Core modules
The focus of the course is psychology, allowing students to cover the critical elements of the BSc Psychology programme whilst covering specialist Linguistics modules. This allows you to achieve a BPS accredited degree with a language and linguistics skew.
The Linguistics modules not only introduce you to the structure of language, but also emphasise psycholinguistics (how adults learn a second language and how children learn the first language) and language use in real world contexts (how people get their message across in different social settings). Topics covered reflect Warwick’s unique research expertise in areas such as bilingualism, nonverbal behaviour, and cross cultural communication.
In Year One you will study six core modules: five that build the foundations of Psychology at Warwick as well as ’Linguistics: Understanding Language’.
In Year Two you will study eight modules. You will cover the core areas of Psychology and contemporary research with the opportunity to delve deeper into the areas that interest you. You will also develop further knowledge and understanding of Linguistics. All relate to contemporary research.
In Year Three you will conduct an individual project showcasing the full range of intellectual and practical skills you have developed throughout your degree.
Year One
Brain and Behaviour
In this module you'll learn about the structure and function of the nervous system, how we detect and respond to stimulation and how behaviour changes with experience. After exploring memory, language, emotion and goal-directed action, you'll study contemporary and historical approaches to psychological disorders. This will give you a critical appreciation of psychology as a science.
Psychology in Context
This module introduces you to the history of psychology and core topics in social, developmental and cognitive psychology. You'll be able to discuss some of the classic studies, critically appreciate the main concepts and take a historical perspective on psychology as a science.
Statistical Methods in Psychology
This module will introduce you to the skills and knowledge needed to conduct investigations and statistical analysis of research data, covering both the principles of the techniques taught and their practical application. By the end, you will be expected to have a sound understanding of the properties and application of qualitative and quantitative data, measures of tendency, variability, probability and correlation, the principles of parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing, regression, and the use of chi-square tests. Aiming to stand you in good stead for second- and third-year projects, this course will also see you designing and implementing factorial experiments, and analysing and presenting your findings with due regard to ethical considerations.
Research Methods in Psychology
You will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to understand the nature of empirical work in psychology, and to design, implement, analyse and report on your own investigations. In addition to preparing for second- and third-year projects, you will gain a solid grounding in research methods, including the properties and application of quantitative and qualitative data, measures of tendency, variability, probability and correlation, the principles of parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing, regression, and the use of chi-square tests. You will compare observational and questionnaire methods and associated ethical considerations, and also gain valuable practical experience in using SPSS software for computing descriptive and inferential statistics.
Academic Skills for Psychologists
You will gain the basic study skills needed to succeed on a psychology degree course, covering both theoretical considerations, such as the nature of evidence, and practical applications in terms of conducting field and desk research. With an emphasis on developing a coherent skill set based on critical, logical thinking and a deeper understanding of empirical psychological science, you will also gain an appreciation of the nature of assessment in higher education, and learn to organise your study time. We will also cover the efficient use of the university’s study resources, and soft skills such as communication and engagement that are essential to academic success.
Linguistics: Understanding Language
What is language? What is it made of? What rules do we follow when we put sounds together to create words and when we combine words to create sentences? How many languages are spoken in the world today, and in which ways are they similar or different? These are some of the questions that you will explore on this module. Using examples from different languages, you will analyse real-life language data in order to develop the practical skills required for linguistic analysis.
Year Two
Further methods in Psychology
You will cover both conceptual issues, such as knowing when and why to apply a particular research technique, and practical applications, such as conducting analysis using SPSS software. You will be encouraged to read academic articles with a critical eye as to the validity of their claims, and apply what you have learned in preparation for your second- and third-year projects. You will be expected to demonstrate that you can systematically test hypotheses using ANOVA, evaluate assumptions, pay due regard to ethical and methodological considerations, and present your results clearly and concisely in speech and in writing.
Language and Cognition
In this module, you'll investigate cognitive processes that underlie language, decision making and problem solving, in the context of investigating the evolution, biological mechanisms, and cognitive processes of language and communication. You'll master key findings and methods in psycholinguistics and cognitive science, and be able to critically evaluate theories of language and cognition.
