MA in Applied Psychology (Coaching Psychology)
School of Applied Psychology
University College Cork
Course Handbook
This handbook is intended for students on the MA Degree in Applied Psychology (Coaching Psychology) and 20142015. It should be read in conjunction with the College Calendar and the appropriate entry in the Marks and
Standards. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate and upto-date, it should not be construed as imposing any legal obligations on UCC or the School of Applied Psychology.
“ if opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door”
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WELCOME
Welcome to the MA in Applied Psychology (Coaching Psychology)!
People undertake this masters for various reasons. Some use it as a pathway towards becoming a
professional coach. Others, who have become experts in their field, find that they need to develop
leadership skills, while others are not sure of their pathway, but are confident that it will emerge
during the period of their study.
Whatever your motivation, we cannot guarantee that opportunities will come your way, however
our aim is to build that door so that there is something to knock on.
There are many conceptions of coaching, one useful working definition would be that it is a
structured conversation that supports change by building a pathway between where a person is
and where they want to be. One could go further and describe it as a listening and questioning
conversation, driven by a coachee’s inner strengths and insights.
In undertaking this masters you will want to go from A, where you are now, to B where you
envision the masters taking you. The chasm between A and B can be stress inducing, and can lead
to niggles and frustrations. Although it is important to acknowledge A, our approach is to focus on
B, and how you get there. Change can be exciting, but stressful, albeit that this stress ultimately
leads to positive outcomes. Our purpose will be to focus on that positivity.
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The Contribution of Positive Psychology
“L' essenza della felica' e': qualcosa da fare, qualcosa da amare, e qualcosa per cui sperare.”
Italian proverb.
The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to
hope for.
Psychology, as it developed as a science, set itself three major tasks. These were to cure mental
illness, help people live productive and happy lives, and to identify and nurture talent. As a
discipline we have over focused on ameliorating the distress people experience in their lives to
the exclusion of the latter two aims. There are understandable reasons why this should be so.
From an evolutionary perspective we are particularly alert to problem situations, our societal
norms dictate that we should be modest in the face of our strengths, and culturally we believe
that tackling weaknesses provides the basis for personal growth.
Martin Seligman argued, in launching the Positive Psychology Movement in the 90s, that the
discipline of psychology should re-concentrate on those early tasks and focus on what is right in
peoples’ lives; and by doing so gain an understanding of the underpinnings of what makes
people happy. He argued that Positive Psychology rested on three pillars: positive subjective
well-being, positive strengths and virtues, and positive institutions. From this perspective what
psychology as a discipline has to offer Coaching Psychology is a concentration on positive
outcomes, the use of empirical interventions to achieve these outcomes, as well as the concept
of measurement.
Work Ethic is one of the strengths and virtues that Seligman identified, and most adults devote
more time and energy each week to this single activity than any other activity. It is more than a
simple transaction where individuals give their time, and receive financial rewards in return.
Although this aspect is important, work can also be a way in which individuals gauge their worth
to society, as well as fulfil personal goals. In this respect work can encompass a wider set of
concerns that just the day-to-day requirements of a job. It is more than just being productive.
The Role of a Coach
The essential role of the coach is to support people in creating their own success at work and in
life, in order to reach their potential and live a more satisfying and healthier life. This is achieved
by challenging beliefs, harnessing positive emotions and using coaching techniques to help
individuals set goals and overcome barriers, while providing standardised measures to evaluate
the effectiveness of these tools.
The professional coaching alliance is client-centred, dynamic, goal oriented, and forward
focused. This course will help you develop your relationship, listening and questioning skills,
which are core in any therapeutic consultation. The coaching toolbox includes evidence-based
coaching skills including Solution Focused Coaching, Mindfulness, Cognitive-Behavioural
Coaching, Business and Executive Coaching, and Health and Wellness Coaching.
This is not to say that coaches will not encounter and be able to form professional alliances with
individuals in distress. However, in working with these individuals, coaches need to be mindful
of the professional limits of their role, as well as their competence within this role. There are
situations where it is not appropriate to intervene with individuals who are distressed, for
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instance some individuals do not respond well to psychological debriefing. There are other
situations where distress is such that it may indicate mental health difficulties. In these
circumstances the appropriate referral could be to a registered psychologist and their GP.
An outcome of this training is to define this scope. In this context, supervision is a vital and
necessary tool whereby professionals can reflect in an on-going basis on the boundaries and
scope of their role and competencies within that role. Of course, as coaches progress in their
professional competence supervision will help them to integrate these increased competencies
into their professional roles.
