Business Psychology BSc (Hons)

What you'll study

Excited to learn more? For a taster of what you can expect to study on our Business Psychology BSc (Hons) degree, take a sneak preview of some of the modules you may have the opportunity to study below.

The information below reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Final year

Year 1

Areas studied include foundations in cognitive, biological, social and developmental psychology, historical and conceptual issues in psychology, and research methods, as well as an introductory module in work psychology. There are also optional modules.

Semester 1

Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology Core

Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology

The aim of this module is for the student to develop an appreciation of key philosophical, historical, and conceptual issues which provided the foundation for, and which continue to influence, contemporary psychology.

Foundations in Quantitative Research Methods Core

Foundations in Quantitative Research Methods

Students will gain a basic understanding of the process of conducting quantitative data collection and analysis for psychological research. This includes skills relating to experimental design, data collection and basic statistical procedures.

Foundations in Social Psychology Core

Foundations in Social Psychology

The aim of this module is to introduce students to central concepts, theories and studies in social psychology.

Foundations in Qualitative Research Methods Core

Foundations in Qualitative Research Methods

The module introduces students to the basic theory, practice and procedures for using qualitative research methods in psychology.

Introduction to Management Optional

Introduction to Management

The aims of this module are to provide students with an understanding of the ways that management occurs in different organisational contexts.

Principles of Marketing Optional

Principles of Marketing

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the principles of marketing, the role of marketing management and the impact of internet marketing in a variety of organisational settings (retail, consumer goods, industrial goods, service, non-profit oriented).

Semester 2

Foundations in Developmental Psychology Core

Foundations in Developmental Psychology

This module provides students with an understanding of some of the principal areas of developmental psychology, particularly aspects of cognitive and social development.

Foundations in Biological Psychology Core

Foundations in Biological Psychology

The aim of this module is for the student to understand biological psychology which describes the relation between the brain and various types of behaviour.

Foundations in Cognitive Psychology Core

Foundations in Cognitive Psychology

This module will introduce the student to the range and scope of cognitive psychology, from its 19th century roots to its modern computational approach, covering fundamental issues in perception, language and memory.

Psychology Practicals Core

Psychology Practicals

The module provides students with practical experience of psychological research and to introduce them to the technical skills required to conduct, analyse and present psychological research.

Sociology of Work Optional

Sociology of Work

The aims of this module are: to introduce business and management students to sociological perspectives on work and organisation; to encourage students to reflect on the role work and workplaces play in the constitution of social relations across a variety of scales.

The Marketing Mix Optional

The Marketing Mix

The aims of this module are: to build on the prerequisite marketing module; to examine the nature of the marketing mix and the contribution of each of the marketing mix elements to an effective marketing strategy.

Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology Optional

Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology

The aim of this module is for the student to examine a variety of contemporary topics in sport and exercise psychology.

Organisations in the International Context Optional

Organisations in the International Context

The aims of this module are to examine some of the local, national and international factors which impact businesses and organisations; gain an understanding of the complexity of doing business in the international environment.

Semester 1 & 2

Professional Skills Core

Professional Skills

The aims of this module are to: support students to understand and manage the transition into university education; develop students' awareness of, and performance in, core skills required for academic study in psychology; enable students to apply skills and knowledge to academic, professional and vocational domains; encourage students to begin to think about careers.

Introduction to Work Psychology Core

Introduction to Work Psychology

To develop students' knowledge of the academic heritage, contemporary subject matter, and practical contribution of work psychology; to develop a sensitive awareness of the different ways in which people work individually, in groups and within organisations; to encourage a constructively critical approach to the ways in which work psychologists gather research data and seek to make a difference in work settings.

Languages Optional

Languages

A module from the University-Wide Language Programme, subject to approval by Programme Director.

Year 2

Areas studied include human cognition, brain and behaviour, social psychology, personality and individual differences, and psychological approaches to human resource management.

Semester 1

Human Cognition Core

Human Cognition

The aim of this module is for the student to develop an understanding of the current central areas of theory and research within cognitive psychology.

Qualitative Research Methods Core

Qualitative Research Methods

The aims of this module are for the student to gain a comprehensive and critical understanding and appreciation of qualitative and interpretative methods.

Developmental Psychology Core

Developmental Psychology

The aim of the module is to introduce students to key contemporary topics and issues in Developmental Psychology, and the application of psychological research with children and young people to real-world contexts.

Personality and Individual Differences Core

Personality and Individual Differences

The aim of this module is for students to gain an understanding of the nature, possible causes, consistency, stability and assessment of individual differences (differential psychology) with a particular but not exclusive emphasis on the study of personality.

Psychological Approaches to Human Resource Management Core

Psychological Approaches to Human Resource Management

To explore and evaluate the ways in which psychological theory and research can be used to inform human resource management.

Leading and Developing Others Core

Leading and Developing Others

To develop students' understanding of the theory and practice of leadership, followership and development at work; to analyse the ways in which leaders can develop others at work.

Sales Management Optional

Sales Management

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the principles and techniques of personal selling and sales management in industrial and consumer marketing.

Organisation Studies Optional

Organisation Studies

The aims of this module are: to develop a social scientific understanding of organisational theories, themes, concepts and practices; to encourage a challenging, questioning perspective on organisational behaviour, research and ideas.

Accounting for Business Optional

Accounting for Business

The aims of this module are: to introduce the preparation and interpretation of financial reports; to develop students' analytical and written presentational skills; to show the relationship between the business context and financial reporting.

Semester 2

Quantitative Research Methods Core

Quantitative Research Methods

The aims of this module are to:

(i) advanced skills to undertake quantitative research in social sciences;

(ii) an in-depth understanding of the methods commonly used to collect, clean and analyse quantitative data; and

(iii) opportunities to develop abilities to critically evaluate the appropriateness of statistical methods commonly used to analyse quantitative data in social sciences.

Psychology Practicals Core

Psychology Practicals

The module provides students with practical experience of psychological research and to introduce them to the technical skills required to conduct, analyse and present psychological research.

Brain and Behaviour I Core

Brain and Behaviour I

The module gives students an insight in the biochemical basis of behaviour and provides an overview of the most common psychopathological disorders.

Social Psychology Core

Social Psychology

This module focuses on competing findings, theoretical perspectives and schools of thought in social psychology. Focusing on a series of key debates, attention will be paid to the ways in which ideas in social psychology develop, and the ways in which social psychologists construct arguments and use evidence to support one point of view over others.

Vocational Psychology Optional

Vocational Psychology

The aims of this module are to: enable students to increase their readiness for working life; enable students to increase the value they obtain from their work placement year; give students tools with which to understand and implement their career preferences, and help others do so.

Accounting for Managers Optional

Accounting for Managers

The aims of this module are: to introduce students to a range of technical and analytical skills; to illustrate the application of analysis in a business context; to evaluate the use of accounting and financial management in planning, decision making and control.

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Optional

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

The aims of this module are: to develop an understanding of the role of ethical theories as applied to the responsibilities of business in the wider society; to increase awareness of the theoretical and practitioner arguments behind corporate responsibility within organisations; to explore ethical questions encountered on work placement or other work experience.

Brand Management Optional

Brand Management