Option 6 - Clinical neuroscience (CliNS)

On application

Number of places available for the current academic year: 12

Application deadline: Friday of the 1^st week of the fall semester (academical calendar)

Presentation

The option "Clinical Neuroscience" combines in-depth training in clinical and health psychology with the acquisition of expertise in the field of cognitive neuroscience. Its aim is to provide students with extensive and sophisticated knowledge, skills and competences in clinical and health psychology (in-depth theoretical introduction to psychological disorders and other forms of psychological dysfunction, including their aetiologies, diagnoses, classifications and treatments). In addition, students explore the current state of knowledge in the field of cognitive neuroscience, including social and emotional aspects and changes in human brain function across the life span. Finally, students acquire the experimental and methodological skills necessary to conduct high quality research projects in the field of clinical neuroscience, in which the methodological tools of cognitive neuroscience (e.g. brain imaging or brain stimulation techniques) are used to investigate topics relevant to clinical and health psychology. By combining these areas, the option prepares students for professional careers in a research-oriented but also in a clinical setting, including continuing education for federal certification 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 main teaching language of the specialisation programme is English.

Application

Before applying for this option, you must first be admitted to the master’s programme (see this page for the admission procedure)!

It contains the following documents (in PDF, DOC, DOCX or ODT format):

• A motivational letter with presentation of the professional project
• A transcript of the marks and certificates obtained during the Bachelor's courses
• A complete curriculum vitae with all available appendices
• Experience in the field of the option is desired (internship, mastery of a specific method of data analysis, …)

The selection criteria are presented below (from the most important to the least important):

1. Experience in the field of the option
2. Summary of marks obtained in Bachelor courses
3. Motivational letter with presentation of the professional project

Those who have not been admitted may choose one of the options 1 to 3. They may also, if they wish, reapply the following academic year.

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.

• 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.

• Interventions and diagnostics15 ECTS

  The goal of this module is to provide students with a sound basic understanding of interventions and diagnoses and their application in practice, and to prepare them for practical work or activity in scientific research. This module offers teaching units that deepen their knowledge of investigative methods in clinical and health psychology. The module also includes teaching units that provide basic knowledge of methods of psychological intervention and diagnosis in the field of clinical and health psychology. The course offering reflects various approaches in the field of psychological intervention and diagnosis, such as person-centred and cognitive-behavioural interventions. The topics covered are concerned with issues related to childhood, adulthood, family, etc.

  The module consists of 5 elective teaching units. The teaching units are offered in French, German or English. 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.

• 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)

• Topics in cognitive neuroscience15 ECTS

  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 neuroscience15 ECTS

  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.