We aim to educate you in the knowledge and skills necessary for practice as a coach. Achieving
these aims will require a lot of commitment and hard work on your part, but fun is not
excluded! The class is small and there is a great deal of staff-student and student-student
contact. We hope that you will find working intensively with us and with each other to be
rewarding.
Where to find us
Distillery Fields is about 10 minutes walk from the main campus if you use the walkway and
footbridge over the river which is located opposite the main gate. Please note that this walkway
is normally closed during the hours of darkness (at around 16.30 in winter). Alternatively you
can walk along the Western Road and then turn left going towards the Mercy Hospital. The
Distillery Fields Campus is just over the footbridge having left the Mercy Hospital to your right.
You will find a map at http://www.ucc.ie/en/apsych/admin/findus/.
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Programme Requirements:
Students take 90 credits as follows:
http://www.ucc.ie/calendar/postgraduate/Masters/arts/page107.html
Part I (Full-time)
Core Modules
AP6023 Psychological Assessment (5 credits)
AP6116 Positive Psychology and Coaching (5 credits) AP6117 Wellness Coaching (5 credits)
AP6157 The Competent Coach: Ethics and Supervision (5 credits)
AP6159 Positive Organisational Psychology (5 credits)
AP6160 Private Practice (5 credits)
AP6161 Coaching Skills 1 (5 credits)
AP6162 Evidence Based Coaching: Theory, Approaches and Models (5 credits)
AP6163 Coaching Skills 2 (5 credits)
AP6164 Positive Psychology in Group Settings (5 credits)
AP6165 Research Methods and Data Analysis for Coaching Psychology (10 credits)
Part I (Part-time)
Year One Core Modules 50 Credits
AP6116 Positive Psychology and Coaching (5 Credits) AP6117 Wellness Coaching (5 credits) AP6157 The Competent Coach Ethics & Supervision (5 credits) AP6159 Positive Organisational Psychology (5 Credits) AP6161 Coaching Skills 1 (5 credits) AP6162 Evidence Based Coaching: Theory, Approaches and Modules (5 credits)
AP6163 Coaching Skills 2 (5 credits) AP6164 Positive Psychology in Group Settings (5 credits) AP6165 Research Methods and Data Analysis for Coaching Psychology (10 credits)
Year Two Core Modules 10 Credits AP6023 Psychological Assessment (5 credits)
AP6160 Private Practice (5 credits)
Part-time students must pass Year 1 before they can progress to Year 2.
Part 2
AP6137 Dissertation in Applied Psychology (30 credits)
Module Descriptions:
These are available at: http://www.ucc.ie/modules/descriptions/AP.html
Where a student achieves an overall mark which is considered borderline fail a viva voce
examination may be requested by the Programme Director.
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MAAP Coaching Psychology Term Timetable 2014-2015
Semester 1
In addition the hours listed below, you will also have to make provision for input for AP6137
Dissertation in Applied Psychology (30 credits). This will consist of group lecturers and one to
one supervision sessions. Refer to the Handbook for AP6137.
