Prospectus

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First Year

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory coursework

Experimentation I: Programming Psychological Experiments 5
Designing an Empirical Study 5
Applied Multivariate Data Analysis (A and B) - Mini-Courses in Statistics 5 and 5
Experimentation II: Neuroscientific Research Methods 5
Scientific Writing 5

Track specific compulsory coursework

Social Anxiety and Normal Development 5
(A)typical Emotional Development: Autism, Deafness and Somatisation 5
Dynamic Assessment 5
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience 5

Recommended track-specific electives

See overview of all electives

Advanced Psycho-diagnostics in Children and Adolescents 5
Behaviour Training with Children 5
Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy with Young People 5
Process Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities and Remedial Teaching 5
Social Skills Training 5

Second Year

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory courses

Analysis of Own Data 5
Presenting Your Research 5
Master Thesis in Research Master Psychology 20
Research Internship Psychology 20

More info

Timetables

Timetables Master’s (2011-2012)

Additional information

Programme description

The development of emotion and cognition, and the relationship to the developing brain, lie at the forefront of scientific enquiry. Key questions are: How does intelligent behaviour emerge over the course of childhood development? How do cognition and emotion interact and affect behaviour across development? How does autism or deafness affect emotional development? How does the brain develop to shape our mind, thoughts and behaviour? Emotion, cognition, and their interaction, are manifested at various behavioural levels and in different brain systems. Hence, multi-method approaches are used to address the complex and dynamic interplay between emotion, cognition and the developing brain.

Emotional and cognitive development:

This research master track offers a strong theoretical background to provide the varied knowledge-base needed for a thorough understanding of emotional and cognitive development across childhood and adolescence. Students will gain hands-on experience with various assessment procedures: self-report, behavioural observation, experimental manipulations, psychophysiological assessment (skin conductance, heart rate, cortisol, etc.), EEG, and fMRI. Master’s programme – Track Developmental Psychology.

Research programmes:

The multi-method approach in the training programme is realized in the context of four research programmes.

  • Developmental cognitive neuroscience
    Program leader: Eveline Crone

  • Adolescent maturation, social anxiety, and peripheral parameters of neurological functioning
    Program leader: Michiel Westenberg

  • Cognitive development, learning potential and cognitive plasticity
    Program leader: Wilma Resing

  • Emotional functioning and regulation in typically and atypically developing children
    Program leader: Carolien Rieffe

Curriculum

Compulsory coursework

The compulsory coursework consists of advanced training in academic and research skills. The design and placement of these modules is designed in such a way that students can immediately apply their newly acquired skills to their own research project. This methodologically-oriented part of the curriculum consists of 9 modules.

Track coursework

The obligatory coursework will consist of four theoretical modules which will provide the basis for understanding changes in cognitive and affective systems across childhood and adolescence. These modules can be combined with elective modules from other programmes, allowing an interdisciplinary perspective on development.

(Track-specific) Electives

Students can choose 20 EC to further specialize in their area of interest and prepare for their thesis. This involves modules offered in the Professional Master Programme (MSc) of Child and Adolescent Psychology or in other Research Masters Programmes of Psychology or Educational Sciences.

Purchasing study material

The books are available at a discount via the bookshop of the study association Labyrint on presentation of your Labyrint membership pass. Otherwise they can be bought from academic booksellers.