Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Bachelor of Science with Honours - BSH

Alternative Exit

Alternative Exit

Recruitable Target

Accreditation

British Psychological Society (BPS)

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Sandwich Year Out

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

In line with the defining principles laid down in the benchmarking document, the aims of the BSc (Hons) Psychology programme are to: Develop knowledge and critical understanding of a range of fundamental psychological theory. Produce a scientific understanding of mind, brain, behaviour, and experience, and of the complex interactions between them. Develop knowledge of, and the ability to critically evaluate, experimental methods and key research areas in psychology. Develop students' awareness of a range of real-life applications of psychological theory. Enable students to link theoretical analysis with empirical enquiry. Enrich students' learning experiences and to provide a stimulating and effective learning environment. Promote access to higher education, especially within the local region, whilst maintaining due regard for issues of ability and quality assurance. Enable graduates to enter employment in a wide range of contexts. To encourage students to engage with the development of employability skills by completing a self-awareness statement. Enable achievement of Graduate Membership (GM) and Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS). GBC is a pre-requisite for entry to BPS-accredited postgraduate programmes in Psychology.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate a range of knowledge in conceptual and historical perspectives in psychology
2.
Demonstrate competence in effective oral and written communication skills
3.
Show evidence of effective comprehension skills and use of data
4.
Demonstrate effective critical thinking and reasoning skills
5.
Present clear evidence of problem solving skills
6.
Demonstrate management of the data collection process and critical competence in research skills
7.
Provide evidence of evaluative and analytical skills
8.
Demonstrate competence in the effective retrieval and organisation of information
9.
Show versatility and understanding in the use a variety of psychological tools, including specialist software, laboratory equipment and psychometric instruments.
10.
Demonstrate project management skills in carrying out an extensive piece of independent empirical research, applying skills of choosing and applying appropriate advanced empirical methodologies and the treatment of resulting data with appropriate analytical methods.
11.
Apply skills of literature search, critical review and selection of relevant sources, and systematic synthesis and treatment of key material.
12.
Explain the basic principles of Biological Psychology
13.
Demonstrate adaptability and versatility in computer literacy, both in use of standard software applications and use of internet to search for information
14.
Show adaptation of problem solving and reasoning skills to a range of challenges
15.
Demonstrate versatility in the application of self-management of learning, utilising time-management skills and effective planning strategies
16.
Show evidence for collaboration and co-operation in working with others in varied situations
17.
Demonstrate breadth of knowledge in basic Cognitive Psychology
18.
Demonstrate breadth of knowledge in basic Developmental Psychology
19.
Demonstrate breadth of knowledge in basic Social Psychology
20.
Demonstrate breadth of knowledge in the basics of Personality and Individual Differences
21.
Demonstrate breadth of knowledge in the basic principles and processes of Research methods in psychology
22.
Demonstrate basic competence in Psychological Applications
23.
Demonstrate and explain the basics of other specialist areas of Psychology

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Lectures and directed independent reading are used to introduce core knowledge. Lectures are supported by appropriate learning resources and learning activities to provide practice in applying declarative knowledge to applied problems, with feedback from tutors and peers. Lectures are supplemented by seminar and workshop activities in which students can explore ideas in more depth and contribute to, and benefit from, peer learning. In addition, students are expected to cover substantive course content through their own directed reading. Individual supervision sessions are used to support students in the development and completion of their final year project. These approaches are consistent with the learning outcomes of each specific module. In formulating the assessment strategy, the programme team aims to achieve an appropriate match between teaching and learning methods and assessment tasks, including the provision of formative feedback, an appropriate balance of assessment tasks over the programme, and inclusivity of a range of student approaches to learning. Assessment methods include essay assignment, conventional written examinations (using seen or unseen questions),multiple choice examinations, portfolios, oral presentations and research reports. Students have a variety of opportunities for feedback on their work. Workshop activities provide a forum for skill development through practice with feedback from tutor and peers. Individual supervision meetings support students in developing, conducting and reporting an empirical investigation in psychology. Coursework assessment is used to provide timely and detailed summative and formative assessment. Individual tutors also build in opportunities for formative assessment during the life of the module, and take advantage of opportunities to provide formative assessment that arise from students' work.

Opportunities for work related learning

Work-related learning is provided on the modules, Careers and Employability (5205PSYSCI) and Work-based learning (6213PSYSCI). In 5205PSYSCI, students get an opportunity to develop their career and employability skills through a series of lectures, tutorials, and by completing an oral presentation. There is an option to undertake either a work placement or an enhanced careers-related portfolio. Through the learning activities careers within and outside of Psychology are highlighted and discussed, with reference to the enhancement of students' employability skills. Aims in the module include raising students' awareness of various career paths and opportunities that their Psychology degree opens up for them. Students will complete an oral presentation, which in itself is an essential employability skill. Tutorials within this module will support students in their goal-directed planning for employability. In 6213PSYSCI, students who choose this module at Level 6 have the opportunity to complete a longer and more in-depth work placement. They can work towards making themselves more competitive in the employment market, and gather further examples of their skills in a workplace context. Students on this module will be supported by tutorials and lectures from academic staff. They will complete a coursework portfolio assessment consisting of a skills matrix and a detailed professional development plan. Both modules link students to the work of a dedicated Careers Adviser who contributes directly to the programme and assists students with career counselling. Students have the option to arrange a year's industrial placement between Level 5 and 6.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

The programme is offered in full-time mode (3 years). The BSc (Hons) Psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society and confers graduate eligibility for both Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society and the Graduate Basis for Chartership, provided the minimum standard of a Second Class Honours is … For more content click the Read More button below.

Structure

Entry Requirements

A levels

Access awards

Alternative qualifications considered

BTECs

GCSEs and equivalents

IELTS

International Baccalaureate

Interview required

Irish awards

NVQ

OCR Cambridge Technical

Reduced offer scheme

T levels

UCAS points

Welsh awards

Extra Entry Requirements

Is a DBS check required?

No

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH04-01) psychology