Piano degli studi Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication (MPHC)

The study programme promotes a cross-sectoral approach over four semesters. Modules at USI and UNISR are divided into thematic areas that include compulsory and elective courses.

Elective courses, extra credits, and integrative training provide flexibility to the programme allowing students to deepen their knowledge in either research and clinical aspects of cognitive psychological aspects or health communication.

The programme includes 120 ECTS, with modules in Psychology, Communication, and Management, as detailed in the table below. Students must also acquire at least 8 ETCS of electives courses and 20 ECTS as practical applications in psychology and health communication.

Before discussing the Master’s thesis, the students attend the final exam to become licensed psychologists in Italy. The exam will be held by a commission of psychologists at UNISR, it is mandatory for all students and requires a command of the Italian language. The programme ends with a final Master’s thesis in the broad area of psychology and health communication.

The programme is organized into four semesters:

• The first semester covers mainly classes in Health Communication and Research Methods;
• The second semester covers topics in advanced Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience, and an internship in psychology;
• The third semester covers topics in Management, additional topics in Health Communication, and an internship in psychology.
• During the fourth semester, students will attend selected topics in health and organizational psychology and write their Master’s Thesis under the joint supervision of the Faculties of UNISR/USI. 
• Before discussing their thesis, students attend the final exam to become licensed psychologists in Italy.

During the fall semesters (1st and 3rd), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (2nd and 4th) will be taught at UNISR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits and integrative psychological training, participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities.

The final list of the electives activated each academic year is presented at the beginning of the second year. Please be aware that changes in the study programme may occur.

MODULE I: PSYCHOLOGY AND RESEARCH METHODS
Compulsory (56 ECTS):

• Learning and Memory, 6 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Fundamentals of Global and Public Health, 3 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Psychometrics, 3 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Experimental Design and Analysis of Psychological Data, 6 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Advanced Topics in Cognitive Psychology, 6 ECTS, 2nd Semester UNISR
• Decision Making and Behavior, 8 ECTS, 2nd Semester UNISR
• Advances in Behavioural Neurosciences, 9 ECTS, 2nd Semester UNISR
• Advanced Modelling in Psychology, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Health Psychology, 6 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Social Psychology, 6 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR

MODULE II: HEALTH COMMUNICATION AND MANAGEMENT
Compulsory (18 ECTS):

• Health Communication, 6 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Health Campaign Development and Evaluation, 3 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Accounting, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Organizational Behavior, 6 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI

MODULE III: INTERNSHIP IN PSYCHOLOGY (20 ECTS)
Compulsory:

• Practical application in Psychology and Health communication, external internship, 6 ECTS, 2nd Semester Italy or Switzerland
• Psychological applications in Communication and Health, internal internship, 3 ECTS, 2nd Semester UNISR
• Practical application in Psychology and Health communication - Advanced Research Design, internal internship, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Practical application in Psychology and Health communication, external internship, 8 ECTS, 3rd Semester Italy or Switzerland

MODULE IV: THESIS IN PSYCHOLOGY (30 ECTS)

• Practical application in Psychology and Health communication - Advanced Research Design, internal internship, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Advanced Modelling in Psychology, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Health Psychology, 6 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Thesis, 18 ECTS, 4rt Semester USI or UNISR

Electives courses, integrative, and extra credits in psychology (min 8 ECTS max 21 ECTS). Please, consider that the final list of the electives activated each academic year is presented at the beginning of the second year:

• Social Marketing, 6 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Interpersonal Communication in Health, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Industry & Institutions perspectives: Stakeholders in the Swiss Health System, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester USI
• Digital Health, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Health Policy, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Neuropsychology, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Health Informatics, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Loss trauma and emotions, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Neurosciences in Organizations, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Theory and Methods in Clinical Assessment, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology (integrative), 7 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Language course, 2 ECTS, 1st Semester USI (valid as elective)
• Language course, 2 ECTS, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Semesters USI/UNISR (valid as extra credits)
• Integrative training in Psychology, 6 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR

The study programme promotes a cross-sectoral approach in four semesters. Modules at USI and UNISR are subdivided into thematic areas that include compulsory and elective courses.

Elective courses, extra credits and integrative training represent a flexible part of the programme allowing students to deepen either the research and clinical aspects of cognitive psychological aspects or to focus on health communication.

