Option 1 - Clinical and health psychology (CHP)

The option in clinical and health psychology offers teaching based on current scientific knowledge in these two disciplines. This option offers evidence-based theoretical training as well as a first practical approach in the field of psychological disorders and problems, their aetiology, diagnosis, classification and treatment, at any age, with an emphasis on the role of the family. The analysis of the determinants of health as well as the relationship between mental and physical health, i.e. the link between the psychic and the somatic, is another key focus of this option. Students are involved in a current research project in one of the clinical psychology units for the duration of their studies. This gives them direct access to scientific research in the field and allows them to benefit from personalised supervision for their master thesis.

The aim of the option in clinical and health psychology is to provide students with both a firm theoretical basis and with the necessary skills to develop a critical reflection on the content taught. The acquisition of basic practical knowledge in the field of diagnosis and clinical interventions as well as in research methods, prepares students for future work in clinical practice or research and for postgraduate training courses to obtain the federal title in the fields of psychotherapy, clinical psychology and health psychology.

The main teaching language of the in-depth study program for this option is French or German. The teaching language for the module “Basics” is English. The teaching language for the specialisation program depends on the choice of the module.

Structure

In-depth study program (major)

• Basics module15 ECTS

  The goal of the module is to provide students with a fundamental and current understanding of the main areas of psychology and the central themes of the department's research teams. The module includes the research colloquium linked to the Master thesis (3 ECTS credits) as well as teaching on the most recent advances in the fundamental fields of psychological sciences. The teaching includes topics ranging from basic psychological processes or functions to broad areas of applied psychology and related fields.

  The module is composed of a research colloquium related to the Master thesis (3 ECTS credits), a teaching unit in statistics (3 ECTS credits), a teaching unit in psychotherapy research (3 ECTS credits) and 2 elective teaching units (at 3 ECTS credits). Among the elective teaching units is the "Mentoring" teaching unit. The latter includes the acquisition of various experiences in the field of reinforcement and transmission of knowledge in the university context under supervision. The specific offers for this course are published before the beginning of the semester on the department's website. The teaching units are offered in English. The assessment procedures are announced in the description of the course and are specified until the end of the registration period for the course.

• Methods and interventions in clinical and health
  psychology15 ECTS

  The purpose of this module is to provide students with a sound background in research and intervention methods and their application in practice, and to prepare them for evidence-based research and clinical practice. This module consists of courses that provide a deeper understanding of research methods in clinical and health psychology as well as intervention methods and their application in these fields. The course offer reflects different psychotherapeutic orientations in the field of psychological interventions and includes themes related to several issues (childhood, adulthood, families...).

  The module is composed of 5 elective teaching units of 3 ECTS credits, of which 3 ECTS credits are validated in a teaching unit labelled "Research and clinical Methods" (this label is mentioned in the teaching unit title). The teaching units are offered in French, German or English. The assessment procedures are announced in the description of the teaching unit and are specified until the end of the registration period for the teaching unit.

• Psychopathology15 ECTS

  The purpose of this module is to provide students with an understanding of psychopathology, which prepares them for the scientific study of the symptoms, causes and treatment of psychological disorders and to allows them to integrate new treatments in future clinical practice. The module consists of teaching units that present the clinical manifestations of mental disorders, their classification according to current classification systems and their frequency, and discuss the aetiological models of these disorders based on current research. This module offers teaching dedicated to specific aspects of psychological disorders, such as:

  • psychophysiological and neurophysiological bases in psychopathology
  • age group specificities, including children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, or presenting the results of research in experimental psychopathology

  The module is composed of 5 elective teaching units of 3 ECTS credits, of which 3 ECTS credits are validated in a teaching unit labelled "Research and clinical Methods" (this label is mentioned in the teaching unit title). The teaching units are offered in French, German or English. The assessment procedures are announced in the description of the teaching unit and are specified until the end of the registration period for the teaching unit.

• Practical experience15 ECTS

  The aim of the practical experience is to mobilise the students' basic skills, to extend their expertise specific to their option and more broadly to build their professional network. The practical experience is carried out in a clinical, industrial or research environment related to psychology. It can also be carried out on a part-time basis or split between several institutions and research laboratories (called "Lab rotations"). All information and procedures relating to the practical experience are recorded here (FR).

