Atypical Child Development (PgDip)

Course Details

The programme consists of seven compulsory modules and a dissertation. Modules cover theoretical approaches to developmental psychology, an introduction to developmental disorders (including autism, dyslexia, SLI and dyscalculia), and descriptions of how such disorders are diagnosed and treated.

In addition, students complete modules on research skills and quantitative and qualitative data analysis in order to prepare them for conducting the research that will form the basis of their MSc dissertation. For their dissertation, students are encouraged to conduct their research with children who show atypical patterns of development or on relevant issues with typically developing children.

Students complete three modules per semester in addition to their dissertation. Each taught module involves a mixture of classes and seminars. The quantitative statistics module is lab-based. Student also see their tutor regularly for individual supervision on their research dissertation. Students are expected to spend at least an equivalent amount of time on private study and/or data collection each week as they do in teaching sessions.

Modules include:

Assessment and Intervention (20 credits)
Atypical Patterns of Child Development (20 credits)
Perspectives on Child Development (20 credits)
Principles of Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analyses (20 credits)
Quantitative Data Analyses (20 credits)
Research Methods in Developmental Psychology (10 credits)
Research Skills (10 credits)

The dissertation is a further 60 credits.

Assessment will consist of a dissertation, coursework assignments and class tests.

Teaching takes place in the morning and afternoon. Lectures and seminars are blocked into two full days for full time students and one full day for part time students.