University of Bradford
Centre for Psychology Studies
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University of Bradford
BSc (Hons)
Psychology
3 years full-time
C801 BSc
Psychology
British Psychological Society
May 2005
June 2009
The scientific and empirical study of psychology is a comparatively new academic discipline and yet
it has become the most popular undergraduate course in the Western World. Many career options
and professions utilize the skills and knowledge acquired in the study of psychology, and for many
people this provides invaluable practical advice and self-discovery. If you want to train as a
professional psychologist, then a course of this nature is essential. Entry to areas such as clinical,
occupational, forensic, counselling or educational psychology requires a postgraduate qualification
following a first degree in psychology. The psychology provision at Bradford is built upon producing
graduates who are eligible for Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR), with the British Psychological
Society (BPS), and enables you to undertake further postgraduate training to become a Chartered
Psychologist. However, most graduates pursue a variety of careers for which psychology provides
excellent preparation. The course is also suitable if you are interested in Psychology as a subject
but not committed to a career as a Psychologist. The course spans science and the humanities, and
therefore provides key transferable skills relevant to a variety of careers. For example, should you
want to work in health care, nurseries, education, personnel management, market research,
advertising, broadcasting, nursing, the police and Armed Forces, a psychology degree would
provide a sound foundation.
The Centre for Psychology Studies at the University of Bradford offers the award of BSc (Hons) in
Psychology. The core content of psychology modules taken by all students in Year 1 and Year 2
ensures that you acquire sufficient breadth in the key areas of study (cognitive psychology, social
psychology, developmental psychology, personality, biological psychology and conceptual and
historical issues in psychology). In Year 3 you are able to gain a more in-depth and specialised
understanding of psychology reinforcing accumulated knowledge in preparation for the final year
project. Teaching excellence is a priority for the School of Social and International Studies (SSIS),
and several departments hold QAA subject review scores at the top of the ranking scales. Teaching
is informed and supported by a commitment to research; the departmental staff consists of
researchers who bring their ongoing academic studies to the lectures and laboratory classes.
Programme Aims
 Develop an understanding of the relationships between the mind, nervous system, and
innate and learned behaviour, through scientifically valid and verifiable means.
 Provide you with the ability to look at relevant issues from all perspectives including
biological conditions, life-stage development, personality factors, cognitive development and
social/societal influences.
 Ensure that the importance of theories and hypotheses are grounded by an appreciation of
empirical methods used to collect the data of interest and the limitations or constraints
inherent to these.
 Create independent and inquisitive graduates who can critically evaluate and interpret
research studies in psychology and offer plausible alternative explanations or hypotheses.
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Produce an ability to apply knowledge and practical skills in a variety of social settings from
the family home, to interpersonal relationships, in public domains and in work/vocational
activities.
Provide you with the confidence and skills to think laterally and apply these to other activities
and disciplines, in addition to preparing you for further advanced study in psychology in
anticipation of pursuing occupations where subject skills are essential.
Develop personal transferable skills in order that you may easily move into employment or
further programmes of study that do not require psychology subject skills, but instead require
study, IT, communication, and analytic abilities obtained while undertaking their psychology
degrees.
Upon completion of your degree in psychology you will have gained specialist knowledge and skills,
and have the ability to use these proficiencies outside of psychology. The specific outcomes you will
achieve are listed below:
Learning Outcomes
You will attain an understanding and appreciation of the main domains that constitute the essential
elements of psychology and are integral components to its study and advancement. The level of
sophistication and expertise arrived at allows you sufficient scope to progress to further clinical or
graduate degrees in psychology. As a graduate in psychology you should be able to achieve
specific benchmarks in subject matter knowledge, subject matter skills and obtain generic skills.
Specifically you will be able to:
Subject Knowledge and Understanding
 apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues recognising that psychology involves a
range of research methods, theories, evidence and applications.
 integrate ideas and findings across the multiple perspectives in psychology.
 identify and evaluate general patterns in behaviour, psychological functioning and
experience.
 evaluate the contribution of social and developmental factors, perspectives and theories in
relation to understanding of human behaviour and experience in different cultures.
 evaluate phylogenetic contributions to cognitive neuroscience.
Discipline Skills
 Generate and explore hypotheses and research questions.
 Undertake empirical studies involving a variety of methods of data collection, including
experiments, observation, psychometric tests, questionnaires, interviews and field studies.
 Analyse data using both quantitative and qualitative methods
 Present and evaluate research findings.
 Employ evidence-based reasoning and examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues in
psychology.
 Use a variety of psychological tools, including specialist software, laboratory equipment and
psychometric instruments.
 Carry out an extensive, and original, piece of independent empirical research.
 Critically reflect on the relationship between psychological theories, models and methods
and practice application to social problems, issues and situations.
 Design test procedures to assess cognitive function using specialist software.
Personal Transferable Skills
 Communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
 Analyse and use data effectively.
 Use computers for a range of common applications.
 Retrieve and organise information effectively be it library based or from internet sources.
 Practice effective teamwork.