  Validation conditions for the module

  • The practical experience must be equivalent to eight weeks of 100% work.
  • It must be carried out under the supervision of a psychologist and must be related to the Master option chosen by the student.
  • The activities carried out by the students as well as the knowledge and skills developed during each practical experience or "Lab rotations" are described and evaluated on the basis of a written report. This report is evaluated (without a grade) by the departmental internship coordinator. If the written report is judged insufficient, it is returned to the student for correction and resubmission. A second unsatisfactory evaluation of the internship report leads to a definitive failure.

  Students who have completed or carried out a large part of their internship participate in a two-hour meeting that allows them to share their experiences.

• Master Exam30 ECTS

  The Master exam consists of

  1. a written project and
  2. its defence.

  The research project is developed and implemented by the students within the framework of the chosen option. Although guided by expert supervision throughout the process, students are responsible for preparing the project, recruiting participants, conducting the study, preparing and analysing statistical data. Students then write a thesis, normally in the form of a long research paper. This paper may be written in English, German or French.

  Validation conditions for this module

  • Acceptance of the written Master thesis
  • Successful defence of the Master thesis

  Conditions for starting the master thesis

  • Students who have been admitted to the Master program with a complementary study program must have fully completed this program. In exceptional cases, a waiver may be requested by writing to the head of the studies program.

Specialisation program (minor)

• Diagnostic skills and selected topics in clinical and health psychology15 ECTS

  This module provides students with an in-depth overview of clinical diagnostic methods and a practical introduction to these procedures, as well as the opportunity to deepen their understanding of specific topics in health and clinical psychology. This module consists of teaching units:

  • Deepening their knowledge of diagnosis (illustrated by clinical cases)
  • Practicing different diagnostic procedures in children and adults, e.g. conducting structured interviews.
  • In-depth training on specific topics in health and clinical psychology (e.g. psychopharmacology, psychosomatics, childhood, family, culture, ...).
  • In the form of exchange forums with speakers from practice.

  The module is composed of 5 elective teaching units of 3 ECTS credits, of which at least 3 ECTS credits are labelled "Diagnostics" (this label is mentioned in the title of the teaching unit). The teaching units are offered in French, German or English. The assessment methods are announced in the description of the teaching unit and are specified until the end of the registration period for the teaching unit.

Elective module15 ECTS

• Topics in cognitive neuroscience

  The aim of this module is to deepen and broaden students' understanding of cognitive neuroscience. The module offers teaching units in which students learn about the most recent research in different areas of neuroscience.

  The module consists of 5 elective units of 3 ECTS credits. The teaching units are offered in English (some may be given in French or German). The assessment procedures are announced in the description of the teaching unit and specified until the end of the registration period for the teaching unit.

• Methods in cognitive neuroscience

  The aim of this module is to enable students to acquire all the necessary skills to conduct individual experimental research investigating human cognitive processes and their underlying neural mechanisms. The teaching units offered in this module provide a detailed and in-depth view of different experimental methods, such as behavioural methods, brain stimulation techniques and functional imaging. In this module, students have the opportunity to try out different techniques in practical exercises and procedures. Of course, students also learn to master complex and challenging data analysis techniques for processing behavioural data and neuroimaging findings. Students also become familiar with different programming software, to give them many possibilities to build creative experiments.

  The module consists of 5 elective teaching units of 3 ECTS credits. The teaching units are offered in French, German or English. The assessment methods are announced in the description of the teaching unit and specified until the end of the registration period for the teaching unit.

• Developmental psychology

  The aim of this module is to deepen and broaden students' knowledge of developmental psychology.

  Through the teaching units provided in this module, students acquire fundamental knowledge of typical and atypical child development. Both current theories of general development and specific learning and its mechanisms are addressed through the different teaching units that make up this module.

  The module is composed of 5 elective teaching units. The teaching units are mainly given in French (some may be given in English). The assessment methods are announced in the description of the teaching unit and specified until the end of the registration period for the teaching unit.

• « Occupational Health Psychology » and « Human Factors »

  This module enables students to study in depth central and current topics in two areas of occupational and organisational psychology, namely occupational health psychology and human factors. Most of the teaching units deal with occupational health promotion, family-work balance, human-machine interaction and user-oriented product development. In addition to theoretical skills, this module enables students to acquire practical skills, such as designing measures for occupational health promotion or conducting usability tests.

  The module consists of 5 elective teaching units with 3 ECTS credits. The teaching units are offered in German or English. In principle, it is possible to take the module entirely in English. The assessment procedures are announced in the description of the course unit and are specified until the end of the registration period for the course unit.