MSc in Behavioral and Social Science (Research)

Are you considering a research career in an academic or an applied setting? Do you want to specialize within the field of behavioral and social sciences and receive multidisciplinary training?

As a research master's student, you choose one of our three multidisciplinary themes. The theme-specific courses will give you a broad view of the theme and will introduce you to the unique perspectives of the theme-related specializations. In the course of the first semester, you will choose your own specialization. It will enable you to tailor your master's to the topics that you wish to engage in.

1. Deficits, Distress, and Disorders

What are the origins of psychopathological and brain disorders?

Specializations: Clinical Neuropsychology| Clinical Psychology | Pedagogical and Educational Sciences | Psychometrics and Statistics

2. Lifespan Development and Socialization

How do individuals develop across their lifespan?

Specializations: Developmental Psychology | Pedagogical and Educational Sciences | Psychometrics and Statistics |Sociology

3. Understanding Societal Change

How do individuals and groups adapt to the changing world?

Specializations: Environmental Psychology | Organizational Psychology | Psychometrics and Statistics | Social psychology | Sociology

Why study this program in Groningen?

• a unique combination of multi-disciplinarity and specialization
• the opportunity to work with excellent researchers
• your own mentor during the first year to offer assistance
• opportunity for a Ph.D. scholarship for your own Ph.D. proposal (offered each year)
• all new students are eligible for a nine-month paid research assistantship
• non-EU students are also eligible for the University of Groningen Talent Grant
• students from certain countries are eligible for the Orange Knowledge Program grant
• students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are eligible for The Holland Scholarship program

Year 1

• Science course: How to theorize.
• Statistical and methodology modules give you a profound basis in various statistical methods, including computer skills and the ability to sensibly use statistics to solve empirical research problems.
• Compulsory theme-specific modules introduce the theme, offering a broad view and the unique perspectives of the theme-related specializations.
• Elective modules allow for further specialization, in theme-related specializations.

All first-year students are offered a research assistantship in a project of choice. This opens the opportunity for paid participation in an ongoing research project. In the traineeship, you learn how to conduct high-quality scientific research by participating in an ongoing research project.

Courses

• Advanced statistics (7.5 EC)*
• How to theorize (2.5 EC)*
• DDD | Deficits, Distress, and Disorders: a multidimensional perspective (5 EC)
• LDS | Lifespan development (5 EC)
• UCS | Theorizing change (7.5 EC)
• Seminars (2.5 EC)*
• DDD | Deficits, Distress, and Disorders: advanced research methods (5 EC)
• LDS | Modelling interactions between persons and variables over time (5 EC)
• LDS | Socialization (5 EC)
• USC | From problem analysis to intervention design (7.5 EC)
• Specialization courses (see the online catalog) (10 EC)*
• Elective courses (see the online catalog) (10 EC)
• Applied statistics (10 EC)*
• DDD | Clinical interventions and e-health for adults and youth OR Neuropsychological assessment (5 EC)
• Traineeship (10 EC)*

Year 2

• You learn how to perform multidisciplinary research, by jointly carrying out a research project about a societal problem.
• Elective modules allow for further specialization in theme-related specializations.
• A clinical science traineeship allows a student to integrate work in clinical or clinical-educational practice and a scientific perspective. The clinical traineeship consists of two integrated parts, namely (i) a traineeship in an institution and (ii) a practical at university on applied science. Students in the theme DDD may add a clinical internship, to be trained in diagnostic and other clinical skills and qualify for a postdoctoral clinical training program.
• Students in the themes DDD and LDS may add a clinical internship, to be trained in diagnostic and other clinical skills and qualify for a postdoctoral clinical training program.
• Science course: Reflecting on Science and Integrity.

Courses

• Multidisciplinary research in action (5 EC)*
• Reflecting on science and integrity (7.5 EC)*
• Reflecting on Science and Integrity (7.5 EC)*
• How to write an effective research proposal (5 EC)*
• Electives (see online catalog)
• Master's thesis (30 EC)
• Seminars (2.5 EC)
• (Clinical) Traineeship (10 EC) (20 EC)
• Clinical traineeship (20 EC)*
• Specialization courses (see the online catalog (10 EC)*

Curriculum

Please note:

• DDD, LDS, and USC indicate the compulsory theme modules, for each of the three themes.
• Courses marked with an * are compulsory courses for all students, regardless of the chosen theme.

Study abroad

• Study abroad is optional

The Traineeship and Master thesis projects can be performed internally at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen, or externally at another university or research institute in the Netherlands or abroad. The teaching staff has an extensive national and international network, resulting from cooperation with top-level researchers across the world.

Holders of this degree are well equipped for further study and training for a Ph.D. thesis, for employment as a research practitioner, for employment as policy advisors in government institutions, and for employment in the public or private sector.

Each year we offer a limited number of PhD. Scholarships, giving our top students the opportunity to continue in a Ph.D. position.

TNO, CITO, and CBS are possible Dutch employers after finishing our master's program.

Job examples

• Ph.D. student
• Researcher in public or private sector
• Policy advisor in government institutions
• Research practitioner