Positive Behaviour Support - MSc

Teaching and assessment

Teaching includes lectures, guided study using Moodle, with seminars and group exercises to enhance understanding of the underlying concepts. Knowledge of the various topics is assessed by unseen examinations. Understanding is assessed by a mixture of essays and assignments in which students have to apply the concepts covered to practical topics.

Where modules are taken by distance learning, lectures are captured using Kent Player and made available via Moodle and more Moodle-based activities are undertaken.

Programme aims

• Develop a critical understanding of concepts and principles of positive behaviour support.
• Encourage values and evidence based, ethically stringent, advanced practice or research in positive behaviour support.
• Provide graduates with in-depth knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities and experience of practice or conducting research in this field.
• Produce graduates whose critical understanding, in-depth knowledge and advanced practice/research skills equip them to play a leading role in public services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Provide a programme of study capable of being certified as approved coursework for Board Certified Behaviour Analyst status by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

• Critical understanding of concepts and principles of positive behaviour support
• In-depth knowledge of values and ethical principles and how to apply these in professional practice
• Advanced knowledge of methods of observing, recording and analysing behaviour
• Advanced and in-depth knowledge of methods of assessing and intervening to manage challenging behaviour and support adaptive behaviour
• Practical understanding of cognitive, communicative and social characteristics of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities whose behaviour is described as challenging and the impact of these characteristics on assessment of challenging behaviour
• In-depth knowledge and critical appreciation of biological, social and environmental causes of challenging behaviour in intellectual/developmental disability
• Advanced knowledge of methods of applying positive behaviour support practices in working with individuals whose behaviour is described as challenging
• Advanced knowledge of use of positive behaviour support to understand, assess and intervene in systems/settings for people who have intellectual/developmental disabilities (e.g. schools, residential settings, families, communities, workplaces etc.)
• Critical understanding of research methodology and basic statistical analysis

Intellectual skills

• In-depth review and critical discussion of literature at the forefront of the discipline
• Critical analysis of data with particular reference to issues of method, reliability and validity
• Interpretation of data in the light of in-depth appreciation of theoretical and methodological considerations
• Presentation of critical, balanced and conceptually-informed arguments
• Critical conception, design, analysis and interpretation of primary or secondary research investigations (where following the research route)
• Design of interventions informed by in-depth assessment and advanced, theoretical understanding (where following the practice route)

Subject-specific skills

• Conduct primary or secondary research on a positive behaviour support topic relevant to intellectual/developmental disability (where following the research route)
• Design interventions for people with intellectual/developmental disability (and their carers/families/schools etc.) that are applied, behavioural, analytic, technological, conceptually systematic, effective and generalizable (where following the practice route)

Transferable skills

• To use an advanced range of communication skills including organising information clearly, critically responding to written sources, presenting information orally.
• To develop advanced numeracy skills enabling the sophisticated presentation of statistical materials and the integration of quantitative and qualitative information.
• To use information technology to an advanced level to produce high quality written documents and undertake online research.
• To work with others co-operatively on group tasks showing a good practical understanding of group functioning.
• To be critically reflective on personal learning and organisational performance, drawing on an analysis of strengths and weaknesses to improve future practice.
• To problem solve at an advanced level, identifying and defining problems, exploring alternative solutions and reaching reasoned judgements about appropriate ways forward.

• Home full-time £9300
• EU full-time £13000
• International full-time £17400
• Home part-time £4650
• EU part-time N/A
• International part-time N/A

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Additional costs

General additional costs

Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent. 

Funding

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

• University and external funds
• Scholarships specific to the academic school delivering this programme.

Study support

All teaching takes place at the Tizard Centre. Postgraduate research students have a shared office space with a computer and telephone.

Acclaimed active department

The Tizard Centre runs an annual seminar series where staff or guest lecturers present the results of research or highlight recent developments in the field of social care. The Jim Mansell Memorial Lecture invites public figures or distinguished academics to discuss topics that could interest a wider audience. The Centre also publishes the Tizard Learning Disability Review (in conjunction with Emerald Publishing) to provide a source of up-to-date information for professionals and carers.

The Tizard Centre provides consultancy to organisations in the statutory and independent sectors, both nationally and internationally, in diversified areas such as service assessment, person-centred approaches, active support and adult protection. The Centre also teaches a range of short courses, often in conjunction with other organisations.

The Tizard Centre also hosts two journal clubs, relating to behaviour analysis and to autism. Journal club events are held regularly where speakers are invited to discuss key research papers or topics in the field.

Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Mental Health; Journal of Applied Research and Intellectual Disabilities; American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; and Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.

Global Skills Award

All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.