Psychology BSc (Hons) DPS/DIntS

What you'll study

Excited to learn more? For a taster of what you can expect to study on this course, 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

Areas studied include foundations in cognitive, biological, social and developmental psychology, historical and conceptual issues in psychology, and research methods.

Semester 1 & 2

Academic and Professional Skills for Psychology Core

Academic and Professional Skills for Psychology

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.

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 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.

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.

Introductory Neuroscience Optional

Introductory Neuroscience

The overall aim of this module is to introduce psychology students to the basic principles of neuroscience and to provide students with the necessary grounding to understand subsequent modules containing biological aspects of psychology.

Ideas and Controversies in Psychology Optional

Ideas and Controversies in Psychology

The aim of the module is for students to be introduced to, and engage in, debates around controversial issues in Psychology.

Semester 2

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.

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 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.

Psychology Practicals A Core

Psychology Practicals A

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.

Professions in Psychology Core

Professions in Psychology

The aims of this module are to introduce students to potential career paths in psychology, to develop an understanding of skills and competencies sought by employers, and to reflect upon how to develop these skills and competencies. From the lectures, group work and assessment of this module, students are given the opportunity to explore the various career options in psychology, consider relevant career theories and identify the necessary skills and training to apply for these jobs.

Introduction to Work Psychology Optional

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.

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.

Self and Identity Optional

Self and Identity

The module will introduce students to a range of psychological approaches to, and knowledge concerning, concepts of identity and the self.

Areas studied include human cognition, brain and behaviour, social psychology, child Development, personality and individual differences, and research methods.

Semester 1

Quantitative Research Methods Core

Quantitative Research Methods

The aim is for the student to understand the theory and application of multiple regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Human Cognition Core

Human Cognition

Student will develop an understanding of the current central areas of theory and research within cognitive psychology.

Qualitative Research Methods Core

Qualitative Research Methods

The aim is for students to develop a sophisticated theoretical and practical understanding of qualitative research methods in psychology.

Developmental Psychology Core

Developmental Psychology

The module builds on Part A PSA500 Foundations in Developmental Psychology 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.

Psychological Approaches to Human Resource Management Optional

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.

Psychological Issues and Strategies in Sport Optional

Psychological Issues and Strategies in Sport

The aims of this module are to: identify and explain several psychological issues athletes may face and potential interventions to enhance sports performance and well-being; highlight the theoretical underpinnings relating to psychological issues and interventions in sport.

Political Psychology Optional

Political Psychology

The aim of this module is for the student to acquire an understanding of the relationship between psychology, politics and society.

Forensic Psychology Optional

Forensic Psychology

The aim of this module is for students to understand and evaluate critically the contribution made by psychologists to criminal and forensic issues.

Social Psychology and Communication Optional

Social Psychology and Communication

The aims of this module are to introduce students to: how language and communication is explained and understood in psychology; social psychological perspectives on communication, including discursive psychology and conversation analysis; how everyday social and psychological phenomena are constructed through communicative practices.

Semester 2

Personality and Individual Differences Core

Personality and Individual Differences

Students will 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.

Psychology Practical's B Core

Psychology Practical's B

The aim of the module is for the student to gain an understanding of the process of conducting psychological research. This includes skills relating to empirical design, data collection and the reporting of research findings.

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

Building on Part A SSA151 Foundations in 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.

Leading and Developing Others Optional

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.

Group and Interpersonal Processes in Sport Optional

Group and Interpersonal Processes in Sport

The aims of the module are to: provide both a theoretical rationale and practical guidelines for developing a psychosocial environment in which athletes and coaches develop and grow.

Principles of Exercise Psychology Optional

Principles of Exercise Psychology

The module aims to develop knowledge, understanding and skills relating to key psychological determinants and outcomes of exercise.

Memory and Knowledge Optional

Memory and Knowledge

The aim of this module is for the students to get an overview of the areas of research in the cognitive psychology of learning and memory.

Brain and Behaviour II Optional

Brain and Behaviour II

The aim of this module is to apply insight in various behaviours and associated biological, psychological and social factors which are presented via devised cases in class using a problem based learning approach.