The programme includes 120 ECTS with modules in Psychology, Communication and Management as detailed in the table below. A student must also acquire during the programme at least 8 ETCS of electives courses. Thesis (18 ETCS) and field project (6 ECTS) are compulsory and must focus on psychology.

The programme is organized in 4 semesters:

• The first semester covers mainly classes in Health Communication and Research Methods;
• The second semester covers topics in advanced Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience;
• The third semester covers topics in Management, Strategy, Organizational Behavior, and other topics in the area of Health Communication.
• During the fourth semester, students will study selected topics in health and organizational psychology and conduct a field project (by companies, hospitals or by experimental labs) and write their Master Thesis under the joint supervision of the Faculties of UNISR/USI.

During the fall semesters (1st and 3rd), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (2nd and 4th) will be taught at UNISR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits and integrative psychological training, participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities, practical activities held at hospital San Raffaele and in the neurology and psychology department at UNISR.

Please be aware that changes in the study programme may occur.

Second body:

MODULE I: PSYCHOLOGY AND RESEARCH METHODS

Compulsory (61 ECTS):

• Learning and Memory, 6 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Fundamentals of Global and Public Health, 3 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Psychometrics, 3 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Experimental Design and Analysis of Psychological Data, 6 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Health Campaign Development and Evaluation, 3 ECTS, 1st Semester USI
• Advanced Topics in Cognitive Psychology, 6 ECTS, 2nd Semester UNISR
• Decision Making and Behavior, 9 ECTS, 2nd Semester UNISR
• Advances in Behavioural Neurosciences, 12 ECTS, 2nd Semester UNISR
• Advanced Modelling in Psychology, 4 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Health Psychology, 6 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Social Psychology, 6 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR

Electives courses and integrative psychological training (min 8 ECTS max 21 ECTS):

• Neuropsychology, 2 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Health Informatics, 4 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Loss trauma and emotions, 2 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Neurosciences in Organizations, 2 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Theory and Methods in Clinical Assessment, 4 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Personality Disorders, 2 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Psychiatrics and Clinical Psychology (integrative), 7 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR
• Integrative training in Psychology, 6 ECTS, 4th Semester UNISR

MODULE II: HEALTH COMMUNICATION
Compulsory (12 ECTS):

• Health Communication, 6 ECT, 1st Semester USI
• Advanced Research Design, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI

Electives courses in Health Communication (12 ECTS: max 9):

• Social Marketing, 6 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Interpersonal Communication in Health, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Industry & Institutions perspectives: Stakeholders in the Swiss Health System, 3 ECTS, 4th Semester USI
• Digital Health, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI

MODULE III: IN MANAGEMENT (15 ECTS)
Compulsory:

• Corporate Strategy, 6 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Accounting, 3 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI
• Organizational Behavior, 6 ECTS, 3rd Semester USI

Compulsory Field Project in Psychology (6 ECTS), 4th Semester UNISR/USI
Compulsory Thesis in Psychology (18 ECTS), 4th Semester UNISR/USI

The programme is organized in 4 semesters:

• The first semester covers mainly classes in Health Communication and Research Methods;
• The second semester covers topics in advanced Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience;
• The third semester covers topics in Management, Strategy, Organizational Behavior, and other topics in the area of Health Communication.
• Along the fourth semester, students will study selected topics in health and organizational psychology and conduct a field project (by companies, hospitals or by experimental labs) and write their Master Thesis under the joint supervision of Faculties of UNISR/USI.

During the fall semesters (1st and 3rd), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (2nd and 4th) will be taught at UNISR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits and integrative psychological training, participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities, practical activities held at hospital San Raffaele and in the neurology and psychology department at UNISR.

Please be aware that slight changes in the study programme may occur.

Study plan of the Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication - curriculum 2020-2022

The study programme promotes a cross-sectoral approach in four semesters. Modules at USI and UNISR are subdivided into thematic areas that include compulsory and elective courses.

Elective courses, extra credits and integrative training represent a flexible part of the programme allowing students to deepen either the research and clinical aspects of cognitive psychological aspects or to focus on health communication.

