Please distribute to other lists and/or interested parties.

Also, please note that we now offer a February admission.




This flexible modular course brings together systematic reflection 
upon and intervention into theories and practices in psychology, and 
upon the contribution of critical perspectives to the critique of 
power and ideology in the discipline.  Bolton Institute is a centre 
for critical psychological research, and this work underpins teaching 
in the course. We also have extensive links with other centres for 
critical psychological research and particular individuals engaged 
within this area of research.  Core modules cover conceptual 
foundations in critical psychology and innovations in emancipatory 
research practice, and other modules focus on politics, subjectivity, 
feminist theory and methodology, and philosophy.  The MSc can be 
taken over a one or two calendar year period by distance learning, 
either by 4 taught modules and dissertation or by 2 core taught 
modules and dissertation. The MSc is open to graduates in Psychology 
or related disciplines.

Critical Psychology
Critical Psychology comprises a series of evolving perspectives 
questioning theoretical and methodological practices of the 
discipline of psychology in the academe, professional work and 
culture. This questioning typically focuses on problems of ideology 
and power, and upon the ways in which the discipline mirrors 
present-day culturally-specific and historically-bound assumptions 
about human nature, experience and behaviour. Different critical 
traditions focus on different aspects of cognitivism, essentialism 
and individualism in psychology. Critical psychologists may emphasise 
endemic processes of normalisation and pathologisation as an 
irremediable characteristic of psychology or attend to specific 
abuses of power in particular practices which impede the development 
of a genuinely empowering alternative approach. A variety of 
conceptual frameworks (such as feminism, Marxism, post-structuralism 
and psychoanalysis) are employed by critical psychologists to 
understand the way psychology functions or to replace dominant 
frameworks in the discipline.

The Programme
The MSc Critical Psychology programme is intended to offer graduates 
the opportunity to pursue issues in critical psychology at an 
advanced level, in some cases with a view to preparing them for 
original research in the area. It is designed to meet the following 
needs of students wishing to take research training and theoretical 
courses before embarking on a dissertation:

i) the desire to extend critical academic knowledge;
ii) the desire to develop greater competence in research skills and 
under-standing of political contexts of study;
iii) the desire to explore areas of critical psychological knowledge 
prior to identifying a manageable topic for research;
iv) the desire to link an analysis of psychological theory and 
practice with wider structural issues of power and ideology.

Mode of delivery
The distance learning programme will enable students anywhere in the 
world to study at Bolton Institute. There are two routes in the MSc 
Critical Psychology programme: a taught programme and a research 
programme. This will enable students to opt either for a basic 
grounding in principles of critical psychology before embarking on a 
major independent piece of guided research in the 80-credit 
dissertation or to take taught courses on different perspectives 
before undertaking the 40-credit dissertation.

Distance Learning Modules
The two 'core' modules will be those normally taken by students on 
the research programme, and students on the taught programme will 
normally take four modules including the two 'core' modules. The 
first semester modules start in October and run through to February. 
The second semester modules start in February and run through to May. 
Next availability:

(core) Critical Psychological Conceptual Foundations (February 2001)
(core) Critical Psychological Research Practice (February 2001)
Critical Psychological Subjectivity (February 2001)
Critical Psychological Politics (February 2001)
Feminist Theory and Methodology (September 2001)
Philosophical Theory and Critical Psychology (September 2001)

Study Guides
Each module is based around a study guide of core and supplementary 
readings, normally including a particular set text and additional 
chapter and journal readings (supplied by us). Organised around a 12 
week schedule, the study guides provide a week by week tour of a 
given area of study. Typically, each week has four readings, a number 
of orienting paragraphs that discuss each reading and a set of 
accompanying questions - two per reading. The study guides are 
primarily constructed by members of the core teaching team but also, 
where appropriate, draw upon expertise of individuals working at 
other institutions (for example, Professor Ian Parker at Manchester 
Metropolitan University). The assessment for each module is usually 
organised around three or four short 1000 to 1500 word essays chosen 
from the questions within the study guide and a longer 3000 to 4000 
essay that examines a particular aspect of the module in greater 
depth.

Support
Support for distance learning students is provided via telephone, 
email, fax and where possible, visits to Bolton Institute campus. In 
addition, students are encouraged to contact one another either 
informally or through an email discussion list established to support 
the teaching of this course. All members of staff are subscribed to 
this list as all students with internet access.

Part-time and full-time study
Students should be prepared to spend approximately 12 hours studying 
for each credit. Part-time students will normally take the course 
'part-time' over two calendar years.  Full-time students will 
normally take the course 'full-time' in one calendar year.  However, 
the course is modular, and so the duration of the MSc may be spread 
over a longer period of time. Students may also apply for 
accreditation of prior learning or accreditation of other modules 
outwith the Institute, but each case will have to be reviewed and 
approved.

Indicative Fees (2000-2001)

Fees for modular part-time study
£300 per 20 credit module
£470 per 40 credit dissertation
£940 per 80 credit dissertation

Fee for full-time study
£3710 for the full course

Indicative total costs (on a modular part-time basis): £1670 for 
40-credit dissertation degree, £1540 for 80-credit dissertation 
degree. For full-time study the Institutes full-time student fees are 
operative (rather than the modular fees) at £3710 for home and EC 
students.

Admission
For entry to the Critical Psychology programme, candidates will 
normally be expected to have achieved the following:

i) Successful completion of a Psychology Honours Degree, class of 
degree will normally be expected to be Second Class or above. Or Š
ii) A Postgraduate Diploma or professional qualification recognised 
as being equivalent to an Honours Degree. Or Š
iii) Such equivalent qualifications as may arise or be presented for 
entry in lieu of 1-2 above, with specific consideration given to 
equivalent awards obtained by students overseas registering for the 
distance learning programme.

Application
Application forms are available from Rod Noble, the admissions tutor 
([log in to unmask]) or David Nightingale, the programme leader 
([log in to unmask]).

Applications forms should be returned by mid August (for Semester 
1/October enrolment) or mid January (for Semester 2/February 
enrolment). Applications will be accepted after these dates, but 
subject to numbers registered for different modules.

Further details
This document was constructed to provide basic information regarding 
the MSc Critical Psychology at Bolton Institute. However, please feel 
free to direct any  further questions to David Nightingale, the 
programme leader (address as below).

document last updated: 4th November 2000


David J. Nightingale
Discourse Unit
Psychology
Bolton Institute
Deane Road
Bolton BL3 5AB (UK)

voice: +44(0)1204 903671
fax: +44(0)1204 399074
mobile: +44(0)7947 026115

<http://www.sar.bolton.ac.uk/Psych/>Departmental web site
<http://www.sar.bolton.ac.uk/Psych/Main/WebRing.htm>Critical Psychology WebRing

Robert Maxwell Young, Professor Emeritus of Psychotherapy & 
Psychoanalytic Studies,
Centre for Psychotherapeutic Studies, University of Sheffield,
16 Claremont Cresc., Sheffield S10 2TA. http://www.shef.ac.uk/~psysc/
Co-Director, Bulgarian Institute of Human Relations & Honoured Professor,
New Bulgarian University, Sofia. http://www.nbu.bg/bihr/psy.htm
Home: 26 Freegrove Rd., London N7 9RQ. tel. +44 207 607 8306
Private Practice, Consultation, Supervision
Web Site & Writings  http://www.human-nature.com
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
One must imagine Sisyphus happy.' - Camus