What you will study
Take a look at some of the content and modules that you may have the opportunity to study on this course:
Year 1
In your first year you will acquire a broad foundation of knowledge of business principles and around key theories of psychological science. You will be introduced to key strategies which are used in psychological research.
Core modules
Psychology Research Methods 1
30 credits
This module is a core requirement for students taking psychology in level 4. The module will introduce you to key strategies which are used in psychological research, including designing an experiment, hypothesis testing, and statistical analysis. The main features of the module will involve the acquisition of practical skills in psychological research, learning how to apply and carry out statistical tests using SPSS, and how to report research findings.
Throughout the module you will learn how to design a research project, analyse data and report a psychological experiment.
Foundations of Psychology
30 credits
This module introduces students to theories and ideas of psychological science in core areas of research. This module allows students to acquire a broad foundation of knowledge of these core areas, as well as many specialist sub-areas of psychology (e.g., biological psychology, learning, sensory and perceptual processes, memory, thought and knowledge, language, social, developmental, neuropsychology, individual differences, clinical).
Introduction to Business Psychology
30 credits
This module will introduce students to the main approaches (economic, individual differences, human relations and cognitive) to studying organisations and their psychology. It will focus on areas such as personnel selection, individual and group performance, decision making, communication and psychological well-being. The students will also be introduced to ethical principles and tools that can be used to deal with moral dilemmas often arising in business contexts
Business Management
30 credits
This module is designed to introduce you to the business function, with specific focus on marketing, data analysis, information systems, economics and the business environment. This module will equip you with the tools and skills to collect and analyse data, and present solutions to real-world problems based on marketing data. You will learn basic business and economic concepts and their application to current issues.
Year 2
In the second year you will understand how businesses manage resources. And examine the relationship between brain function and our understanding of cognition and behaviour. Whilst developing experimental research designs and delve further into inferential statistics.
Core modules
Psychology Research Methods 2
30 credits
This module builds on the introduction to research methods and inferential statistics offered in PS4001 Research Methods 1. It will cover more advanced research designs — involving multiple independent variables — and more advanced inferential statistics such as analysis of variance, regression analysis and factor analysis. It will also introduce students to qualitative research methods and data analysis. Students will learn to develop and implement multifactorial experimental designs through practical research exercises and a project. Students' scientific writing skills will be further developed on the basis of a series of lab reports.
Social, Individual and Developmental Psychology
30 credits
The module will cover a broad range of key theories and empirical research in social, individual and developmental psychology. This module will allow students to explore current theory and practice in psychology across range of topics that focuses on the person in psychology. In consideration of the social, individual (human abilities and personality attributes) and developmental areas of enquiry, the scientific approach and the notion of measurement is fundamental.
Brain, Behaviour and Cognition
30 credits
This module will cover major topics within the field of cognitive psychology, and will examine the relationship between brain function and our understanding of cognition and behaviour. The module will introduce key theoretical explanations proposed to account for human cognition and introduce students to some real-life applications of cognitive psychology. The module will also introduce students to the structure and function of the nervous system before examining the contribution of specialised brain structures to cognitive functions such as perception, attention, language, memory and decision making, and behaviours such as motivation, eating, emotion and sleep. Finally the module will examine the effect of hormones, drugs and neurological dysfunction on cognition and behaviour.
Managing Resources
30 credits
This module considers the extent to which an efficient and effective management of human and financial resources can help organisations to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage. It examines key issues in human and financial resource management, using appropriate conceptual and analytical frameworks which can help to explain the choices available to organisations, and their likely reasons for adopting different approaches to the management of human and financial resources. The module examines key issues in strategic HRM. It demonstrates how various HRM policies and practices can be employed and intertwined to create an environment in which employees are satisfied and perform well. The module also explains the principles and construction of the key financial statements and prepares students to interpret financial information to make appropriate economic decisions and recommendations. In so doing, it provides opportunities for applied learning and professional development.
