Introduction

Psychology is located within the Department of Applied Social Sciences, and may be studied as a Single Honours programme, or in combination with most other subjects in the Combined Honours Scheme. It is well suited to students intending to pursue a career in Psychology, as well as those seeking employment in other areas requiring psychological knowledge and skills. A Single Honours programme in sport psychology is also available, leading to BSc Psychology (Sport and Exercise) - for details, please click here.

Part-time routes for people in employment are available. See Professional Development by Work Based Learning.

Content and Structure

The programme provides an overview of Psychology as a scientific discipline and its associated methods of inquiry, with numerous opportunities for in-depth study of its particular perspectives, major findings and applications. Throughout the programme, students develop important transferable skills in areas such as information seeking, research, data handling, problem-solving, and critical evaluation.

LEVEL 1

Level 1 aims to provide students with an integrated introduction to the subject matter of Psychology and the practice of psychological research. All students study the following modules:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology

Throughout the year students engage in a range of practical coursework, gathering and reporting data from their own investigations and analysing it using state-of-the-art computer software.

In addition, Single Honours students* also study:

• Perspectives on Cognition and Behaviour
• Psychology in Practice

The first of these modules introduces past and present philosophical and theoretical issues in Psychology and related disciplines, while the second provides students with an insight into the work of practitioners in the field. Single Honours students may also study one of a range of possible modules offered by other programmes within the BA/BSc scheme, or alternatively take Evolutionary Psychology.

LEVEL 2

Level 2 aims to provide students with an in-depth coverage of theory and research in cognitive and biological psychology, together with study and experience of more advanced research methods. Single Honours students also take one or more specialist options focusing on applications of Psychology to health issues and human performance. All Single Honours students - and all Combined Honours students taking 60 or more credits in Psychology at Level 2 - take the following modules:

• Cognitive Science
• Further Research Methods in Psychology

These modules build upon the foundation of research skills and knowledge provided in Level 1, introducing students to more advanced methodologies and giving them the opportunity to further design and carry out research projects in areas that interest them.

Additionally, Single Honours students, and Combined Honours students taking 80 credits in Psychology at Level 2, also study;

• Psychology and Discourse

and choose one or more of the following modules*;

• Psychology of Optimal Performance
• Health Psychology

Combined Honours students taking 40 credits in Psychology at Level 2 take the core module on Cognitive Science alone.

LEVEL 3

Level 3 continues the coverage of core areas of Psychology, whilst encouraging students to take a more critical stance towards Psychology itself as a discipline. There is also the opportunity for students to apply the research skills acquired in Levels 1 and 2 in designing and carrying out a year-long empirical project. Level 3 also offers further options with an applied focus, allowing students to choose courses that relate well to their particular interests or intended career path.

All students take the following core module:

• Social Psychology, Personality and Development

In addition, all Single Honours students - and all Combined Honours students taking 80 or more credits in Psychology at Level 3 - take the following modules:

• Final year project (Individual Study)
• Psychology in Critical Perspective

Students may also choose up to two additional modules (depending on their chosen pathway) from a range of options that may typically include*:

• Psychology in Education
• Psychology of Work
• Psychology and the Therapeutic Process
• Applied Cognitive Psychology

Further information about options within degree programmes can be found here.

Please note: module organisation is subject to ongoing review and may change from that given above. For up-to-date information on programme structure please see the Psychology website.

*Does not apply to students following BSc Psychology (Sport and Exercise) who study alternative optional and/or compulsory modules in sport psychology. For details, see prospectus entry for Sport and Exercise Psychology

Methods of Assesment

Modules within the programme are assessed by a variety of means, including written coursework, research reports, presentations and examinations.

Important Information

Applications for this programme are made through UCAS, see the UCAS codes page. The entry requirements for Single Honours Psychology is CCC at A2 Level (or equivalent) plus GCSE mathematics at grade C. The entry requirements for Joint/Combined Psychology (and other degree programmes) can be found on the entry requirements page. For both Single and Joint/Combined an A2 Level or equivalent in Psychology is desirable but not essential. Information about the way we select applicants can be found on the "Offer of a place" page.

Employment Opportunities

The skills that psychology students develop in terms of studying human behaviour and engaging in empirical research, means they have much to offer potential employers. The programme can lead to further postgraduate study and/or employment in occupations and professions where psychologyrelated, as well as interpersonal and social skills, are valued. Many psychology graduates find employment in the caring professions, education, the field of business and management, and other people-focused occupations. BSc (Hons) Psychology and BSc (Hons) Psychology with X degrees at Canterbury Christ Church University are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)**, giving students who gain a 2.2 degree or above the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the BPS that allows them to pursue postgraduate vocational training in areas such as Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology and Health Psychology.

**Note: ‘Psychology with X’ denotes any degree combining Psychology with another subject, in which 80 credits of Psychology are taken at each of Levels 2 and 3. Accreditation of all Psychology undergraduate degrees in the UK is time-limited and subject to regular review by the British Psychological Society (BPS). At the time of going to press, specific pathways through the existing Canterbury Christ Church University programme are accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Registration, the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist, but prospective applicants should check the BPS website for confirmation of current status.