraduate Certificate
in Psychology
Requires 60 credits at level
7
15. Personal Development Planning
Students will be briefed and given written guidelines to support their PDP. The guidelines include, for
example, self assessment exercises, planning tasks, and examples of record keeping. Students are
encouraged to use the information to engage in PDP at course and/or module level. Web resources at the
University (e.g. careers service, help and support sites) are also given.
Various other support mechanisms and opportunities for PDP are embedded in the programme. For
instance, independent learning skills, and the development of them, are promoted via tutorial and individual
sessions on the PS4118, PS4211, PS4212 and advanced project. The ‘hands on’ workshops on PS4700
provide opportunities for students to further develop awareness of their computer skills and abilities.
Feedback is given on all coursework in order to help students understand their strengths and weaknesses,
and enable students to create targets for development, and monitor their own achievements. In addition,
students are invited to meet with their Course Leader/Personal Tutor once a semester to discuss their PDP
and reflect on their own progress.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications, together
with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be expressed as a
range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have been made after these
documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for the most up to date
information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
Students should have a minimum of an upper second class honours degree in Psychology or an equivalent
qualification with sufficient psychology content and research skills, including a suitable
dissertation/research project, to enable them to undertake the course.
Students with a relevant degree that does not confer GBC, but has a good match of curriculum, and/or with
a relevant lower second class honours degree, but showing a good final year performance, including a good
quality dissertation/research project, will be considered on an individual basis.
A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent qualifications.
17. Key sources of information about the programme




UCLan website www.uclan.ac.uk
www.findamasters.com
Prospectus
Fact Sheet
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
Core (C),
Compulsory
Module
(COMP) or
Knowledge and
Subject-specific
Level Code
Module Title
Option (O)
understanding
Skills
Thinking Skills
A1
PS4700
LEVEL 7
PS4906
PS4711
PS4118
PS4211
PS4212
Note:
Advanced Methods in
Psychology
Advanced Developmental
Psychology Project
Advanced Workplace
Credit
Social Relationships in
Childhood
Development in Context
Language, Literacy and
Learning
C

C
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A2
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C
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C
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C
C
A3
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B1
B2
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B3
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C1
C2
Other skills relevant
to employability and
personal
development
C3
C4
D1
D2
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Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
D3
D4
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