Structure and contents
The Master’s programme is designed to train students in psychology and make them understand, for instance, the causes of health-related behaviours to a point where they will be able to understand and eventually design new and effective interventions to prevent disease in a global health perspective. The entire Master’s programme takes advantage of synergies and complementarities between the two universities, USI and UNISR, both offering excellent teaching, research and clinical training. This Master offers a high degree of innovation thanks also to the advanced technologies available on site in the two universities in terms of high-tech equipment, data centres, laboratories, and health-related facilities.
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Study programme 2022-2024
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.
First Semester (USI)
ECTS 6 6 6 3 3 3 Second Semester (UNISR)
12 6 9 Third Semester (USI)
3 6 6 3 Electives (8 ECTS)
6 Health Policy
3 3 3 Fourth Semester (UNISR)
4 6 6 Field Project
6 Thesis
18 Electives courses and integrative psychology training
Health Informatics
4 Loss Trauma and Emotions
2 Neuropsychology
2 Neurosciences in Organizations
2 Theory and Methods in Clinical Assessment
4 Personality Characteristic and Variability in Social Adaptation
2 Psychiatrics and Clinical Psychology (Extra credits)
7 Integrative Training in Psychology
6 Industry & Institutions Perspectives: Stakeholders in the Swiss Health System (USI)
3 TOTAL ECTS
120 Please be aware that slight changes in the study programme may occur
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 -
Field Project
USI partners for the field projects are:
- Associazione della Svizzera italiana per l'Ansia, la Depressione e i Disturbi Ossessivi Compulsivi
- Associazione Psicologi Ticinesi (ATP), Lugano
- Careum Hochschule Gesundheit
- Comparis
- European Society for Medical Oncology, Lugano
- GAVI The Vaccine Alliance, Geneva
- Ginsana, Bioggio
- Health Promotion Switzerland, Bern
- Istituto Ricerche di Gruppo (IRG), Lugano
- Navisano
- Novartis, Basel
- Path, Geneva
- Red Cross Foundation, Blood donation service, Lugano
- Servizio di Psichiatria e di Psicologia Medica, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale
- Soho Floridis International
UNISR partners for the field projects are:
- 3M Italia, Segrate
- AISPO, Milano
- Associazione Educatori senza Frontiere, Milano
- Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedale San Carlo Borromeo", Milano
- Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo", Bergamo
- Bayer Healthcare Manufacturing, Milano
- CEF - Comitato per l'etica di fine vita, Milano
- Consulta di Bioetica Onlus, Torino
- Demoskopea SpA, Milano
- Federchimica, Milano
- Ferrero SPA, Alba
- Fondazione CARIPLO, Milano
- Fondazione di diritto privato "Casa Sora per voi" Onlus, Foresto Sparso
- Fondazione Don Gnocchi Onlus, Milano
- Fondazione Istituto Sacra Famiglia Onlus, Cesano Boscone
- GPF Research, Bergamo
- Gruppo San Donato
- Johnson&Johnson Medical, Milano
- L'Orèal Italia S.p.a., Milano
- MEDIASET S.p.A., Milano
- Mio Dottore
- Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Siena
- P.R.I.S.M.A. srl Health, Usmate
- Prov. Lombardo Veneta - Ord. Osp. S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia
- Salute allo Specchio Onlus, Milano
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa
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Language
The admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English. Non-native English speakers applying to the Master’s or whose previous degree was obtained in another language, are required to provide an internationally acknowledged language certificate equal to the B2 level as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR) or equivalent (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).
The B2 level on the CEFR corresponds to the following scores in internationally acknowledged exams:
IELTS*
5.5
TOEFL*
Computer-based: 183
Internet-based*: 65
Paper-based: 513Cambridge English
B2 First
TOEIC
Listening & Reading: 785
Speaking: 150
Writing: 160Whilst it is an important requisite to be fluent in English, you do not need to know or learn Italian in order to successfully participate in the proposed study programme.
Italian
As Lugano is located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, students might be interested in acquiring the basics in Italian, in order to be able to get around in everyday life.
The Università della Svizzera italiana offers an Italian language study programme organized in various modules. All its non-Italian-speaking students, researchers and professors are invited to participate free of charge.- Preparative intensive course for beginners
In the three weeks preceding the beginning of the fall term, an intensive Italian class is organised. - Courses offered during the semesters
Several Italian classes with different levels of difficulties are organised during the academic year.
Read all details about the Italian classes offered at USI, here.
Academic Year 2022/23
When do I have to submit my English language certification?
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Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society / Economics / Informatics
The language certification should be included in the application package. Exceptions will be made for those who can prove the cancellation of international certificates exam sessions.
- Preparative intensive course for beginners