Monday 08th September – Friday 28th November 2014
Review Week: Monday 1st – Friday 5th December 2014
Autumn Exams: Monday 8th – Friday 19th December 2014
Christmas Recess: Saturday 20th December – Sunday 11th January 2015
Time
09.0010.00
10.0011.00
11.0012.00
12.0013.00
13.0014.00
14.0015.00
15.0016.00
16.0017.00
17.0018.00
Monday
AP6161 Coaching
Skills
(Tom Hennessy)
CEC G09b
Part Time Y1
AP6161 Coaching
Skills
(Tom Hennessy)
CEC G09b
AP6023 Psych
Assessment
(R. Murphy)
CEC G20
Part Time Y1
AP6023 Psych
Assessment
(R. Murphy)
CEC G20
Part time Y2
Tuesday
Wednesday
AP6162 Evidenced Based
Coaching (David O’Sullivan)
CEC G03
Part Time Y1
AP6162 Evidenced Based
Coaching (David O’Sullivan)
CEC G03
Part Time Y1
18h00- AP6161 Coaching
20h00 Skills
(Tom Hennessy)
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AP6165 Coaching Research
Methods (Mark
Barry/Mary Galvin DIST
G01
Part Time Y1
AP6165 Coaching Research
Methods (Mark
Barry/Mary Galvin
CEC Computer Lab
(CEC_1.24)
Part Time Y1
AP6159 Positive
Organisation Psych (Ann
Boylan)
CEC G20
Part Time Y1
CEC G03
Part Time Y1
AP60xx Coaching Research
Methods (Mark
Barry/Mary Galvin
CEC G03
Part Time Y1
20h0022h00
Semester 2
Monday 12th January – Friday 03rd April 2015
Easter Recess: Saturday 4th – Sunday 19th April 2015
Review Week: Monday 20th – Friday 24th April 2015
Spring/Summer Exams: Monday 27th April – Friday 15th May 2015
Time Monday
09.0010.00
10.00- AP6157 Competent
11.00 Coach
(AP Staff)
DIST 02
Part Time Y1
11.00- AP6157 Competent
12.00 Coach
(AP Staff)
DIST 02
Part Time Y1
12.0013.00
13.0014.00
14.00- AP6163 Coaching
15.00 Skills 2
(AP Staff)
CEC G09b
Part Time Y1
15.00- AP6163 Coaching
16.00 Skills 2
(AP Staff)
CEC G09b
Part Time Y1
Tuesday
Wednesday
AP6160 Private Practice
Tom Hennessy
CEC G03
Part time Y2
AP6160 Private Practice
Tom Hennessy
CEC G03
Part time Y2
AP6117 Wellness
Coaching
(TBC )
CEC G04
Part Time Y1
AP6117
(TBC )
CEC G04
Part Time Y1
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16.00- AP6116 Positive
17.00 Psychology &
Coaching
(DOS)
CEC G09b)
Part time Y1
17.00- AP6116 Positive
18.00 Psychology &
Coaching
(DOS)
CEC G09b)
Part time Y1
AP6164 Positive
Psychology in Group
Settings
AP Staff
ELD3 G01
Part Time Y1
AP6164 Positive
Psychology in Group
Settings
AP Staff
ELD3 G01
Part Time Y1
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Note: The following calendar entry is for 2013/14 cohort of students who are taking Year 2 of the
MA Coaching Psychology Programme in 2014/15 only.
Part I (Part-time)
Year Two Core Modules 30 Credits AP6159 Positive Organisational Psychology (5 Credits) AP6164 Positive Psychology in Group Settings (5 credits)
AP6165 Research Methods and Data Analysis for Coaching Psychology (10 credits)
Electives
Students take 10 credits from the following:
AP3015 Forensic Psychology (5 Credits)
AP3033 Positive Psychology (5 credits) AP3036 Psychology of Aging (5 Credits)
AP3037 Work Psychology (5 credits) AP3299 Human Computer Interaction (5 Credits)
AP3110 Psychological Therapies (5 Credits)
AP6121 Methods of Investigation (10 Credits)
AP6155 Applied Clinical Issues (Child & Adolescent) (5 Credits)
AP6226 Theory of Psychological Testing (5 Credits)
Part 2
AP6137 Dissertation in Applied Psychology (30 credits)
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Main Office opening hours
09.00-11.00
11.30-13.00
14.00-17.00
Photocopying cards are available to purchase in the main office during office hours. Please note
however, that the office does not supply any items of stationery. There is a computer lab on
the first floor and students are free to use this when it’s not being used for teaching. The
teaching timetable is posted on the door.
Term Dates Academic Year 2014-2015
Autumn Semester
8 September - 28 November 2014
Review Week: 1 – 5 December 2014
Exams: 8 – 19 December 2014
•
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Spring Semester
12 January – 3 April 2015
Review Week: 20 – 25 April 2015
Exams: 27 April – 15 May 2015
Your email address, Blackboard and other means of keeping you informed
You will have been issued with a student number and student email at registration. It is very
important that you check your student email on a regular basis as this is how the School and the
University communicates with you. Check your UCC email regularly – otherwise you may miss
important announcements to the class.
Vital information on course content is held on the Blackboard system at:
http://blackboard.ucc.ie and is regularly updated by your lecturers. Also you will be submitting
all of your course work via Blackboard. Details on logging on to Blackboard can be found in the
Learning Technologies Guide to Blackboard at
http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/computercentre/ltu/bbstudentguide.pdf. If you are
experiencing any difficulties please email the Student Helpdesk at sit@ucc.ie.
The School website is at http://apsych.ucc.ie. It has course timetables, and other useful
information.
Contacting Academic Staff
In order to ensure that all students are treated equitably, it will not be possible for academic
staff to enter into individual email correspondence about issues of course content, structure or
assessment. If you have a question, your first action should always be to check your handbook.
