UA MSc/MA Neuropsychology and Sociology

Unschooled Autonomous Masters degree

UA MSc/MA Neuropsychology

I recently decided to formalise the research and learning I have been doing for the last six years. After reading Sophie Christophy, I worked out that the most fitting way to do it would be to create and undertake an Unschooled Masters programme, a concept she founded. In the proper spirit of unschooling, the programme is entirely my own construction, and I will take a flexible, follow-my-curiosity approach. I do think it helps to give myself a guide and a method, even though both will certainly evolve. Below is the structure and approach I am working from, which I have called my Unschooled Autonomous Master of Science and Arts.

You may be wondering why I chose to study this way, what the concept of an unschooled masters programme even is, and what kind of structure and content would make something a true masters programme, accreditation aside. The links should give you more from me and from Sophie. And if you want to follow the programme, the research and the learning as it unfolds, the learning journal is where to look.

Course structure

An in-depth investigation of developmental and cognitive neuropsychology, and of the social context, of autonomy and motivation.

Details

The programme has four core modules, each containing eight areas of study, and it ends in a dissertation.

• Module 1: an integrated study of human development in context
• Module 2: a neuropsychological investigation of human needs and motivation
• Module 3: an integrated investigation of key human variations that are neurological in nature
• Module 4: analysing oppression as a factor in human development
• Research methods module

Dissertation: an independent research project that brings the subjects above together. Title to be confirmed.

Learning and accountability

For every module I produce a portfolio of work and evidence: essays of between two and eight thousand words, some form of presentation or talk, resources to support parents or professionals, and a reading list for other people's learning. The final dissertation will be a research project of 20,000 words.

The learning journal

Module 1: typical neurological and psychological development of humans

Areas of study for this module include:

• typical neurological development from conception to maturation
• typical psychological development from conception to maturation
• childhood and parenting from a socio-anthropological approach
• the impact of parenting approach on neuropsychological development
• the complexities of attachment theory, and the impact of attachment style
• the impact of education approach and systems on neuropsychological development
• play and exploration in relation to neurological and psychological development and function
• adverse childhood experiences, and resilience as a factor in psychological development

Module 2: a neuropsychological approach to human needs and motivation

Areas of study for this module include:

• neuropsychological human needs
• human needs and emotions
• executive function
• the science of the senses
• psychological motivation theories
• the neuroscience of motivation
• the threat system and threat responses
• autonomy

Module 3: an integrated investigation of key human neuropsychological variations

Areas of study for this module include:

• variation as a key to survival
• neurological developmental disorders
• neurological diversity
• understanding psychological variations
• the relationship between neurological variations and psychological health
• diversity of gender experience
• diversity of sexual attraction
• childhood as a variation in neuropsychology

Module 4: analysing oppression as a factor in neurolo-psychological development

Areas of study for this module include:

• the concept and complexities of oppression
• the oppression of attraction-divergent people
• the oppression of gender-divergent people
• the oppression of neurodivergent people
• the oppression of children through the ages
• the oppression of psycho-divergent people
• societal education and oppression
• the impact of oppression from a sociological and neuropsychological perspective

Masters dissertation

Areas of study for this module include:

What I have learned in the modules above will shape the area I research for the dissertation. On top of that, I will study research methods, either supervising myself or — if that proves difficult, which I suspect it might — taking a short course or a single external module. I want that to cover a range of research methods:

• psychological research methods and data analysis, including running statistical analysis in SPSS
• neuroscientific research using current technology such as fMRI
• effective use of qualitative data in analysis
• the possibilities and problems of combining these forms of data and analysis

The dissertation paper will be approximately 20,000 words and will comprise:

• a clear, relevant question or theory, investigated in real depth
• a full review and analysis of the relevant literature and other resources
• a clear method for collecting appropriate primary and secondary data from multiple sources
• statistical and qualitative presentation and analysis of the data
• a thorough discussion of the conclusions drawn
• a critical analysis of the study as a whole, including limitations and pointers to further research