Psychology & Sociology Pathway

SyllabusUnit 1: Preparing To Study

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how study is organised and planned
• Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
• Understand a range of constraints upon study
• Understand the importance of assessment feedback.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task.
• Know how to interpret and discuss concepts and debates in responding to a set, academic writing task.
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas.
• Understand the role of reference, allusion and paraphrase to avoid plagiarism.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to use key information sources.
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced.
• Understand a range of reading strategies.
• Understand note-making methods.
• Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to plan a piece of research on an approved subject area.
• Be able to collect research material from different sources
• Be able to use data to substantiate an argument
• Be able to record sources of information
• Be able to present research findings

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand what is meant by the term social welfare.
• Know the purpose of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act and its effects on society.
• Explain and discuss early twentieth century Liberal Reforms and their effect on society.
• Recognise the significance of the Beveridge Report.
• Recognise the social problems which the Welfare State attempted to address.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand potential next steps in education.
• Understand key sources of information relevant to HE application.
• Understand personal HE opportunities.
• Understand the financial implications of further study.
• Know how to apply for a course.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of research in psychology
• Understand the main approaches in psychology.
• Understand ethical issues in psychological research.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand research in an area of cognitive psychology.
• Understand how the findings of research into cognitive processes can be applied to real-life issues

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the major sub divisions of the nervous system.
• Understand the structure and function of glial cells and neurons.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the difficulties faced by psychologists in the definition and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour.
• Understand a psychological disorder.
• Understand therapy used to treat people with psychological disorders.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the main issues arising from psychiatric diagnosis.
• Understand the medical model of mental disorder.
• Understand the symptoms, causes and treatments of schizophrenia.
• Understand the symptoms, causes and treatments of affective disorders.
• Understand the symptoms, causes and treatments of anxiety disorders.

Unit 12: Developmental Psychology

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of early relationships in child development.
• Understand explanations of the development of individual differences.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the sociological approach and its distinction from common sense and other social sciences.
• Understand basic concepts in sociological explanation.
• Understand contrasting sociological perspectives.
• Understand concepts and perspectives relating to a specific social institution.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand concepts and models of health.
• Understand the social construction of health and ill health.
• Understand alternative approaches to health.

Unit 15: Sociology of Education

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of education as a socializing agency.
• Understand the roles of education in contemporary society.
• Understand the sociological explanations of labelling and the use of stereotypes
• Understand the concept of meritocracy.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand changes in family structure.
• Understand sociological explanations of the family to include functionalist, Marxist, feminist and interactionist views.
• Understand the nature and extent of changes within the family, with reference to gender roles, domestic labour and power relationships.
• Understand changing patterns of marriage, divorce, separation and child rearing.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the patterns of ownership and control of the mass media.
• Understand the role of the mass media.
• Understand the process of selection and presentation of the news.
• Understand how media stereotypes are presented.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand explanations of crime and deviance.
• Know theories of crime and deviance.
• Understand perceptions of crime and deviance.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 360 hrs.