It is very likely that your question has already been answered there. If you can’t find the answer,
then please bring your query up with the lecturer immediately after the lecture or on
Blackboard—to which everyone has access. If you have personal issues to bring up with a
mentor or tutor then it would probably be best to arrange a meeting during their office hours.
All members of academic staff have student consultation hours. If you wish to discuss your
work then you should arrange to meet them during these hours.
Attendance
Every student is expected to attend all lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes etc. In the case of
absence through illness, a student must, if possible, give notice of each absence in writing to the
Lecturer concerned responsible. In the case of such absence for more than four lecture days the
student must, on resuming attendance, notify the Lecturer concerned in writing and, if required
by the Lecturer to do so, lodge a medical certificate with the main office, who in turn will send a
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copy to the Student Records and Examinations.
A student will not be permitted to enter for an examination at the conclusion of a module if
attendance at that module is not considered satisfactory by the Registrar and Senior VicePresident Academic following a report by the Lecturer concerned and/or Head of School
responsible for the module. The decision of the Registrar and Senior Vice-President Academic is
subject to the appeal of Academic Council.
Academic and Support Staff
The School of Applied Psychology administers the course in cooperation with the School of
Education and professional part-time staff.
Course Directors:
Coaching Psychology
Dr Zelda Di Blasi (on leave)
Dr David O’Sullivan, C.Psychol
H.Dip Coaching/Coaching Psychology
David.osullivan@ucc.ie
Tel: 021-4904601
School Technician



Mr. Pat O’Donovan
Pat.odonovan@ucc.ie
T: 021-4904508
Parking
There is absolutely no parking for students at the School of Applied Psychology, UCC. Provision for
students parking is at the following:
Visitor/short stay car parks at Perrott’s Inch and Perrot’s Avenue. €1 per hour for the first two
hours this then rises to €1.50 for the next four hours and then rises again to €2 for the next 6
hours.
Dennehy’s Cross (PBC Sports Ground, Park & Ride) Parking here is free of charge
Pouladuff (Park & Ride) – Parking here is free of charge
Maps for the location of these parking spaces can be found at http://www.corkcity.ie/maps/.
Further queries about parking facilities for students can be directed to General Services on 021 490
2264 or 490 2265
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Student Responsibilities
If you have any type of specific learning disability or other health condition or circumstance
that may require attention we ask that you notify the course administrator and course
director as soon as possible so that the necessary support systems can be accessed.
Submitting Course Work
All continuous assessment must be submitted electronically via BlackBoard only. (If there
are exemptions to this, your lecturer will give you alternative instructions.) Blackboard links
for each piece of continuous assessment work will be open two weeks before every
deadline. Full instructions on how to submit your work will be emailed to you. Work
submitted late should also be submitted via Blackboard. Work submitted by email will not
be acknowledged or recorded.




Please ensure that you include a front sheet to your work clearly giving
Your name and student number
The code and title of the module
The title or number of your essay/practical
Due date for your essay
You are also required to put the following declaration on this front sheet:
DECLARATION OF ACADEMIC HONESTY: I declare that the content of this assignment is all
my own work. It has not been submitted in respect of any other course/module. Where I
have used the work of others it is acknowledged and referenced accordingly.
A Warning about Plagiarism
It is very important that you acknowledge all sources and quotations used in your work. If
you don’t do this then it could be seen as an attempt to pass someone else’s work as your
own (plagiarism) for which you could face severe penalties. UCC has a policy on plagiarism
which can be found at the following link
http://www.ucc.ie/en/policiesandprocedures/examinationsandstudentrecords/studentreco
rdsregistration/uccplagiarismpolicy/ an excerpt of which states “As regards plagiarism, a
significant number of unacknowledged copying shall be deemed to constitute prima facie
evidence of deliberation. Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work as your own.
When done deliberately, it is cheating, since it is an attempt to claim credit for work not
done by you and fails to give credit for the work others. Plagiarism applies, not just to text,
but to graphics, tables, formulae or any representation of ideas, in print, electronic or other
media”



Useful guides to avoiding plagiarism also available on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUSaQ5-mDRI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptHIA5bMnio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNg94ebLGzY
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Best Practice in Academic Writing
Our aim is to promote best practice, and also of course to help you in developing and
improving your academic writing skills, so please feel free to contact your tutor for
clarification on any issue surrounding writing. There are many excellent student guides
which deal with the issue, including The Good Study Guide by Andy Northedge (OU, 2005).
