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
3. University School/Centre
School of Journalism, Language and Communication
4. External Accreditation
5. Title of Final Award
MSc in Emotions, Credibility and Deception
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Part Time
7. UCAS Code
n/a
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
Linguistics, Psychology
9. Other external influences
10. Date of form’s production/revision
20th March 2013
11. Aims of the Programme





To develop students' understanding of - and ability to clearly articulate - the interface
between emotions, credibility and deception, in a variety of contexts (professional and
personal).
To ensure students acquire an advanced knowledge and understanding of the linguistic
and psychological theories, methods and approaches used to investigate emotions,
credibility and deception (detection).
To develop, in students, an advanced, "evidenced-based" skill set, via the application of
theory to (professional) practice.
To develop students' capacity to critically reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of
current approaches and methods, especially when applied to "real world" settings.
To promote and support the students' development of an independent area of scholarly
research which advances current knowledge.

To equip students with a range of transferable/employability skills alongside subject
knowledge respecting the complexities of communication.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
On successful completion of the programme, students will:
A1. Have a comprehensive, critically-informed cognizance of techniques and insights at the forefront
of Linguistic, and Psychological research relevant to the study of emotions, credibility
and deception (and their detection).
A2. Be able to explain and also to evaluate the power of language to influence, manipulate and/or
construct social relations or viewpoints, using a variety of linguistic and/or psychological
methods and techniques.
A3. Be able to appraise, accurately, the ethics of Linguistic and Psychological scholarship,
and professional practice and standards.
A4. Be able to critique both the application of Linguistic and/or Psychological theory to
professional practice and also the value of the theory/ies to (the advancement of) such practice.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, workshops and seminars – face-to-face and online (using, e.g., written text, “talking heads”
and video) – thereby enabling guided practice.
Assessment methods
The learning outcomes will be assessed through a combination of unseen examinations, coursework
(essays, presentations and practical assignments) and the research project.
B. Subject-specific skills
On successful completion of the programme, students will be able:
B1. To critique theoretical, analytical and methodological approaches used in Linguistic and
Psychological research.
B2. To critically engage with and systematically apply Linguistic and Psychological principles and
frameworks, at an advanced level, as a means of investigating emotions, credibility and
deception (and their detection).
B3. To select and apply advanced subject-specific tools to the critical analysis of written and/or
spoken discourse.
B4. To produce a substantial piece of written work of which the writing, presentation and adherence
to scholarly conventions satisfies the standards expected of publicly distributed scholarly
documents in the areas of Linguistics and Psychology.
B5. To apply their developing skills to their professional practices (and critically evaluate their
efficacy).
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures and supported workshops/seminars – face-to-face and online (using written text, “talking
heads” and video) – thereby enabling guided practice.
Assessment methods
The learning outcomes will be assessed through a combination of unseen examinations, coursework
(essays, presentations and practical assignments) and the research project.
C. Thinking Skills
On successful completion of the programme, students will be able:
C1. To explore, critically appraise and integrate theories, frameworks and approaches developed
within the areas of Linguistics and Psychology.
C2. To formulate a research proposal that demonstrates (comprehensive) awareness of current
issues and debates in the areas of Linguistics and Psychology.
C3. To consider circumspectly and expound convincingly their technical and critical knowledge of
issues of (social science) research design and analysis.
C4. To choose a methodology or approach suitable to distinctive research question(s) and to
distinctive area(s) of study.
C5. To analyse assiduously spoken and/or written discourse using subject-specific tools, methods or
approaches.
C6. To demonstrate the ability to formulate and communicate complex ideas in original and
sophisticated ways within a range of academic and work-based scenarios.
C7. To conduct a sustained critical argument, based on evidence, with precision.
C8. To engage in critical self-reflection in the context of project evaluation.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Achieved through participation in lectures and seminars and through conducting an empirical piece of
research. The Course structure also incorporates a large component of coursework – which, like the
Research Project – requires students to engage in literature searches, critical evaluation, integration
and presentation of information (written and oral).
Assessment methods
Completion of, first, the research proposal and, second, the research project will represent the
primary form of assessment. This requires students to develop skills in research methodology and
analysis and to critically engage with a diverse range of theories. Aspects of the Course also ensure
that students engage with a range of analytical tools.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
On successful completion of the programme, students will:
D1. Be able to critically evaluate the validity of a range of complex works within and about emotions,
credibility and deception (and their detection) across different professional environments, and to
