Bad Science

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the scientific process in psychology, including the collection, analysis and reporting of data. Heavy use will be made of examples of problematic practice, including the over-interpretation of results, poor reporting practices, etc. Students will learn to critically assess the evidence underlying scientific claims.

Core Debates & Key Competencies in Psychology

This module will provide support and guidance to assist you through some core debates in psychology whilst examining the historical context and how they contribute to the development of psychology as a discipline. The content of this module will encourage you to find and use credible evidence to support your arguments, read the most interesting and up-to-date sources of information and structure your arguments effectively. The skills developed in this module will allow you to identify key professional values for psychology, develop key writing skills in line with APA standards and provide a good foundation for study at Level 5.

Current Issues in Psychology

Building upon the learning from Core Debates in Psychology, Current Issues in Psychology takes theories and concepts in the core areas of Psychology: Biological, Cognitive, Developmental and Social Psychology and applies them to current issues the subject is facing. You will consider how the differing areas across Psychology can interact and come together with a common purpose. This module starts your development in considering a connected and multidisciplinary curriculum.

Research Methods in Psychology - Basic

This module introduces students to research in psychology. We will begin by considering different approaches to research, including the distinction between quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The various types of research design will be explored, but there will be particular emphasis on the experimental method. Students will then be introduced to crucial ethical considerations that need to be made when conducting psychological research (especially concerning deception). Students will also be given a chance to take part in a psychological experiment and will learn about ways of analysing and presenting data. As part of this, students will begin using the statistical software package SPSS. The module concludes with a discussion of some of the wider issues affecting psychological research, and also shows students how to report research findings.

Research Methods in Psychology - Intermediate

Research Methods Intermediate This module continues from Research Methods in Psychology: Basic and will provide you with a grounding in the use of inferential statistics and qualitative methods in Psychology. We will consider a variety of research tools from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. By the end of the module, you will be able to select the appropriate statistical test for your data, carry out statistical analyses using SPSS, interpret statistical output obtained from SPSS and report experimental findings in an appropriate fashion. You will also receive instruction in the use of a variety of qualitative techniques, including interview techniques, organising and running focus groups, collecting observational data and conducting a thematic analysis. You will be able to gather a broader understanding of the variety of qualitative techniques at your disposal as well as the appropriate contexts in which to apply these techniques.

Theoretical Principles in Counselling

Theoretical principles in counselling is designed to introduce you to the practices of counselling and counselling psychology. The module will provide an overview of some of the current theories, issues and debates that are taking place in the world of counselling and mental health. There will be discussion and debate around ethics and theory as well as considering careers focused skills.  There will be discussion and debate around ethics and theory as well as considering careers-focused skills.

English for Psychologists I

Students will develop their general English skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, and be provided with an introduction to academic English. Students will develop their grammatical, phonological and general and subject specific lexical awareness. By the end of the module students’ language for academic study should be at a mid B2 on the CEFR equivalent to IELTS 5.5.

Counseling Skills

Counselling Skills builds on "Theoretical Principles in Counselling" by considering the skills required to put counselling theory into practice. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in active listening, reflection and paraphrasing as well as understanding the principles behind these. You will engage in discussion and debates around ethics, professional values, and compassion alongside the skills relating to counselling.

Research Methods in Psychology - Advanced

Research Methods Advanced builds on the skills and knowledge developed in Research Methods Basic and Intermediate. This module is designed to equip students with skills in advanced research methods and analysis in psychology. Most of the skills developed in this module will have relevance to the workplace and will also enable the students to understand and evaluate how both research and data analysis relate to everyday life. We will examine a range of advanced research and analysis approaches. By the end of the module students will be able to report complex psychological findings with the help of statistical analysis software. This module forms an important step towards preparing students for their final year projects and towards becoming independent researchers.

Psychology in Context

Building upon material covered at Level 4 in Current Issues in Psychology, Psychology in Context takes real world issues at the individual, societal and organisational level and applies the different perspectives from the Psychology core domains of Biological, Cognitive, Developmental and Social Psychology to provide a coherent and multidisciplinary explanation. In addition, the module considers individual and cultural differences particularly when considering how Psychology can be used to provide interventions and strategies that make a real difference.

Preparing for your Research Project

Preparing for your research project builds on the work you have completed in research methods basic, intermediate and advanced and will advance your research skills, enabling you to work towards being an independent researcher.

Working in Psychology

Working in Psychology builds on the transferable skills and knowledge developed in Applied Psychology and Current Issues in Psychology. This module is designed to provide an insight into using psychology within a work context. You will have the opportunity to complete a short placement, reflect on improvement, design and propose an intervention for the organisation.

Intermediate English II

The module builds on Intermediate English 1 and further develops students’ general and academic English skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students will be exposed to more advanced forms of academic English. Students will further develop their grammatical, phonological and general and subject specific lexical awareness. By the end of the module students’ language for academic study should be at a B2/B2+ on the CEFR equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or above.

Applied Counselling

Applied counselling builds on both "Theoretical Principles of Counselling" and "Counselling Skills" You will look in further depth at the current and developing theories and practice in counselling, as well as completing a short placement within a counselling context (e.g. counselling center, charity). You will continue to engage in discussion and focus on your own skills as well as consider the ethics of practice.

Psychology Research Project

This module provides an opportunity to engage in a piece of research chosen, with a supervisor’s guidance, by the student as an independent piece of work that employs the skills that have been acquired during two years of psychology study. During the course of this individual piece of research the student will develop or refine the skills needed to design an ethically and methodologically sound piece of empirical research; execute a literature search for relevant published material; analyse the data collected and write a report on this that will include a critical appraisal of both the extant literature and one’s own findings.

Clinical Psychology

This module is designed to provide students with a foundation in the theory and practice of psychology in clinical settings, introducing issues in philosophy, assessment, formulation and treatment. Much of the material presented will take a critical view of clinical psychology both now and historically, and a range of non-standard interventions will be evaluated.

Developmental & Educational Psychology

This module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore psychological theories and research related to developmental and educational psychology and to apply them during problem-based learning. The module content covers a range of topics including psychological development in infancy, childhood and adolescence, specific learning difficulties, intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health, exploration of the empirical evidence surrounding what may promote and inhibit learning and development and educational psychology practice.

Occupational Psychology

This module builds upon the Level 5 Working in Psychology module. It will explore the theory and practice of applying psychology in the workplace. The module covers all aspects of the BPS’ five areas of Occupational Psychology and will provide students with an understanding of issues around both the industrial side (e.g. recruitment and selection, training, performance management) and organisational side (organisational change, work design, human factors) of the discipline of Occupational Psychology.