Psychology (BSc): 4-year, part-time

COURSE STRUCTURE

You complete compulsory, core and option modules to a total of 360 credits, including a 30-credit project (BSc students) or extended essay (BA students) in your final year. Modules are taught at Levels 4, 5 and 6.

In your first year, you take either Route 1 or Route 1A, depending on your educational background and experience. Route 1A is specially tailored for students who have non-traditional entry qualifications, or who have been out of education for some time, or who lack confidence and need extra support. Route 1A will give those students the understanding, skills and confidence they need to successfully complete an undergraduate degree in psychology. Route 1A students are taught in small, supportive groups in their first year, before joining the rest of their cohort in their second year.

A key feature of this programme is its pathways, which enable you to specialise in your final year. All students take the same modules in Year 1 and Year 2, giving you a solid foundation in generic and subject-specific knowledge and skills. You then select a pathway in Year 3 and Year 4, choosing from a wide range of specialist option modules to tailor your programme to your interests and career ambitions. You can follow pathways in Psychology, Psychology with Neuroscience, Psychology with Child Development, or Psychology in Practice.
Another distinctive feature of this course is that students who choose the Psychology or the Psychology in Practice pathway can choose to graduate with either a BSc or a BA. The BA is not accredited by the British Psychological Society.

YEAR 1, YEAR 2 AND YEAR 3, ALL PATHWAYS

Route 1 students take five compulsory modules and Route 1A students take six compulsory modules, to a total of 90 credits.

In Year 2, all students take the same six compulsory modules and choose one option module, to a total of 90 credits, with the exception of BA Psychology and BA Psychology in Practice students, who take five compulsory modules and choose one 15-credit option module.

In Year 3, all students take the same four compulsory modules to a total of 60 credits and two option modules to a total of 30 credits, with the exception of BA Psychology and BA Psychology in Practice students, who take three compulsory modules to a total of 45 credits and one Level 5 and two Level 6 option modules to a total of 45 credits.

YEAR 4 BSC PSYCHOLOGY PATHWAY

You select specialist option modules to a total of 60 credits and complete a project worth 30 credits.

YEAR 4 BA PSYCHOLOGY PATHWAY

You may choose from the same list of options as BSc Psychology students, with the addition of the professional learning review, to a total of 60 credits, and complete an extended essay worth 30 credits.

YEAR 4 BSC PSYCHOLOGY WITH NEUROSCIENCE PATHWAY

You take one compulsory module, select pathway option modules to a total of 45 credits and complete a 30-credit project.

YEAR 4 BSC PSYCHOLOGY WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

You take one compulsory module, select pathway option modules to a total of 45 credits and complete a 30-credit project.

YEAR 4 BSC PSYCHOLOGY IN PRACTICE PATHWAY

You take one compulsory module, select pathway option modules to a total of 45 credits and complete a 30-credit project.

YEAR 4 BA PSYCHOLOGY IN PRACTICE PATHWAY

You take one compulsory module, select pathway option modules to a total of 45 credits and complete a 30-credit extended essay.

MODULE GROUPS

YEAR 1: ROUTE 1

• Introduction to Cognition
• Introduction to Neuroscience
• Introduction to Research Methods
• Introduction to Social Psychology
• Research@Birkbeck

YEAR 1: ROUTE 1A

• Psychology: Core concepts and skills
• Research Methods for Psychology (Introduction)
• Research Methods in Practice
• Understanding Applied Cognitive Psychology
• Understanding Applied Social Psychology
• Understanding Biological Basis of Behaviour

YEAR 2 BSC COMPULSORY MODULES

• Introduction to Developmental Psychology
• Introduction to Individual Differences
• Learning and Memory (level 5)
• Neuroscience
• Research Methods 1
• Social Psychology

YEAR 2 BA COMPULSORY MODULES

• Introduction to Developmental Psychology
• Introduction to Individual Differences
• Learning and Memory (level 5)
• Neuroscience
• Social Psychology

YEAR 2 BA OPTION MODULES

• Psychological and Developmental Issues in Early Childhood
• Psychological and Developmental Issues in Adolescence
• Research Methods 1

YEAR 3 BSC COMPULSORY MODULES

• Developmental Psychology
• Individual Differences
• Perception and Attention
• Research Methods 2

YEAR 3 BA COMPULSORY MODULES

• Developmental Psychology
• Individual Differences
• Perception and Attention

YEAR 3 BA OPTION MODULES

• Psychological and Developmental Issues in Early Childhood
• Psychological and Developmental Issues in Adolescence
• Research Methods 1
• Research Methods 2

BSC PSYCHOLOGY WITH NEUROSCIENCE YEAR 4

• Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
• Project BSc Psychology
• BSC PSYCHOLOGY WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT YEAR 4
• Brain and Cognitive Development
• Project BSc Psychology

BSC/BA PSYCHOLOGY IN PRACTICE YEAR 4

• Clinical and Counselling Psychology
• Extended Essay
• Project BSc Psychology

BSC/BA PSYCHOLOGY INDICATIVE OPTION MODULES

• Attachment Theory: Introduction and Critique
• Brain and Cognitive Development
• Clinical and Counselling Psychology
• Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: an Introduction
• Critical Analysis: Experimental Research
• Educational Psychology
• Experiential Qualitative Psychology
• Family Studies
• Genetics and Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Human Evolution and Evolutionary Psychology
• Language
• Plasticity, constraint, expertise and talent
• Reasoning and Decision Making
• Sexuality, Psychology and Sex Work [Forensic Psychology]
• Theoretical Debates about Human Memory

BSC PSYCHOLOGY WITH NEUROSCIENCE INDICATIVE OPTION MODULES

• Brain and Cognitive Development
• Critical Analysis: Experimental Research
• Experiential Qualitative Psychology
• Genetics and Psychology
• Human Evolution and Evolutionary Psychology
• Language
• Plasticity, constraint, expertise and talent
• Reasoning and Decision Making
• Theoretical Debates about Human Memory

BSC PSYCHOLOGY WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT INDICATIVE OPTION MODULES

• Attachment Theory: Introduction and Critique
• Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: an Introduction
• Critical Analysis: Experimental Research
• Educational Psychology
• Experiential Qualitative Psychology
• Family Studies
• Genetics and Psychology
• Language
• Plasticity, constraint, expertise and talent
• Theoretical Debates about Human Memory

BSC/BA PSYCHOLOGY IN PRACTICE INDICATIVE OPTION MODULES

• Attachment Theory: Introduction and Critique
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: an Introduction
• Critical Analysis: Experimental Research
• Educational Psychology
• Experiential Qualitative Psychology
• Family Studies
• Health Psychology
• Professional Learning Review
• Sexuality, Psychology and Sex Work [Forensic Psychology]

BSC PSYCHOLOGY YEAR 4

• Project BSc Psychology

BA PSYCHOLOGY YEAR 4

• Extended Essay