GRADUATE SCHOOL RULES OF ASSESSMENT Professional Doctorate in Child and Educational Psychology (M5) DEdChPsych TAVISTOCK AND PORTMAN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST DATE OF ISSUE : October 2011 1. COURSE STRUCTURE Aim: To develop, enhance and validate the professional, multidisciplinary and research practice of experienced educational psychologists in working with children, adolescents, families and organisations within a changing educational and community context. The course focuses on developing a systemic and/or psychodynamic understanding of the issues facing educational psychologists. This is achieved through: The advanced theoretical study of systemic and psychodynamic theories central to educational psychology taught through a series of seminars and the choice of modules in key areas of student interest. A taught module on research methodology design and practice. A research thesis grounded in everyday practice. The course involves compulsory sessions which take place throughout the four years of study. In Years 1 and 2 students attend monthly study days. On each of these students attend sessions on Advanced Theoretical Studies, a taught Research Module and a Course Meeting. There are 9 study days in each of years 1 and 2. In addition students are required to take single or double unit courses (equivalent to 3 single units) from the courses on offer each year at the Tavistock Clinic. Research Supervision also takes place during the monthly study days. In years 3 and 4 students are required to attend termly (3 per year) study days. On these days students are involved in research seminars and a course meeting. Students also arrange individual supervision sessions for their research (a minimum of 3 times a year). Students are expected to complete their data collection for their research in years 3 and 4. This is a part time (top-up) Doctorate and does not include training in Professional competencies required for working as an EP. These have already been covered in initial training and professional practice required for working as an EP. COURSE STRUCTURE Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Years 5 Workload
and 6 Weighting Taught Modules Research (3,000 words) Applied Psychology Assignments (12,000) Research Component Thesis 40,000 words Completion 60 credits 120 credits (40 credits for each single module 80 credits for a double module) (360 credits) Total : 55,000 words/ 540 credits The minimum period of study is 4 years and the maximum period of study is 6 years. The minimum period can exceptionally be reduced by up to one year. This would normally only be possible if a student was able to work almost full time on the doctorate and where work on the modules had been progressed before starting on the course). The maximum period can exceptionally be extended by up to one year. 2. COURSE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Assessment is by the Applied Psychology Assignments, the Research Assignment and the thesis. In order to be awarded the Professional Doctorate the candidate must pass all of these components. a. Applied Psychology Assignments A written assignment is required for each of the taught Applied Psychology Modules. The length of the assignment is either 4,000 (single 40 credit module) or 8,000 (double 80 credit module) words. The total length of the Applied Psychology Assignments is therefore 12,000 words (120 credits). Each assignment is individually marked and moderated. Students will present Applied Psychology Assignments only after successfully participating in the modules (as appraised by staff at the Tavistock). Applied Psychology Assignments must be presented for assessment within three months of the student finishing their participation in a module.
A module will be deemed completed on submission of the assignment for that module. Students may only have the equivalent of two single or one double credit module uncompleted at any one time. Assignments will be evaluated against the set of criteria published in the Handbook. In brief, the written assignments for these modules need to marry theory and practice and are expected to be thorough, critical and original. The pass mark for each assignment is 50%. The student will also be given written feedback on their assignments. Students can request an extension to complete their assignments only if there are extenuating circumstances (see guidelines as to what constitutes extenuating circumstances at http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/extenpg.htm) An extension can only be authorised by the Organising Tutor, and students requiring an extension must write formally to the Organising Tutor explaining the nature of the extenuating circumstances and giving a new date for submission. The late hand in of an assignment where an extension has not been approved by the Organising Tutor will result in a zero mark, and will require a re-submission (for a maximum capped mark of 50%), the date of which to be agreed with the Course Organiser. Only one re-submission of failed work is permitted per assignment. b. Research Assignment Students will present their research protocol by end of Year 2. The assignment will be evaluated against the set of criteria published in the Handbook. The pass mark for the research assignment is 50%. The student will also be given written feedback on their research assignment. If failed, the research assignment can be resubmitted once. NB The research assignment is the student s research protocol/proposal. This will need to be submitted to various external and/or internal boards for example ethics. If an external board, or committee, requires amendments to a passed research protocol this will not be considered a resubmission. c. Thesis
The thesis is examined in accordance with the University s procedures for PhD examinations, except that a MPhil cannot be awarded (a Masters by dissertation can be awarded). Once the student submits the title of their thesis to the Graduate School (usually 3 months before the actual submission date) the Director of Educational Psychology Training at the Child and Family Directorate, Tavistock Clinic, is asked to nominate an internal and an external examiner for approval to the Dean. The Graduate School deals with the appointment letters and sends out the thesis copies and report forms. The course organiser then arranges a date and venue for the thesis viva. The external examiner in most cases will be different from the course external examiner. 3. ASSESSMENT AND PROGRESSION PROCEDURES a. Requirement to pass Taught Courses The Applied Psychology Assignments will be moderated by the external examiner for the course and the results will be reported to the exam board at the end of each year. The Research Assignment will be moderated by the external examiner for the course and the results will be reported to the exam board at the end of the second year. Students who fail to submit their research assignment for this exam board can apply to the Examination Board for an extension. Further details as to what constitutes an extenuating circumstance can be found in the University s guidelines which can be found at http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/extenpg.htm and the form to claim extenuation at http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/students/pgt/extcircspg.doc All taught modules must be passed before a student can progress to the thesis stage b. Re-submission Assignments may be resubmitted once. Resubmitted work is only eligible for a capped mark unless there are substantiated extenuating circumstances approved by the Board of Examiners. Substantiated extenuating circumstances for resubmission a second time is accepted at the discretion of the Board of Examiners. An assignment must normally be re-submitted within one month of the original submission. In cases of extenuating circumstances, this may be extended. c. Supervisory and Exam Boards The standard length of this doctorate is 6 years. The minimum requirement for undertaking this award is 4 years. The minimum period can exceptionally be reduced by up to one year. This would normally only be possible if a student
was able to work almost full time on the doctorate and where work on the modules had been progressed before starting on the course. A student s progress with the thesis is assessed in the same way as for a PhD student. A Supervisory Board considers each student s progress in each year of the course and makes recommendations to the Research Students Progress Committee. An External Examiner is appointed to the course to oversee any taught or professional components, and might also act as an External Examiner for the thesis in some cases. The External Examiner attends the Examination Board which meets at least once a year and is responsible for making decisions on any taught or professional elements of the course. The Board reports to the Research Students Progress Committee, as outlined in the diagram below. Summary of Progression and Assessment Process for Professional Doctorates Any taught and/or professional components Research/ thesis component Exam Board Supervisory Board Confirmation/ Recommendation Research Students Progress Committee Recommendation Decision on progression Students can move into a completion year on this programme when they have successfully completed all their assignments and a substantial proportion of the thesis is in draft. This would include completion of all data collection and analysis. If the Exam Board determines that the above criteria are not met, then a recommendation should be made to the Dean of the Graduate School to extend the student s maximum period by up to one year. If students have exceptional extenuating circumstances they may apply to the Dean of the Graduate School to intermit from the course for a maximum of two years.