MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies

Overview

The MSc offers teaching on a broad range of psychoanalytic theories and their applications. The programme aims to bridge the gap which can exist between psychoanalysis as conceived by professional psychoanalysts, and as presented in most academic psychoanalytic studies programmes. While other programmes tend to emphasise non-clinically based theories and non-intensive clinical practice, the MSc programme provides a comprehensive introduction to current psychoanalytic thinking, rooted in the history and development of ideas and with attention to the application of psychoanalytic ideas to other fields. While maintaining a clinically informed perspective, the degree programme is academic, concerning itself with theoretical issues as these relate to the clinical context.

The largest single element of the teaching programme is a firm grounding in the works of Sigmund Freud, organised from the beginning of the programme by Dr Rosine Perelberg.

The degree programme is made up of four taught modules, incorporating 16 seminar series which are organised by experienced psychoanalysts or academics who are expert in the field concerned. Each seminar series consists of between four and ten 1.5 hour seminars which may be taught by the coordinator or by invited lecturers.

The programme begins with seminars introducing the nature of the discipline and outlining how it differs from other psychological disciplines. Students are also given an overview of the major theoretical and clinical works of Sigmund Freud, which continue to be taught (and referred to in other seminars) throughout the programme. The remainder of the taught programme covers the central ideas contributed by Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, D.W. Winnicott, and J. Lacan, together with some ideas of contemporary theorists, principally from the British Psychoanalytic Society. There are taught seminars on psychoanalytic technique and themes such as Dreams, Trauma, Hysteria and Time and Space are approached offering a variety of contemporary perspectives. A number of seminar series are offered to demonstrate the application of psychoanalytic ideas to understanding the wider culture and their contribution to other disciplines. These are Psychoanalysis and Philosophy, Psychoanalysis and Literature, and Psychoanalysis and Cinema.

Aims of the Programme

The Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies MSc aims to:

Give a grounding in the nature, history, content and context of psychoanalytic theories, as used by practicing psychoanalysts. Hence to educate students about one area of systematic psychology.

To develop the ability and readiness to evaluate critically the claims, theories and nature of evidence in the area of psychoanalytic theory.

To provide teaching that benefits from a) our position as a leading research department with links to scholars in other first rate universities, b) our collaboration with the British Psycho-Analytical Society, to provide first class teaching bridging clinical, theoretical and research perspectives.

To select our students, provide them with guidance, teach them and assess their work, fairly and with care, so they will make the best of their academic potential.

To provide a challenging and supportive intellectual environment that is international and culturally diverse.

Students taking the Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies MSc should, specifically:

Gain an outline understanding of the medical and cultural context in which psychoanalysis began, together with its development over the following century

Become familiar with the major theoretical and clinical works of Sigmund Freud

Become aware of the central ideas characterising different theoretical groupings emerging from Freudian psychoanalysis including those deriving from Jacques Lacan and modern French psychoanalysis, Melanie Klein, the British Independent Group and the British Contemporary Freudian group.

Undertake thematic teaching that addresses concepts such as trauma and dream theory, looking at these areas from a variety of theoretical perspectives.

Study psychoanalytic thinking in relation to psychopathology, clinical technique, philosophy, and the applications of psychoanalytic ideas to understanding the wider culture including cinema and literature.

Through being taught by practicing analysts, become aware of how theory is rooted in clinical work.

Click here for a Word document of the full Programme Specification.

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This page last modified 10 November, 2009 by Sophie Bennett