Psychosocial Studies

Birkbeck, University of London
Postgraduate MA Full-time 1 Year PsychologyCounselling, psychotherapy, and occupational therapy

About this course

This MA Psychosocial Studies pioneers an exciting interdisciplinary approach to understanding the psychosocial constitution of the human subject and the relationship between the psychic and the social. It gives you the chance to develop an in-depth understanding of the relation between individual subjectivities and identities, and historical and contemporary social and political formations. 

Why choose this course?

  • It offers you a range of critical frameworks to explore, including psychoanalytic theory, social theory, feminist and queer theory, cultural and post-colonial studies and qualitative psychosocial methodologies. 

  • It is specifically designed to develop the skills and knowledge you need to work with a psychosocial lens in a range of future employment situations.

  • It gives you the opportunity to undertake your own psychosocial research project. We encourage you to take a creative approach to this, for example employing visual or art-based methods. 

    What you will learn

    On this course you will develop your understanding of human experience, social conflict and mental health beyond conventional distinctions made between the psychological and social.  

    You will gain a grounding in the work of key social and psychoanalytic theorists, exploring power, ‘otherness’, violence, affect, aesthetics, memory, resistance, care and identity. To help you put theory into practice, you will be given training in psychosocial research methodologies, including visual and arts-based methods.

    How you will learn

    This MA Psychosocial Studies is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening.

    Teaching on this course is a combination of lectures (some pre-recorded) and seminars. Lectures will provide you with an outline or overview of the topic, to engage you with the material and direct you to other resources. Seminars are group sessions with discussion or group work, and often a class presentation around the topic, with material set in advance.

    Highlights

  • Our psychosocial studies team is genuinely interdisciplinary, so you will benefit from the experience of academics coming from backgrounds in anthropology, decolonial studies, gender and sexuality studies, sociology and psychoanalytic studies.

  • Psychosocial studies at Birkbeck is globally recognised and we have been at the forefront of the field for more than twenty years. We have connections with world-renowned scholars such as Professor Judith Butler. 

  • Birkbeck has a rich research environment for students to immerse themselves in. For example, the Birkbeck Institute for Social Research, Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities and Birkbeck Gender and Sexuality organise regular talks, film screenings and masterclasses, which our students can attend.

    Careers and employability

    On successfully completing this MA, you will have gained an array of important skills, including:

  • the capacity to apply a psychosocial understanding to key problematics and phenomena

  • an understanding of psychosocial epistemologies and methodologies for empirical and theoretical research

  • ⁠the ability to design and carry out a piece of independent research

  • ⁠the ability to work effectively in a small group, including group presentations.

    Graduates can pursue career paths in psychological, psychotherapeutic and counselling settings; health and social care; education; social and psychological research; social policy; international development; human rights; the cultural industries; social research, including further study at MPhil/PhD levels. Possible professions include: 

  • counselling psychologist 

  • ⁠further education lecturer 

  • human resources officer 

  • social researcher 

  • psychotherapist.

    • Study Options

    This course is available in 2 study options:

    Full-time Shown above

    Duration: 1 Year

    Qualification: MA

    Location: London

    Part-time

    Duration: 2 Years

    Qualification: MA

    Location: London

    Career Prospects

    Graduates from this course typically go into the following occupations:

    1172 Social services managers and directors
    3219 Health associate professionals
    2462 Probation officers
    2229 Therapy professionals
    3214 Complementary health associate professionals
    1231 Health care practice managers

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    Course Details

    Qualification
    MA
    Study Mode
    Full-time
    Duration
    1 Year
    Start Date
    2025
    Academic Year
    2025
    Campus / Location
    London
    Scheme
    Postgraduate
    Subjects
    Psychology, Counselling, psychotherapy, and occupational therapy

    Offered by

    Birkbeck, University of London

    London

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