MSc EVIDENCE BASED THERAPY PRACTICE

Introduction

The MSc (Evidence Based Therapy Practice) is a one-year (12 months) full-time, or two years part-time programme.

Entry Requirements
The MSc is offered to Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists. Candidates must have:

1. A primary degree professional qualification in Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy or Physiotherapy or
2. The equivalent professional qualification* with two years practice experience.

*Occupational Therapists: Applicants must have a professional qualification from a school approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT).
*Physiotherapists: Applicants must have the necessary qualification to be eligible to be a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.                                                    *Speech and Language Therapists: Applicants must have the necessary professional qualification to be eligible to be a member of the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapist (IASLT).

All candidates will be interviewed.

Programme Requirements

MSc Evidence Based Therapy Practice (full and part time routes)

All students must take a minimum of 2 core modules (30 credits), two other modules (30 credits) and the Research Study module (30 credits), 90 credits in total. Normally students would take CT6001 (Implementing evidence into therapy practice) plus one other core module, but this can be negotiated with the Head of Programme in some circumstances. Core and option modules will be run as prescribed by the School (and maybe be dependent on availability of lecturers and sufficient student registrations). Students select from the list below in consultation with the Head of Programme.

Core modules : students must take a minimum of 30 credits

Core      CT6000 Research Methodologies (15 credits)

Core      CT6001 Implementing evidence in therapy practice (15 credits)

Core      CT6005 Thinking reasoning and reflecting (15 credits)

Core      CT6006 Educating for Practice (15 credits)

Option modules : normally 30 credits in total

Option    CT6002 Inter-professional education in healthcare settings (15 credits)

Option    CT6003 Therapeutic relationship for professional practice (15 credits)

Option    CT6004 Independent Study (15 credits)

Option    CT6007 Advanced Assessment of Spinal Dysfunction in Physiotherapy (15 credits)

Option    CT6008 Dysphagia, eating and swallowing (15 credits)

Option    CT6009 Advanced Management of Spinal Dysfunction in Physiotherapy (15 credits)

Option    OT6010 Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) (15 credits)

Option    OT6011 Occupational Science (15 credits)

Option    SL6012 Current Issues in Language Impairment (15 credits)

Option    SL6013 The Lexicon and language acquisition (15 credits)

Option    SL6014 Instrumental measures of speech production and language processing (15 credits)

One other practice related 15 credit modules, agreed with the Head of Programme, may be substituted in lieu of one of the option modules. This may be unidisciplinary or interdisciplinary and may be taken from another UCC Department or another University. This 15 credit module must be equivalent in level and credit rating. Students pay the other University directly and obtain a transcript of their academic study marks from that University. This transcript will be included in the student's overall profile.

Research : 30 credits

Research CT6016 Research study (30 credits)

For both full and part time routes:
Students are required to pass all Modules to successfully complete the programme.  Students who fail a module will need to repeat the assessment (or the module) in the next assessment period as prescribed by the Department. 

Award of Postgraduate Certificate : upon successful completion of two modules to the value of 30 credits (15 credits from a core module) students may opt not to proceed with the programme and may be conferred with a Postgraduate Certificate in Evidence Based Therapy Practice.

Award of Postgraduate Diploma: upon successful completion of four modules to the value of 60 credits (30 credits from the core modules) students may opt not to proceed with the programme and may be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Therapy Practice. Note: one of the 15 credit option modules in the chosen discipline may be taken from another UCC Department or another University.

Individual Modules : As part of UCC's commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), therapists from the three stated professions may take a one-off module and be provided with a relevant transcript of marks.