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Philosophy and Mental Health MA/PGDip/PGCert

Because of its very nature, mental health care raises as many conceptual questions as empirical ones. The philosophy of mental health is a rapidly developing field developed by philosophers, clinicians, eg psychiatrists and mental health nurses and mental health service users. Based on the newly published Oxford Textbook of Philosophy and Psychiatry co-authored by the course leader, the MA Philosophy and Mental Health course aims to develop a better understanding of psychiatry, and mental health care more broadly, through an analysis of some of its fundamental concepts.

Entry and Admissions +

Entry and Admissions

Award Type:

MA/PGDip/PGCert

Level:

Postgraduate

Study Mode:

Part time

Delivery Method:

Campus

Course Length:

Part-time: Up to three years for the MA

School:

School of Health

Partner Colleges:

No Partner College

Campus:

Online Only

Start Date:

September and January

Entry Requirements:

In addition to standard access via prior academic qualifications, applications to this programme are also welcome from potential students with relevant practical experience in the field of mental health through, for example, mental health nursing or patient advocacy. Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits. Those without formal qualifications will be invited to undertake a short exercise typical of work on the degree programme: summarising and criticising Thomas Szasz' essay: 'The myth of mental illness'.

Normally the following general University wide entry requirements apply:

Postgraduate Diplomas, Certificates and Conversion Courses: A recognised British first degree or its equivalent, or a BTEC Higher Diploma/Certificate.
Taught Masters Courses: A recognised British honours degree to a good standard, or its equivalent. In addition to access via prior academic qualifications, however, applications to this programme are also welcome from potential students with relevant practical experience in the field of mental health through, eg mental health nursing or patient advocacy.

Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits.

Programme Spec:

To download the Programme Specification for this course, please click here.

Course Content +

Course Content

Course Outline:

The programme in Philosophy and Mental Health is part of a newly developing interdisciplinary field looking at conceptual and evaluative aspects of mental health care. More so than any other area of healthcare, mental health raises conceptual as well as empirical difficulties.

The role of values in diagnosis, the validity or objectivity of taxonomy, the central relationship of mind and brain are all key issues underpinning healthcare calling for conceptual as well as empirical clarification. The programme critically examines the assumptions that drive the agenda in mental health care. It aims to foster analytic and argumentative skills in its students in order for them to have a better understanding of practice and, in some cases, to carry out further and original research in this newly developing field. Students will be drawn from all areas of mental health care including service users as well as from a philosophy or psychology background. Based on the newly published Oxford Textbook of Philosophy and Psychiatry, co-authored by the course leader, teaching will be by distance learning in a structure designed to fit with the busy working lives of those working in the field.

Course at a Glance

Subjects include:

The concepts of illness, disease and disorder in mental health;
The history of psychopathology;
Empathy;
Validity of psychiatry diagnosis;
The codification of diagnosis and tacit knowledge;
The conceptual underpinnings of evidence based medicine;
Values based practice;
Psychiatric ethics;
Brain imaging and the mind body problem;
Reasons and causes;
Meaning in cognitivist psychiatry;
Meaning and social constructionism in discursive psychology;
Free will;
Autism and the problem of other minds.

Year 1

Core concepts in philosophy and mental health
A philosophical history of psychopathology
The philosophy of science and mental health

Year 2

Ethics, values and mental health
The philosophy of mind and mental health
Introduction to Postgraduate Philosophically-Based Research

Learning Environment & Assessment +

Learning Environment & Assessment:

The teaching materials are provided by the newly published Oxford Textbook of Philosophy and Psychiatry, co-authored by the course leader. This textbook is aimed at developing analytic and argumentative skills through exercises and guided readings. Tutorial supervision will be provided in guided discussion over the web using UCLan’s e-learning resources. Access to a computer connected to the web is thus a necessary requirement.

Most modules are assessed by a 5,000 word essay. The Introduction to Postgraduate Philosophically-Based Research module is assessed by three shorter assessments and the Dissertation is 10,000 words. Formative assessment is provided for a first short 2,000 word practice essay which can then be developed into the first longer essay.

Academic Expertise +

Progression Routes

Progression routes (Tags)

Fees & Funding +

Fees & Funding

The standard fee for UK/EU students studying this course is below. For further information including the availability of bursaries/scholarships or student financial support please view our Fees and Finance pages.

Contact School of Health

How to Apply +

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this course, our comprehensive How to Apply pages will guide you through the process. Here at UCLan, our aim is to encourage you to develop your potential and we offer a flexible approach to admissions, which reflects our commitment to all those who would benefit from our courses.

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University of Central Lancashire,
Preston,
PR1 2HE,

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1772 892400

Email: cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk

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