The programme includes 120 ECTS with modules in Psychology, Communication and Management as detailed in the table below. A student must also acquire during the programme at least 8 ETCS of electives courses. Thesis (18 ETCS) and field project (6 ECTS) are compulsory and must focus on psychology.

The programme is organized in 4 semesters:

• The first semester covers mainly classes in Health Communication and Research Methods;
• The second semester covers topics in advanced Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience;
• The third semester covers topics in Management, Strategy, Organizational Behavior, and other topics in the area of Health Communication.
• Along the fourth semester, students will study selected topics in health and organizational psychology and conduct a field project (by companies, hospitals or by experimental labs) and write their Master Thesis under joint supervision of Faculties of UNISR/USI.

During the fall semesters (1st and 3rd), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (2nd and 4th) will be taught at UNISR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits and integrative psychological training, participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities, practical activities held at hospital San Raffaele and in neurology and psychology department at UNISR.

Please be aware that slight changes in the study programme may occur.

Study plan of the Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication - curriculum 2019-2021

The programme is organized in 4 semesters:

• The first semester covers mainly classes in Health Communication and Research Methods;
• The second semester covers topics in advanced Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience;
• The third semester covers topics in Management, Strategy, Organizational Behavior, and other topics in the area of Health Communication.
• Along the fourth semester, students will study selected topics in health and organizational psychology and conduct a field project (by companies, hospitals or by experimental labs) and write their Master Thesis under joint supervision of Faculties of UNISR/USI.

During the fall semesters (1st and 3rd), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (2nd and 4th) will be taught at UNISR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits and integrative psychological training, participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities, practical activities held at hospital San Raffaele and in neurology and psychology department at UNISR.

Please be aware that slight changes in the study programme may occur.

Study plan of the Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication - curriculum 2018-2020

The programme is organized in 4 semesters:

• The first semester covers mainly classes in Health Communication and Research Methods;
• The second semester covers topics in advanced Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience;
• The third semester covers topics in Management, Strategy, Organizational Behavior, and other topics in the area of Health Communication.
• Along the fourth semester students will study selected topics in health and organizational psychology and conduct a field project (by companies, hospitals or by experimental labs) and write their Master Thesis under joint supervision of Faculties of UNISR/USI.

During the fall semesters (1st and 3rd), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (2nd and 4th) will be taught at UniSR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits and integrative psychological training, participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities, practical activities held at hospital San Raffaele and in neurology and psychology department at UNISR.

Changes in the study plan may occurr. In case of discrepancies, or for any legal purpose, the study plan indicated by the Director or the Programme Manager of the Master shall prevail.

Study plan of the Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication - curriculum 2017-2019

This full-time study programme comprises 120 ECTS spread over 4 semesters.

The programme is organized into 4 units, called 'modules', over two years. The first module covers mainly classes in Health Communication and research methods; the second module covers topics in advanced cognitive psychology and neurosciences; the third module covers topics in management, strategy, and accounting. In the fourth semester students will study selected topics in health and organizational psychology and conduct a field project (by companies, hospitals or by experimental labs) and write their Master Thesis under joint supervision of Faculties of UNISR/USI.

During the fall semesters (I and III), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (II and IV) will be taught at UNISR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities.

Changes in the study plan may occurr. In case of discrepancies, or for any legal purpose, the study plan indicated by the Director or the Programme Manager of the Master shall prevail.

Study plan of the Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication - curriculum 2016-2018

This full-time study programme comprises 120 ECTS spread over 4 semesters.

The programme is organized into 4 units, called 'modules', over two years. The first module covers mainly classes in Health Communication and research methods; the second module covers topics in advanced cognitive psychology and neurosciences; the third module covers topics in management, strategy, and accounting. In the fourth semester students will study selected topics in health and organizational psychology and conduct a field project (by companies, hospitals or by experimental labs) and write their Master Thesis under joint supervision of Faculties of UNISR/USI.

During the fall semesters (I and III), students will attend classes taught at USI, whereas courses in spring semesters (II and IV) will be taught at UNISR.

Over the two years, students will be supported by an active tutoring service and will cumulate extra credits participating in seminar activities, ongoing research projects, and laboratory activities.

Changes in the study plan may occurr. In case of discrepancies, or for any legal purpose, the study plan indicated by the Director or the Programme Manager of the Master shall prevail.