There are copies of this book in the library.
Late Submission of Assignments
In cases where you submit work after a deadline, penalties will be applied as follows: 5%
deducted for work submitted up to 7 days late, 10% deducted for work submitted up to 14
days late, work received after this will not be marked. If you feel you have mitigating
circumstances (eg illness, accident, bereavement) then you can complete a ‘Lateness
Certificate’ which you can get in the main office and submit it along with any supporting
documentation, to the School Teaching and Learning Committee. No penalty will be
imposed in cases of illness or family bereavement as long as appropriate documentation,
such as a doctor’s certificate covering the time specified, is provided. In respect of other
reasons for late work, the committee will consider each lateness application on a case by
case basis.
Special Circumstances/Long Term Difficulties
Our aim as a School is to provide you with the resources and support to ensure that your
experience of studying psychology is productive and enjoyable. If, for any reason you are
having unforeseen or on-going problems or doubts about your studies, we invite you to let
us know as soon as they arise. We are here to support you in working through personal or
work difficulties in any way possible. Be assured that your privacy will be respected and any
documentation you submit to the School will be treated as confidential. Also, don’t forget
that you have recourse to a variety of support agencies in UCC, details of these are given
below.
Resources and services for students
Name
Service
Website
Phone
PASS (Peer
students provide information and http://www.ucc.ie/en/pass/ 021 420 5188
Assisted Student support to first year students
Support)
Student
Professional and confidential
http://www.ucc.ie/studentc 021 490 3565
Counselling &
counselling service. Regular
ounselling/
or Text: 087
Development
workshops on study and life skills
215 2505
Nite Line
Listening service operating 21.00 http://www.ucc.ie/en/pass/ 1800 32 32
– 01.00 on Tues-Thurs in term.
niteline/
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UCC Chaplaincy
Open to student of all religions
http://www.uccchaplaincy.c 021 490 2459
offering a variety of activities.
om/
Disability Support Practical supports and counselling http://www.ucc.ie/en/dss/
021 490 2985
Service
to students with disabilities.
UCC Careers
Careers advise, work experience
http://www.ucc.ie/careers/ 021 490 2349
Service
Students’ Union
clubs and societies
http://www.collegeroad.ie
021 90 3218
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Information on Exams
Resource
Exam Procedures
Past Exam Papers
Web Link
http://www.ucc.ie/en/exams/
http://booleweb.ucc.ie/ExamPapers/applied_psychology.html
Examinations
End of semester exams will be held in December and in May. Details of how each module is
examined can be found in the module descriptions and the examinations office will email
you a timetable of the written exams.
We expect all students to pass the examinations at the first attempt. However, if you fail a
module (from either the Autumn or Spring semester) you will have one other opportunity to
reach the pass standard at the Autumn Supplemental Exams (also known as the ‘Repeats’).
If you fail a module overall at the first attempt but pass the continuous assessment part,
then the continuous assessment mark will be carried forward to the Autumn and you will
only have to repeat the examination. Failed continuous assessment must be repeated. An
email will be sent to your student email with details and a deadline for submission of failed
continuous assessment. Marks for the Autumn Supplemental Exams are capped at 40%.
Markers may give feedback using the following grade system:
A+ / A / AB+ / B / BC+ / C / CD+ / D / DE+ / E / EF+ / F / F0
(70%+) 1H
(60-69%)
(50-59%)
(45-49%)
(40-44%)
(0 - 39%)
0%
2H (upper range)
2H (lower range)
Pass (upper range)
Pass (lower range)
Fail
Fail
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Poor
Very Poor
Unsatisfactory
No work submitte
Mitigation
If you fail or do not sit exams in December or May, and this is due to medical or personal
circumstance which you feel adversely affected your performance then you can make an
applications to the Examinations Office for Mitigation. Further details and application form
are available at the following link.
http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/recordsandexaminations/documents/MitigationAppli
cationForm.pdf
If successfully, the capping of 40% will be waived for the Autumn Supplemental Examination
and/or for a repeat year.
Boole Library
UCC Library will provide Library Undergraduate Workshops for new students [Essential
Library skills to get started on their Academic work]. These will run from Monday 8th
September to Thursday 2nd October and will last approx. 45 minutes. Further details are
available on the Library website at http://booleweb.ucc.ie/index.php?pageID=522.
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