PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
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AWARD and ROUTE TITLE
INTERMEDIATE AWARD TITLES
MSc Applied Cognitive Neuroscience
Postgraduate Diploma: Fundamentals of
Neuroscience
Postgraduate Certificate: Introduction to
Neuroscience
Name of the Teaching Institution
Sheffield Hallam University
Mode(s) of Attendance
(eg. FT/PT/SW/DL)
UCAS CODE
FT/PT
Professional/Statutory/Regulatory Not applicable
Body Recognising this
Programme
QAA Subject Benchmark
Statement or other relevant
external reference point
Date of Validation
1
PROGRAMME AIMS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
2
May 8th 2008
The programme will provide a robust academic framework across the
broad spectrum of neuroscience and promote the application of critical
thinking and evaluative reasoning to the topics of study.
The proposed programme of study will equip students with a broad range
of skills and knowledge essential for working with neuropathological and
healthy populations in clinical, healthcare, academic and pharmaceutical
industry settings.
A distinctive aim of the programme is to provide a thorough grounding in
the diverse methods of Neuroscience for clinical assessment and
evaluation and neuroscience based research.
The programme will provide students with the knowledge and skills
necessary to formulate and develop clinically relevant neuroscience
research projects to a publishable academic standard.
The programme will provide continuing professional development for
clinical and academic staff working within the broad domain of
neuroscience
The programme will facilitate the development of critical thinking,
analytical techniques and discursive skills to provide a robust academic
framework in the relevant areas.
PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
2.1
Knowledge and understanding covered within the Programme. By
the end of the programme you will be able to
LO 1: Understand, critically evaluate and synthesise the relevant
theoretical perspectives within neuroscience.
LO 2: Integrate theories and methods of neuroscience to inform clinically
relevant research questions.
LO 3: Understand current dilemmas, key concepts and principles and
recent developments across the broad domain of neuroscience.
2.2
Intellectual/Subject/Professional/Key skills covered within the
Programme: by the end of the programme you will be able to
LO 4: Utilise subject specific knowledge and skills to evaluate cognitive
and brain function and dysfunction in academic, clinical and
pharmaceutical industry settings.
LO 5: Combine an understanding of neuroscience methods
(Electroencephalogram, imaging techniques and psychometric testing),
with academic research and clinical expertise to inform critical and
innovative research.
LO 6: Understand the issues and bioethics involved in pharmaceutical
research targeted at neuropathological and cognitively intact groups.
LO 7: Select the most appropriate methodology/ies in order to answer key
research questions and test theoretical assumptions.
LO 8: Work autonomously on a self-defined project from idea generation
through to data collection, analysis and write-up.
3
LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
3.1
The approach to Learning and Teaching within the Programme
The approach to learning and teaching throughout the programme aims to
facilitate active and independent learning and to maintain maximum flexible
delivery, by the utilisation of the blended learning approach. Such a method
uses a combination of traditional approaches to learning, for example, lectures,
and workshops combined with E-learning, VLE, tutorials, practical workshops,
visiting speakers, discussion boards, research forums and personal progress
plans to allow for flexible learning and learning autonomy. In the current
programme modules have been designed to supplement each other so that
learning is consolidated within broad and comprehensive conceptual and
methodological frameworks. Neuroscience is a specialist subject that employs
cutting edge techniques and students will have hands-on practical experience
with a broad range of methods and techniques to supplement and apply
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knowledge acquired through more standard teaching approaches, for example
lecture series.
3.2
The approach to Assessment and Feedback within the Programme
Students will undertake various formal written summative assessments, including
essays, short answer questions, case study reports and a dissertation project
written up as a peer-reviewed journal manuscript. These will provide students
with the opportunity to critique, analyse, assess, synthesise and report on the
course material. Formative assessment will comprise ongoing seminar activities
that focus on the applied aspects of neuroscience, incorporating practical, skillsbased sessions, small group projects and E-learning. Ongoing formative
assessments will embed neuroscience methods and approaches within an
academic neuroscience framework and equip students with the practical and
experiential skills required for work with specialist patient groups. Summative
assessments will facilitate critical and analytical development at both generic and
subject-specific levels.
