BSc (Hons) - Psychology (with integrated foundation year)

Year one

During the integrated foundation year, you will be taught alongside students from a range of programmes within the Institute of Health. During this time, you will be equipped with the essential skills needed to study at university level while undertaking challenging and authentic tasks that aim to test your decision-making skills in a professional environment.

• Essential University Skills 1
  Develop academic and professional skills.
• Essential University Skills 2
  Build upon the skills developed in Essential University Skills 1. You will expand your learning in the areas of research, writing structure and reflective learning.
• Contemporary Issues and the Media
  Explore a range of contemporary issues through the lens of the media that relates to psychology.
• Families, Communities and the Criminal Justice System
  Gain an understanding into the psychological and societal risk factors and pre-cursors to criminality.
• Professional Practice in the Community
  Develop your awareness of community groups and activities to help your understanding of society.
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
  Introduction to the concepts of mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan and in different contexts using different psychological approaches and theories.

Year two

In your second year, you will build knowledge in the foundations of psychology as a discipline and develop key skills through lectures, workshops and problem-based learning.

You will build knowledge of the history of the discipline, research methods and analytical techniques and learn about key theories and psychologists.

• Psychology in Action
  Introduction to a range of theories and models from developmental, cognitive and biological psychology and their application to human contexts.
• Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
  Introduction to the nature of psychological enquiry and research skills. Exploring quantitative and qualitative research methods, philosophical underpinnings and practical applications.
• Introduction to Data Analysis
  Introduction to the processes involved in the analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Perspectives in Psychology
  Introduction to a range of perspectives and key debates in psychology that aid in the understanding of individual and social phenomena.
• Professional and Academic Skills
  Introduction to working with others in a professional setting, employability, and professional practice that includes listening skills and providing constructive feedback.
• Introduction to Psychopathology
  This will provide a basis for diagnostic classification systems (e.g. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), and give an overview of the various different forms of psychopathology. It'll outline theoretical frameworks which form the basis for assessment and intervention approaches.

Year three

In the third year, you will develop a more in-depth understanding of research, theory, and practice, and develop research and practical skills.

This will include a work experience module, and an opportunity to engage in a negotiated learning project that is individually chosen and tailored to suit your particular interests.

• Research Methods and Statistics
  Introduction to statistical techniques dealing with more than one independent variable at two or more levels, including within, between, and mixed participant designs.
• Development, Brain and Cognition
  Explore the potential impact a range of factors have on human development and behaviour.
• Research Methods in Applied Psychology Settings
  Introduction to a range of research designs used in psychology and social sciences.
• Work Experience
  The module will give you an opportunity to link your academic study with work experience. This will allow you to enhance your employability and develop your reflective writing skills through writing a report reflecting on your work experience.
• Negotiated Learning
  This module permits students to independently undertake an agreed piece of work that is relevant to their own interests and/or career plans.
• Social and Community Psychology
  Study theories of social psychology with the goal of understanding the experiences and behaviours of people within their community.

Year four

In your final year, you will undertake an independent research project that will allow you to explore a topic of interest and pursue your own research question.

You will also be able to further advance your knowledge of psychology and psychological skills.

• Critical Psychology
  You will engage in a critical debate about the ideological basis of psychological knowledge, methods, and applications.
• Individual Differences: Abilities, Personalities and measuring differences
  Introduction to the nature of individual differences in human behaviour across a wide spectrum of human development. With a specific focus on ability, personality and the use of Psychological testing to assess difference.
• Dissertation
  You will pursue an investigation on a topic of your own interest.
• Psychological Literacy and Careers
  The module will give you an opportunity to apply your psychological knowledge and skills to applied psychology settings. It will invite you to engage in an in-depth exploration of a career within, or allied to, psychology.
• Counselling and Coaching Psychology
  This module includes the development of basic counselling and coaching skills to complement their developing employability skills and psychological literacy.