Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Critical Thinking about Psychology
This module provides students with many of the skills needed to critically evaluate psychological theories and studies. It uses examples from psychology to highlight the common errors that people make when assessing arguments and evaluating evidence.
The module provides step-by-step guidance on how to overcome widespread mistakes and how to construct logical, balanced and coherent arguments. The module also requires students to assess the validity of a number of extraordinary claims, such as parapsychology, alternative medicine, astrology and mediumship. Students will be encouraged to be open-minded, yet require appropriate standards of proof when evaluating such claims.
Human Development and Social Psychology
You gain an understanding of two of the five core areas of study specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS): developmental psychology and social psychology. You consider theoretical and empirical work within human development and social psychology and are introduced to ethics in psychology, psychological research skills and report writing.
Introduction to Clinical Psychology
You are introduced to the field of clinical psychology and the roles, responsibilities and ethics which underpin it. You gain an introductory knowledge of the roles of a clinical psychologist. This includes an awareness of formulation, ethics, and working across the lifespan. Lectures focus on the four core areas in clinical psychology work: adult, child, older adult and learning disabilities. You are also offered the opportunity to learn about the changing role of the clinical psychologist, in terms of delivering team-based interventions, training and supervision, and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). Throughout the module, you develop an understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice, drawing upon relevant literature to support your work on the module.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
You are introduced to the field of mental health and wellbeing. The module includes discussion of key theories and specific conditions which are amenable to psychological intervention. Brief introductions are given to different therapeutic approaches, medical, social and resilience-based models of mental health and wellbeing. You are given the opportunity to participate in weekly discussion workshops/taster sessions, where topics from the lecture are considered in more depth. During discussion groups you have the opportunity to work on your interpersonal and group management skills using a compassion focused approach to group skills management.
Psychobiology, Cognition and Individual Differences
You gain an understanding of three of the five core areas of study specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS): biological psychology, cognitive psychology and individual differences. You consider theoretical and empirical work within biological and developmental psychology and individual differences and also develop psychological research skills and report writing in more depth to provide you with the skills necessary to plan, conduct and report psychological research.
Psychological Research Design and Analysis 1
Providing a foundation in psychological research methods and analysis, this module covers a range of experimental and non-experimental methodological approaches.
You are introduced to the Windows SPSS package for statistical analysis and graph drawing, and you learn about simple qualitative research and data collection methods.
The module covers ethics in research, qualitative and quantitative methods, survey design, simple non-experimental and experimental designs, reliability and validity, probability, hypothesis testing, descriptive data analysis, simple non-parametric and parametric statistical analysis and research report writing.
By the end of the module, you’ll be able to identify the appropriate method for a range of research questions, analyse the resulting data and draw appropriate conclusions.
Year 2 core modules
Applied Research in Psychology
The module continues to foster advanced research design and analysis, building on the Conducting Research in Psychology module. It will facilitate the further development of knowledge and skills in using advanced research designs, including the use of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. Module content includes conceptual issues in advanced research designs, focusing on experimental and quasi-experimental quantitative research designs, planning of sample size, quantitative data analysis (ANOVA and ANCOVA), and advanced qualitative research techniques.
Biological and Social Psychology
The module is divided into two halves: biopsychology and social psychology. Biological, neurological and social explanations for a series of identified psychological topics are explored, as well as introducing the concept of evolutionary explanations for human behaviour and the scientific approach to the study of our social behaviour.
You are required to complete a two-hour unseen written examination for your assessment on this module.
Clinical Skills in Psychology
You are introduced to the skills needed when working as an assistant psychologist or in low intensity psychological roles. The module focuses on an introduction to the theory and skills around psychological assessment, including conducting interviews, using self-report scales and introduction to psychometric assessment. It also introduces basic models of formulation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based interventions. Sessions run as three hour workshops to allow sufficient flexibility to introduce new material/techniques and demonstrate practical skills. The module develops formative skills around assessment, formulation and intervention, appropriate for the level of study and potential future roles.
This module does not turn you into a qualified practitioner psychologist. Rather, students completing the module will be psychology undergraduate students who possess awareness of basic clinical skills. Skills developed in this module should only be used in practice under the supervision of an appropriately qualified practitioner psychologist or clinical team.
Conducting Research in Psychology
The module deals with advanced research design and analysis, building on the module Research Design and Analysis 1. It facilitates the development of knowledge and skills in using advanced research designs, including the use of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. Module content includes conceptual issues in advanced research designs, a focus on non-experimental/correlational quantitative research designs, regression techniques, assessment design and qualitative data collection and analysis.
Development, Cognitive Processes and Disorders
This module is delivered in two parts. In the first half, competing perspectives, contemporary debates, historical perspectives and applied topics within developmental psychology are studied using a lifespan perspective. In the second half, a range of cognitive processes are discussed in relation to both healthy and disordered functioning, drawing evidence from experimental psychology, neuropsychological case studies and cognitive neuroscience perspectives.
Psychopathologies and Individual Differences
You develop a knowledge and understanding of psychopathologies and individual differences in psychology. In addition, you develop skills in psychometric measurement and an in-depth knowledge of these areas along with the necessary skills to distinguish between theories and critically evaluate them.
Final-year core modules
Clinical Psychology, Diversity and Complexity
This module further develops your awareness of the wider roles that clinical psychologists play in practice and develop skills around service evaluation and audit. The module builds upon existing knowledge of working with clients across the lifespan, to consider the adaptation of interventions to specialist populations. You are given the opportunity to reflect on issues around health inequalities and diversity, including power and service user involvement.
Employability and Work-Related Learning
You develop your graduate skills in preparation for employment in a professional context. You have the opportunity to gain academic credit based on your participation in work experience, a short period of professional activity or work-related learning relevant to the discipline or area of professional interest. You develop an understanding of graduate employment pathways, opportunities, reflective practice and experiential learning. The core focus of the module will be helping you prepare for a graduate career, developing an understanding of professional working contexts and enabling you to identify and evidence your own graduate skills.
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Issues in Psychology
This module is aimed to introduce students to a number of debates in applied psychology. The module content is aimed to meet learning needs of students interested in aspects of applied psychology and to foster self-directed learning.
Psychology Dissertation
The module provides you with an opportunity to apply your learning from earlier modules by conducting a self-initiated, substantial data driven research project in a specific area of interest. You demonstrate your skills in data collection, analysis, interpretation and communication of findings of an empirical piece of research.
Psychology in Clinical Practice
You examine some of the areas of work of practitioner psychologists, structured around the core competencies inherent in training to become a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. You engage with professional and ethical issues inherent in the design and development of research, training, consultancy and interventions in clinical settings, and are introduced to the requirements of postgraduate study in psychology.
Completion of this module does not provide eligibility for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.