Comprehensive feedback will be provided from a number of sources including
peer review, tutor evaluations and summative assessments. Students will be
given opportunities to respond to feedback both summative and formative, to
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their work and provide a deeper
insight into the learning process. Such opportunities will be provided via virtual
learning environment and seminar discussions. Students will complete practical
based sessions that contribute to both formative and summative assessment and
meet subject specific learning outcomes. The dissertation element of the course
has a built in iterative element in the form of peer-review for publication and a
peer-reviewed presentation part way through the module. Students will complete
analytical and evaluate assessment tasks that frame and discuss ethical, moral
and
conceptual
issues
in
neuroscience
and
biomedics,
neuropsychopharmocology and cognitive neuropsychology to fulfil the knowledge
and understanding learning outcomes.
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PROGRAMME DESIGN AND STRUCTURE
The full- and part-time Masters in Applied Cognitive Neuroscience will comprise
120 credits that are taught onsite and a 60 credit final dissertation. The course
comprises six twenty credit, and two ten credit modules that span the diverse
areas of Cognitive Neuroscience approaches and methods and comprise
lectures and seminar/practical skills based work. Students must complete one of
two research methods modules; Advanced Statistical Design, or Fundamentals
of Design and Statistics depending on their educational background and
statistical knowledge across all the awards (see award progression route maps
below). Intermediate awards include the Postgraduate Certificate: Introduction to
Neuroscience that comprises sixty credits (40 that are optional and 20
mandatory), drawn from the main Masters programme across one year for the
Full Time route and two years for the Part-Time route (30 credits per year – see
award routes below), and a 120 credit Diploma: Fundamentals of Applied
Neuroscience that includes all modules except for the dissertation over one year
for the Full Time route and two years for the Part-Time route (60 credits per
year). Students will be enrolled separately either to the Postgraduate Certificate,
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Diploma or MSc on Full- or Part-Time routes (see award progression routes
below for each award). Modules will be completed in semester blocks. The
unifying principles of the course are the combination of academic neuroscience
expertise with practical skills based work using diverse neuroscience methods
and tools and their application to innovative work with normal and
neuropathological groups.
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Award Progression Routes
Postgraduate Certificate: Introduction to Neuroscience: Full Time route - 1 Year: 60 - credits
See footnote1
Advanced Statistics
and Design
Mandatory
Neuron to
Neuropathology
Fundamentals in
Design and Statistics
OR
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 +2
20 Credits
20 Credits
Philosophical
Debates in
Neuroscience
Perception and
Cognition
Neuropsychopharmacology
Cognitive
Neuroscience
Methods
Business and
Bioethics
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Semester 1 only
10 credits
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
Semester 2 only
10 credits
Elective
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
1
Students are assigned to one or other statistics module on the basis of prior learning and qualifications
5
Award progression routes
Postgraduate Certificate: Introduction to Neuroscience: Part Time route - 2 Years: 60 - credits
YEAR 1
See footnote2
Advanced Statistics
and Design
Fundamentals in
Design and Statistics
Philosophical Debates in
Neuroscience
AND
Mandatory
OR
Mandatory
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 +2
Semester 1 only
20 Credits
20 Credits
10 credits
YEAR 2
Business and
Bioethics
Neuron to
Neuropathology
Neuropsychopharmacology
Elective
Elective
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
20 credits
Mandatory
Semester 2 only
10 credits
2
Cognitive
Neuroscience
Methods
Perception and
Cognition
Elective
Elective
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
Students are assigned to one or other statistics module on the basis of prior learning and qualifications
6
Award progression routes
Postgraduate Diploma: Fundamentals of Neuroscience: Full Time route - 1 Year: 120 - credits
See footnote3
Advanced Statistics
and Design
Mandatory
Fundamentals in
Design and Statistics
OR
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 +2
20 Credits
20 Credits
Philosophical Debates in
Neuroscience
Neuron to
Neuropathology
Neuropsychopharmacology
Cognitive
Neuroscience Methods
Perception and
Cognition
Business and
Bioethics
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Semester 1 only
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 2 only
10 credits
20 credits
20 credits
20 credits
20 credits
10 credits
3
Students are assigned to one or other statistics module on the basis of prior learning and qualifications
7
Award progression routes
Postgraduate Diploma: Fundamentals of Neuroscience: Part Time route - 2 Years: 120 - credits
YEAR 1
See footnote4
Advanced Statistics
and Design
Mandatory
Fundamentals in
Design and Statistics
OR
AND
Mandatory
Neuron to
Neuropathology
Perception and
Cognition
Mandatory
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 +2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
20 Credits
20 Credits
20 credits
20 credits
YEAR 2
4
Philosophical Debates in
Neuroscience
Neuropsychopharmacology
