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M.A. Psychology (
Psychosocial Clinical Studies)
(School of Human Studies)
Duration:
2 years (4 semesters and a summer internship/ fieldwork)
Total Credits: 70
Medium of instruction:
English
Number of seats: 35
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree with 45% marks (or an equivalent grade)
from a recognized university (with relaxation of 5% marks for
candidates belonging to SC, ST and PD categories).
Reservation of seats: In accordance with Government of NCT of Delhi rules.
The objectives of this 2-year programme are:
· to
recognize the complexity of our inner worlds and to explore the
forbidden realms of thoughts and feelings
· to
see this complex psyche as a source of inner freedom and to
aspire towards playfulness and creative action
· to
continue to appreciate the psyche as created and formed by the
matrix of social, political and historical forces
· to
appreciate difference and plurality in life and to critically
understand the dynamic processes that foster marginalization and
exclusion
· to
reach others through a better understanding of ourselves
· to
enable others to deal with their distress through mental health
work
The academic home of this MA programme is the School of
Human Studies. This MA programme comprises 14 taught courses
consisting of:
a) three interdisciplinary core courses of 4 credits each
which will be common to all MA programmes of the School of Human
Studies
b) nine core courses specific to this programme of which
eight are of 4 credits each and one of 2 credits
c) one course of 4 credits in Qualitative Methods of
Research, and
d) one elective of 4 credits (Gender and Psychology)
Besides these, there are 2 courses which will be transacted
through seminars and workshops. In addition, we have practicums,
dissertation work and internship\fieldwork.
The programme promises to be an enriching journey that
combines the understanding of the inner forces of the psyche
with the structural and political processes that intermingle in
the formation of human subjectivity. Students will be provided
an understanding of theories and practices from Psychoanalysis,
Critical Psychology, Gender Studies, Disability Studies and
Engaged Spiritual perspectives. These orientations will initiate
the prospective psychologist into greater self awareness and
empathy towards others while enabling students to understand
processes of social marginalization and exclusion.
Students will be exposed to the more popular medical
understanding of psychological symptoms. However, the strength
of the programme lies in understanding the relationship of
clinical processes and symptomatic states to both personal
life-history and cultural, political and historical forces. One
of the underlying philosophies that inspire this programme is
the belief that authentic clinical work emerges from the
prospective clinician's openness to review and revisit painful,
traumatic and shame-evoking parts in oneself. This is inspired
by the Freudian understanding that, “you will never be able to
observe in another, what you have not learnt to acknowledge in
yourself”. Observing and understanding difficulties in one's
life would simultaneously help the student to acquire
sensitivity towards potential clients. In addition, the
programme will also train those who are eager to enter community
work, disability and/or gender studies. The course aims to
provide students with theoretical and methodological tools that
will enable a critical look at processes that generate
marginality. Theories and practices from Gender and Disability
perspectives can also be chosen as specializations. While
helping the student to develop as a reflective practitioner,
promoting an understanding of the Indian cultural context would
also be an imperative.
One of the unique strengths of this programme lies in its
well developed interdisciplinary courses. Unlike most other MA
programmes in Psychology, three of its taught courses are
interdisciplinary in their orientation as they draw heavily from
anthropological understanding, radical philosophy, political
thought and literary writings. This programme thus has a dual
ambition. It strives to help the potential psychologist reach
psychological depth while promoting a wide range of
understanding about social and historical processes. We are also
hopeful that some students will be eager to take their
understandings further and enter into specialized training in
Clinical / Gender / Disability related work at the post Masters
level to be initiated by the School of Human Studies in the near
future.
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