Optional year
Study abroad optional year
You have the option to take an additional year to study abroad or to undertake a year-long work placement overseas (or even a mix of both).
Sandwich year
This course has a sandwich year option which takes place between Year 2 and your Final Year. During this sandwich year you will take a placement within a relevant setting, ensuring you gain essential experience to add to your CV and help you secure a graduate job.
Final year
You will undertake a work placement and will carry out a research project. You will have a wide choice of project themes ranging from cognitive psychology through to social psychology that cover all aspects of business.
Core modules
Psychology Research Project
30 credits
This module will provide the opportunity to study and employ different methodologies in psychology by evaluating the strengths and limitations of different research designs. Students will execute an empirical research project on a topic agreed in consultation with a Psychology staff supervisor. Supervisory sessions with an academic supervisor will guide students to conduct a literature review, formulate a research question, design a research study, and consider research ethics relating to their study, culminating in data collection and writing up of a research report which satisfies APA guidelines.
Occupational Psychology
30 credits
This module introduces a range of issues in contemporary occupational psychology within four key areas: Health and Well-being; Selection and Assessment; Leadership and Organisational Change; Training and Development. A variety of theoretical models of organizational behaviour are introduced and discussed. The empirical research within each area is described and critically evaluated, and students are encouraged to develop skills by applying their knowledge to business case study examples. Topics include stress and burnout, workspace design, bullying and harassment, motivation and performance, psychometric testing and selection processes, models of organisational change, leadership and management, personal development, and job design.
Psychology Work Placement
30 credits
This module provides students with the opportunity to address workplace issues that can benefit from input by psychologists. Students will gain an appreciation of the challenges of applying psychological research and knowledge in workplace settings. Students will complete 30 hours of work experience, and apply psychological research findings and knowledge to their chosen context, under the supervision of a workplace supervisor. In addition, seminars held at the University help prepare students for their placement, and will provide examples from previous placements to compliment the learning objectives. Students are required to reflect on their experiences in the workplace and examine how knowledge gained from their course can be used in their setting.
Optional modules
Leading Change
30 credits
In this module you will analyse the concepts and theories of leadership and its application to contemporary organisations. You will reflect on the nature of change and the leader's role in managing through change in today's complex and uncertain environment. You will also examine the role of leaders and managers in developing a social conscience and learn how to recognise and address ethical issues.
Business Intelligence and Big Data Mining
30 credits
This module is designed to introduce students to the latest techniques in data analytics from a business perspective. It aims to make students familiar with, and proficient in applying, the fundamental principles of data visualisation and "data mining" (discovering patterns within data), which are essential skills for data scientists and data analysts working in the modern world. A particular emphasis will be placed on developing student's ability to identify the key features and factors influencing businesses' Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the context of large datasets, using appropriate software tools. Furthermore, the students will develop their communication skills and will be able to present their findings visually in a format suitable to be understood by people who may have had rather less training in scientific fields (managers, financial sponsors/clients, accountants, politicians or policy makers, the general public).
The module will be taught in a very practical way using an example driven approach to present applications of the theory, and subsequently interpretation and communication of the outcomes in a range of business contexts such as, but not limited to banking, car manufacturing, sales and healthcare. These have broad application in a range of careers and enhance the employability of graduates.
Advanced Issues in the Psychology of Thinking
30 credits
This module will explore the psychology of higher cognitive processes, such as thinking, reasoning, judgement and decision-making. The module will encourage students to evaluate critically whether human thinking is rational, and the normative models with which that rationality is measured. It will also introduce students to quantitative models of these processes. Finally the module will introduce students to applications of cognitive psychology research, especially in terms of judgement and decision making in areas such as politics, sports, economics and health.
Management Strategy and Operations
30 credits
This module considers the development of the role of management in organisations, the importance of strategic analysis and decision making to enable sustainable development and the different contexts in which organisations might operate. You will develop an understanding of the environment in which organisations operate and how organisations use internal resources and competences to achieve competitive advantage. The module examines the role of culture and management in organisations, and the options for growth and development.
