Master's Program in Psychology: Cognitive and Clinical Psychology

In the masters program in Cognitive and Clinical Psychology (M.Sc.), students will take a closer look at the fields of clinical psychology, psychopathology, and psychotherapy, and build on the research skills in cognitive psychology they have already acquired. During the program, they will gain advanced knowledge of how to plan, carry out, and analyze the results of psychological studies. The in-depth study of classical test theory and modern item response theory will be a valuable addition to their skill set. 

With a curriculum that includes practical courses on clinical interviewing and intervention techniques, a new area of study dealing with intervention methods and psychotherapy, and a module in health psychology, the program is clearly geared towards applied clinical psychotherapy. If you want to go on to complete additional, state-regulated training to become a psychotherapist (Psychologischer Psychotherapeut) in accordance with the German legislation on psychotherapy (Psychotherapeutengesetz), this masters program is the perfect choice. A range of services in this field is offered by the Otto Selz Institute for Applied Psychology (OSI), the University of Mannheims research and training center.

To prepare for your master's thesis, you will contribute to ongoing research projects, which is an important component of your studies. Among others, you can choose from the following areas: Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy Research, Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Clinical Assessment, or Health Psychology.

The masters degree enables graduates to use scientifically validated psychotherapeutic procedures to diagnose, cure, and alleviate the symptoms of mental disorders, thereby acquiring the required qualification to begin additional training as a psychotherapist (Psychologischer Psychotherapeut). 

In addition, they are well prepared for an academic career in research and teaching, and can also carry out research projects independently in pursuit of a doctoral degree or habilitation.