summarise their arguments accurately.
D2. Have refined their problem-solving skills (both problems with well-defined solutions and open
ended problems requiring evaluation of frameworks and methodologies).
D3. Be able to communicate ideas clearly, fluently and convincingly, via the written and oral modes.
D4. Have become proficient in the use of subject-specific, as well as more generic, information
retrieval systems, web-based resources, content analysis tools, etc.
D5. Be able to critically reflect on their own learning and to seek and benefit from feedback from
others.
D6. Be able to work both independently and with others, in a way that is time- and goal- efficient.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The majority of seminar/forum work will be focussed on the development of communication (oral and
written), problem-solving and organization skills. Research supervision will also focus on these skill
areas. D4 will be a focus of the Social Science Research Skills module in particular. D5 will be further
strengthened through the Personal Development Planning booklet.
Assessment methods
Communication will be assessed via coursework and examination. Organizational skills will be
assessed through summative coursework (including the Research Project) and more formatively,
through the Personal Development Planning booklet.
13. Programme Structures*
Level
Level 7
(CORE)
(COMP)
“
“
Module
Code
LG4099
PS4601
LG4100
PS4602
“
LG4101
“
“
“
LG4102
LG4103
LG4104
“
“
PS4603
LG4107
Module Title
Reflective Exploratory Project
Emotion Awareness
Communication Channels
Detecting Credibility and
Deception
Collecting and Analysing
Interaction: Approaches and
Methods
Social Science Research Skills
Interaction Strategies
Detecting Emotion, Credibility
and Deception via Technology
Brain, Language and Memory
Advanced Research Project
14. Awards and Credits*
Credit
rating
60
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
40
MSc in Emotions, Credibility and
Deception requires 180 credits at
Level 6 or above with a minimum
of 160 credits at level 7.
PGDip in Emotions, Credibility
and Deception requires 120
credits at Level 6 or above with a
minimum of 100 credits at Level
7.
[PGCert in Emotions, Credibility
and Deception requires 60
credits at Level 7. Please note
that students with sufficient APL
(as determined by University
regulations) to allow them entry
into the Diploma Year will not
need to take LG4099.]
15. Personal Development Planning
Personal development is considered to be integral to the Course programme. As such, all students
will be required to keep a personal development planning log throughout their year(s) of study. The
PDP logs specifically encourage students to consider their career goals and how these can be
achieved, and to reflect on their own skills development – in relation to this Course – in terms of both
areas of strength and also areas they might improve. These PDP logs will be formally commented on
by the Course Leader and/or Personal Tutors, as part of the University’s Progression process.
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.
To gain entry on to the MSc programme, a student will normally need one of the following:
1. An honours degree at the level of 2.2 or above from a United Kingdom university, or its equivalent
in an appropriate discipline (e.g. linguistics, psychology)
2. A degree, HNC or HND in an appropriate discipline, together with appropriate professional
experience
Students with any of the following may be considered for 60 credits worth of APL and will only be
required to achieve a further 120 credits to gain the MSc award:
1. Successful completion of LG4099 Reflective Exploratory Report
or
2. 60 credits at level 7 or experience which will be the equivalent of passing this module. An
application for accreditation will be via the University’s AP(E)L process, and will normally
include:
i.
A relevant postgraduate qualification (i.e., another relevant Postgraduate Certificate
or higher)
and/or
ii.
Relevant commercial training (e.g., successful completion of the requisite number of
courses offered by the Emotional Intelligence Academy or similar agency)
and/or
iii)
Work-based experience that requires a robust understanding of emotions, credibility
and deception.
Further advice will be provided at the application and interview stage.
International applicants for the programme will be required, in addition, to have a minimum level of
proficiency in English Language equivalent to IELTS band 7.
For entry to the Course, candidates will complete an application form which asks them to outline:
(i) Any relevant APL;
(ii) Their experience of emotions, credibility and deception (in a work-related context);
(iii) Their research interests;
(iv) A study they would like to undertake if accepted on to the Course.
17. Key sources of information about the programme


UCLan Website: [AVAILABLE FROM APRIL ONWARDS]
Websites of the Emotional Intelligence Academy: http://www.emotionintell.co.uk/
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Level Module
Module Title
Core (C),
Programme Learning Outcomes
Code
Compulsory Knowledge and Subject-specific Skills
Thinking Skills
(COMP) or understanding
Option (O)
A1 A2
LEVEL 7
B3
x
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X
x
x
x
X
x
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x
CORE
X
COMP
x
LG4100 Communication Channels
COMP
x
PS4602 Detecting Credibility and
Deception
LG4101 Collecting and Analysing
Interaction: Approaches
and Methods
LG4102 Social Science Research
Skills
LG4103 Interaction Strategies
COMP
x
X
COMP
x
COMP
x
X
LG4104 Detecting Emotion,
Credibility and Deception
via Technology
PS4603 Brain, Language and
Memory
LG4107 Advanced Research
Project
COMP
x
X
COMP
x
COMP
x
LG4099 Reflective Exploratory
Project
PS44601 Emotion Awareness
Note:
B2
x
x
A3 A4 B1
x
X
x
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
D1
D2
D3
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D4
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COMP
B4 B5 C1
Other skills relevant to
employability and personal
development
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Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks