Master of Science in Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology Kings College London, UK

You will develop knowledge about the genetic and environmental causes of developmental psychopathology from pregnancy through to adulthood, the standard psychological therapies and treatments available, and research methods and statistics relevant to this field. The course will provide you with tools to understand both latest research findings and current treatments for mental health conditions across the lifespan.

Benefit from comprehensive coverage of the field exploring how biological (genetic), behavioural and cognitive processes, along with family and wider social forces, can affect development across the life course.

Key benefits

• Learn how to characterise psychopathology across the life span.
• Learn how to characterise the most common mental health problems that typically onset across three life stages: childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
• Learn from contributing international clinical and research collaborators, experts within third sector organisations (e.g. charities) and experts by experience.
• Become familiar with the latest scientific results and debates surrounding the “nature and nurture” of psychological and psychopathological conditions.
• Become skilled in using state-of-the-art research methods skills, including those in behavioural and statistical genetics, and access world-renowned longitudinal data sets.
• Learn how to identify and describe behavioural traits in common disorders such as Autism and ADHD, and become familiar with main approaches in supporting those with these conditions.
• Learn from world-leading researchers and clinicians at the IoPPN, with 22 of the world’s most highly cited scientists in this field eg Louise Arseneault, Helen Fisher, Francesca Happé, Robert Plomin.
• Identify your strengths and gaps in career development and prioritize development needs.

The course will provide training to graduates relevant to careers related to mental health. Topics covered include the characterisation of developmental psychopathology, the biological (genetic) and environmental causes and development of mental health problems across the lifespan (including neurodevelopmental disorders) and an understanding of the most standard psychological therapies used in clinical practice and available support service systems. In addition, the course will provide you with a solid understanding of the most recent research methods applied in this area. Also, embedded within the curriculum is the development of a range of skills and attributes linked to future careers and employability - such as cultural competency, development of psychological attributes such as resilience, self-management and team-working skills.