Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication

Overview

The Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication offered by Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) focuses on the intersection between the theoretical bases of cognitive psychology and of communication applied to the context of health. Cognitive psychology is the study of all mental processes which drive simple or more complex behaviours, either normal or pathological.  

These include, among the many, verbal and non-verbal forms of communication, implicit and explicit memory, perception, attention, consciousness, problem solving, decision making, gratification, etc. 

Students who are admitted into the programme will receive an advanced theoretical background in neuroscience and modern psychology, will learn advanced research methods in psychology and health communication including a large variety of and statistical techniques and tools that can be used for the analysis of human behaviour in research labs, clinical departments, health frameworks and companies. 

A central goal of this programme is to familiarize students with the latest research and practice in these areas of research and help them translate and apply this knowledge in many different working environment including health psychology, communication, management, and marketing.

Career

Students who graduate in the program will take advantage of the extended network of research, health institutions and companies belonging or connected to USI and San Raffaele University Hospital.  

Graduates will profit from these connections and have the chance to work in research labs and institutes, clinics, and governmental health organizations, NGOs or other health domains, schools, notable companies. 

The goal of this program is to train students to master psychology and cognitive psychology to a point that they can grasp the basis of human behaviour and communication and use this knowledge to develop practical applications, for example the design of novel and effective interventions to prevent disease and promote health.