Psychology

Vocational qualification

In Thames Ditton

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Vocational qualification

  • Location

    Thames ditton

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour. You learn the theories psychologists have developed in various areas of the discipline and the research studies they are based on. There is a lot to learn and remember for the exams.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Thames Ditton (Surrey)
See map
KT7 0JB

Start date

On request

About this course

Aside from the general entry criteria that the College requires, you will also need to achieve at least a Grade C in GCSE English, GCSE Mathematics, and GCSE Science and additional Science.

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Course programme

Exam Board:AQA

What is the course about?
Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour. You learn the theories psychologists have developed in various areas of the discipline and the research studies they are based on. There is a lot to learn and remember for the exams.
For the AS level you will study:
During the AS year we examine 5 key topics in Psychology:
Developmental Psychology - early infant development and attachment
Cognitive Psychology - the nature of memory
Abnormal Psychology - the nature of mental illness
Social Psychology - how people influence others: conformity and obedience.
Physiological Psychology - The nature of stress and stress management
Scientific research methods (including statistical techniques) are integrated into each topic and form a major part of the exam asessment.
For the A2 you will study:
The A2 specification has not yet been finalised but the topics are likely to be a selection from the following: aggression, gender, relationships, eating behaviour, specific mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders) and contemporary psychological issues such as addictive behaviour. You will also study research methods in greater depth and learn more complex statistical techniques.
How is the course assessed?
The course is assessed entirely by written examinations in January and May each year. These consist of some structured questions and some essay style questions. There is no coursework.
What skills will I need and develop on this course?
Psychology is not usually available at GCSE but the GCSE subjects that are closest to the ways in which you will need to work are Additional Science or Biology (where there are technical terms and theories to learn) and History (where there are mini-essays to write). You need to be good at (and enjoy) reading and extended writing and you will also need to feel comfortable with scientific and mathematical approaches. The course develops your skills in analysis, evaluation, research and the analysis of data.
Subject combination advice:
Psychology combines well with any other subject. Many students combine it with another Science subject such as Biology or Maths and Statistics. Others combine it with Social Sciences and Humanities subjects such as History or Economics. If you wish to study it at university - it is officially regarded as a Science and degree level Psychology has a heavy biological and statistical emphasis.
What can the course lead to in terms of Higher Education and Careers?
You do not currently need A level Psychology to study it at university, but A level provides a sound foundation and indicates a commitment to the subject. Psychology can be studied as a single or joint honours degree. To work as a professional, accredited psychologist you will need a higher degree (MSc). Professional psychologists work in a range of fields including forensic psychology, health psychology, counselling psychology and educational psychology. Any career which involves dealing with people will be enhanced by studying Psychology at A level - for example teaching, the police, nursing; social work and work in human resources.
What are the formal entry requirements for this course?
Aside from the general entry criteria that the College requires, you will also need to achieve at least a Grade C in GCSE English, GCSE Mathematics, and GCSE Science and additional Science.
What extra support / enrichment activities are on offer?
The department offers subject tutorials and internal and external revision lectures to support students. Each year we invite an external examiner in to talk to students about the exams. When possible we may arrange trips to see theatre productions related to Psychology. We visit London Zoo for a demonstration of therapy to help people with fears and phobias. We offer a practical application of Psychology in our "16-19 Counselling Skills" course. This is a nationally recognised qualification for young people wishing to improve their skills as peer supporters. In the college's Wider Skills Week we offer a number of trips to museums and to the zoo as well as a taster of the counselling skills course. We also offer a course in Psychology (including its application to film) as part of the College's complementary studies programme. This may suit you if you are interested in the subject but aren't sure about taking an A level or AS in it.
What is the difference between Psychology and Sociology?
Both subjects are interested in human behaviour, but ask different questions from a different perspective. For example: Psychology might ask what makes individuals aggressive while Sociology might ask why violence has increased in society as a whole. Psychology is a science and therefore biological explanations of behaviour will be an important factor. Psychology also uses scientific research methods and statistical analysis of data, while Sociology is more descriptive.

Psychology

Price on request