Second Year Project
You will develop your research skills further through the opportunity to work as part of a small team on a medium-scale project in an area of psychological enquiry of interest to you. You will apply and consolidate the research methods and analytical skills acquired in your first year to real data obtained by the study. You will demonstrate that you can plan and carry out research (including an appreciation of ethical considerations), analyse data, draw appropriate conclusions, and present a poster and formal report on your findings to a professional standard. You will also foster the essential soft skills of independent learning, communication, time management and collaboration with your peers.
Social Psychology
How do we attach meaning to the behaviour of others? When does a child gain a sense of themselves as an entity? Why does modesty differ between cultures? Does objectifying women lead to their mistreatment? Social psychology engages with these and other questions of human behaviour scientifically by examining how we are influenced by our social context. You'll become acquainted with central concepts, theories and research in social psychology and grow your understanding of the individual, the social context of behaviour and the relationship between the two. You'll gain a good grounding in research methods and look specifically at verbal/non-verbal communication, aggression, social judgement, attribution and inference, and behaviour within and between groups.
Linguistics: Structure, Sound and Meaning
This module provides you with intensive instruction in six core domains of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. You will expand substantially on concepts that were introduced to you during Linguistics: Understanding Language. You will work from a wide range of language data to develop your knowledge of findings, theories, and methodologies from these domains. You will build core disciplinary knowledge that is essential to any field of linguistics inquiry, and establish a necessary foundation for advanced linguistic research.
You will defer one of these core modules to your third year:
Developmental Psychology
The module builds on the first-year developmental module of Psychology in Context by exploring current research in infancy, childhood and adolescence, linking to examples from atypical development and education and focusing primarily on cognitive and social development in childhood. You'll develop an understanding of how different influences interact in development, and be aware of links between cognitive and social growth, and the development of reasoning and language.
Individual Differences
You'll examine contemporary research and theories in relation to personality, intelligence, and the methods used to study the intriguing and hotly contested area of individual differences. You'll gain insights into how this area of study has evolved, with conflicting and competing theories. By the end of the course, you'll have an appreciation of the psychodynamic, biological, cognitive, humanistic–existential–interpersonal, and social–constructionist theories of personality and individual difference, and be able to evaluate research in these areas. You'll also become familiar with the aims of techniques such as multiple regression, factorial experiments and Q-sort procedures, and able to articulate your view of the major controversies in this field, both in writing and through oral presentation.
Psychobiology
You'll deepen the basic psychobiological knowledge you acquired in the first year to understand the complex functions and interactions of the nervous and endocrine systems. You'll learn to describe the functional architecture of the brain and macro- and microscopic levels, and understand the role of signal processing and the visual system in explaining complex behaviour. You'll also consider how psychobiology influences areas as complex as genetics, neurochemistry, sex differences, memory and homeostasis. We place emphasis on the complexities of contemporary psychobiological research, and its recent advances and limits, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to discuss challenging, up-to-date topics in psychobiology through group work, thereby developing your teamwork and communication skills.
Year Three
Your deferred second-year module
Multilingualism and Culture
Is it an advantage or disadvantage to be brought up bilingual? Is the bilingual or multilingual mind different? How do multilingual individuals draw on culturally shaped understandings of the social world to manage their interactions? In this module you will become familiar with key terms, concepts, theories and research evidence related to linguistic, psychological, and social aspects of bi/multi-lingualism. By the end of the module, you will be able to describe and discuss evidence in bi/multi-lingualism research, analyse the use of language in bi/multi-lingual contexts and evaluate theoretical and empirical research in bi/multi-lingualism.
Sociolinguistics
Why do we speak differently in different situations? Can you identify the features of a Geordie and a Scouse accent? Do men and women speak differently, and if so, why? These are questions you will explore as we examine the relationship between language use and social context. Building on module ET119 (Language in Society), you will develop a greater understanding of linguistic variation. With the opportunity to conduct your own research study, you can expect to complete your course armed with a set of theories, insights and skills to enable you to address such questions, and to explore your own questions about the role of language in society.
Individual Project
Optional Cores:
- Nonverbal Behaviour
- Words and Reading
- A third-year optional Psychology module
- A third-year optional Centre for Applied Linguistics module (one max)
Optional modules
- Professional Communication
- Communication Modes
- Global Public Relations
- Perspectives in Clinical and Counselling Psychology
- Developmental Psychopathology
- Sleep and Health
- Issues in Families and Development
- Psychology and the Law
- Behaviour Change
- Psychology Across Cultures
