Sport and Exercise Psychology BSc (Hons) DPS/DIntS

What you'll study

Beyond studying all major areas of psychological science, this BPS-accredited course focuses on the application of psychology to sport, performance and exercise environments. Combining innovative and interactive teaching methods with independent research, students will gain knowledge and skills related to pursuing a career as a psychologist specialising in sport and supporting athlete performance, health and wellbeing.

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 social/developmental/cognitive/biological/sport and exercise psychology, and research methods.

Semester 1 & 2

Teaching & Academic & Professional Skills for Sport & Exercise Psychology Core

Teaching & Academic & Professional Skills for Sport & Exercise Psychology

To support students' transition into university education by developing their: core skills for academic study in sport and exercise psychology; psychological literacy; and personal development in preparation for placements, work experience and 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

tudents 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.

Teaching & Coaching (E1) Core

Teaching & Coaching (E1)

Students will explore some of the pedagogical principles underpinning effective teaching and coaching and reflect on how they impact the attainment of high quality learning outcomes within a variety of practical contexts.

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 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.

Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology Core

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.

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.

Issues in Sport and Exercise Science Optional

Issues in Sport and Exercise Science

Students will develop literature searching, critical analysis, and understand how to structure and organise research in the context of a topic of current relevance to the sport and exercise science.

Areas studied include exercise psychology, psychology in elite sport, hot topics in sport and exercise psychology, social psychology, child development, memory and cognition, brain and behaviour, 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 Issues and Strategies in Sport Core

Psychological Issues and Strategies in Sport

he 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.

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.

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

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 Practicals B Core

Psychology Practicals 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.

Group and Interpersonal Processes in Sport Core

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 Core

Principles of Exercise Psychology

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

Areas studied include an independent research project, applied exercise psychology, and psychology of working with athletes, coaches and teams.

Semester 1 & 2

Project Core

Project

The aim of the module is to give further training in, and practical experience of, conducting psychological research.

Science & Elite Performance in Sport Core

Science & Elite Performance in Sport

The module encourages students to foster a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the contemporary scientific determinants of elite performance within a range of different sporting contexts.

Semester 1

Psychology of PE and Youth Sport Core

Psychology of PE and Youth Sport

The module aim is to provide students with a critical, in-depth examination of key psychological issues in physical education and youth sport settings.

Performance Psychology for Sporting Excellence Core

Performance Psychology for Sporting Excellence

The aims of this module are: to provide an educational experience for students in the study of humans' mental and social processes and their relationship with achieving sporting excellence ; advance students' knowledge and understanding of human psychology and its relationship with elite sport performance; equip students to enter postgraduate study of performance and sport psychology.

Psychology of Workplace Health Optional

Psychology of Workplace Health