Mandatory
Mandatory
Semester 1 only
Semester 1 + 2
10 credits
20 credits
Cognitive
Neuroscience
Methods
Business and
Bioethics
Mandatory
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
Semester 2 only
10 credits
Students are assigned to one or other statistics module on the basis of prior learning and qualifications
8
Award progression routes
MSc: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience: Full Time route - 1 Year: 180 - credits
See footnote5
Advanced Statistics
and Design
Mandatory
Fundamentals in
Design and Statistics
OR
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 +2
20 Credits
20 Credits
Philosophical Debates in
Neuroscience
Neuron to
Neuropathology
Neuropsychopharmacology
Cognitive
Neuroscience Methods
Perception and
Cognition
Business and
Bioethics
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Semester 1 only
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 2 only
10 credits
20 credits
20 credits
20 credits
20 credits
10 credits
Dissertation
Mandatory
Semester 2 only
60 credits
5
Students are assigned to one or other statistics module on the basis of prior learning and qualifications
9
Award progression routes
MSc: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience: Part Time route - 2 Years: 180 - credits
YEAR 1
See footnote6
Advanced Statistics
and Design
Mandatory
Fundamentals in
Design and Statistics
OR
Mandatory
AND
Neuron to
Neuropathology
Perception and
Cognition
Philosophical Debates in
Neuroscience
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
Cognitive
Neuroscience
Methods
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 +2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 1 only
20 Credits
20 Credits
20 credits
20 credits
10 credits
Semester 1 + 2
20 credits
YEAR 2
Neuropsychopharmacology
Business and
Bioethics
Mandatory
Mandatory
Semester 1 + 2
Semester 2 only
20 credits
10 credits
Dissertation
Mandatory
6
Semester 2 only
60 credits
Students are assigned to one or other statistics module on the basis of prior learning and qualifications
10
5
PROGRESSION/CAREER ROUTES
Possible progression or career routes after you have completed this
programme include





PhD in Neuroscience.
Research work within clinical neuroscience, academic or pharmaceutical
settings.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a view to specialising in
neuropsychology or other neuroscience related disciplines.
Specialist clinical work in the NHS or rehabilitation settings with
neuropathological groups
Continuing Professional Development for individuals employed in
neuroscience settings.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND ENTRY PROFILE
6.1
Specific Entry Requirements for entry to the initial stage of this
programme are

Academic Qualifications
(including A / AS level grades
and subjects, where
applicable)

Level of English language
capability
Any other specific, formally
certified qualifications





6.2
Previous relevant work or
work-related experience
Any specific articulation
arrangements recognised for
this programme
Professional qualifications
Any other specific entry
requirements
A 2:2 undergraduate degree in
Psychology or health related
discipline (e.g. nursing) and
including life sciences (biology,
biochemistry, biotechnology,
chemistry and physics).
English Language required to
IELTS band 7.0
International students must
demonstrate qualifications
equivalent to an Ordinary level
Bachelor of Sciences
undergraduate degree
NA
NA
NA
NA
APPLICANT ENTRY PROFILE: the knowledge, skills and qualities etc.
required to enable you to benefit from, and succeed on the programme
of study are
1. The ability to demonstrate graduate level critical thinking, analysis and
evaluation, this may be expressed via undergraduate qualifications or
appropriate work place experience.
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2. A willingness to deal with diverse information sources and manage such
information will enhance a student's ability to succeed on the course. Hence
being able to demonstrate effective information management skills will
enhance an applicant’s profile.
3. The capacity to effectively undertake and contribute to group work and also to
undertake autonomous independent learning.
4. A proven track record in application of theory to real world contexts. Such a
track record may be shown by prior academic qualifications or via workplace
experience.
6.3
The University will select non-standard entrants to the programme in
the following ways
Non-standard entrants to the course will complete a formal presentation and
interview to establish their ability to undertake and complete the course. Each
individual case will be considered on their own merits and within prior
accreditation APCL/APEL framework consistent with university regulations.
Individuals with two or more years of employment within a neuroscience
setting, who show evidence of ongoing continuing professional development,
will be considered for non-standard entry to the course.
6.4
Use of Prior Credit (APCL/APEL): prior certificated credit or prior
experiential credit may be used within the Programme in the following
ways
Through APCL students may be awarded for previous formal study
completed, which has similar or overlapping content to modules in the
programme. APEL credit recognises the learning gained from various
professional experiences, provided it is related and is at an appropriate level.
Applicants will be considered on an individual basis in terms of prior learning.
In particular prior certificated learning may be able to be credited towards an
award. In the first instance this needs to be discussed with the course leader.
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