 Make critical judgements and evaluations in solving problems.
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Recognise the contextual and interpersonal factors that shape behaviour, and the
importance of co-operation to maximise individual skills.
Course structure
Teaching on the course includes lectures, small group seminars and practical laboratory sessions.
The course structure ensures broad coverage of psychology, while allowing increased choice as you
progress through the degree. In the third year, students do an independent studies project and
choose options reflecting their interests and staff expertise.
Year 1
You are given a foundation in a number of core subjects. This first year ensures that all students
are sufficiently prepared for year 2 studies and can cope with the advanced materials to come in
year 2.
Year 2
You take modules formally required by the BPS for those courses accredited to confer Graduate
Basis for Registration (GBR). You therefore gain the requisite knowledge and understanding of
identified key areas in psychology, in preparation for more specialised options in Year 3 and your
final year project.
Year 3
You are able to develop a more specialised understanding of psychology and related areas by
registering for 60 credits of options as listed. A substantial feature of Year 3 is the final year project
in which you design, and undertake an original piece of empirical research with the supervision of an
academic member of staff.
Progression
The full progression regulations are maintained on the University’s Web site:
http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/acsec/QA_Hbk/Undergrad_Regs_.html
If you complete Stage 1 successfully, you are eligible for a Certificate of Higher Education; if you
complete Stage 2 successfully, you are eligible for a Diploma of Higher Education. The learning
outcomes for these awards and the final award are consistent with those of the English National
Qualifications Framework and its descriptors.
Notes for the curriculum
1.
You will study 60 credits in each semester over the three Stages (years) of the course.
2.
You will choose 60 credits of optional units in Stage 3 (40 credits in Semester 1 and 20
in Semester 2).
3.
Choice of options may vary if insufficient numbers of students select a particular choice
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Unit Code
Title
Semester Credits
Level
YEAR 1
SS-1407D
SS-1406L
SS-1401L
SS-1403L
SS-1029L
SS-1402D
Life Span Development & Personality
Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
The Psychology of Learning & Study
Psychobiology and Perception I
Essentials of Social Psychology
Cognitive Psychology 1
1
1+2
1+2
1+2
1+2
2
20
20
20
20
20
20
1
1
1
1
1
1
YEAR 2
SS-2416D
SS-2418D
SS-2405L
SS-2413L
SS-2419D
SS-2408M
SS-2417M
Cognitive Psychology 2
Social Psychology
Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis
Methodological Issues and Qualitative Research
Developmental Psychology
Personality and Individual differences
Psychobiology and Neuroscience
1
1
1+2
1+2
2
2
2
20
20
20
20
20
10
10
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
YEAR 3
SS-3415W Research Project in Psychology
1+2
60
Options
60 credits of options (40 in Semester 1 and 20 in Semester 2) from Pools A and B. Students must
choose at least 40 credits from Pool A
POOL A
SS-3413D Psychological Health and Treatment Interventions
1
20
SS-3412D Forensic Psychology
1
20
SS-3419D Occupational and Business Psychology
1
20
SS-3414D Advanced Issues in Neuropsychology
2
20
SS-3416D Psychology of Health and Eating
2
20
POOL B
Relevant options from the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities
3
3
3
3
3
3
The University of Bradford, and the School of Social and International Studies (SSIS), are
committed to the principles of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) set out in UNESCO’s
definition (see http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.phpURL_ID=23279&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html), which include:
interdisciplinarity; value-driven; critical thinking and problem solving; participatory decision-making;
and applied learning which is relevant and culturally appropriate to local and other contexts. In your
programme you will find these principles underlie the teaching learning and assessment strategies.
ESD is integrated within the programme aims enabling you to develop specific skills while also
gaining a broad understanding of how values such as equality and respect are moblised within the
discipline of psychology. In addition there are modules in which the themes and issues of ESD are
particularly explored, such as: SS-2408M, Personality and Individual Differences where you will
consider a range of theoretical explanations for difference and diversity; examining how these both
contribute to and come into conflict with the values that underlie ESD. You will be expected to think
critically about the opportunities and possibilities for bringing about behaviour change. As part of
your research methods training on SS-2402L, Research Methods in Psychology you will also need
to think carefully about the ethical undertaking of research working with others to negotiate and
appropriately resolve problems that inevitably arise when undertaking research with human
participants. We are also committed in SSIS to giving you opportunities to engage in debates about
the meaning and future of Sustainable Development, as well as in the practice of ESD, for example,
through volunteering on and off campus, by taking action in a series of activities as a School.
Student support and guidance
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The University has an excellent reputation in this area. You will be allocated a personal tutor and
have regular meetings with them. You will be supported in your Personal Development Planning
and given a Personal Development File (PDF) which you will be expected to complete at points
throughout the course: this can then be discussed in detail with your personal tutor who can then
give direct help or advise on further sources of academic support (e.g. from specific module tutors).
There is a first year module on learning and study entitled The Psychology of Learning and Study.
In this module your use and the value of the PDF are outlined and continually emphasised. This
module and the PDF are used to deliver advice for acquiring study skills (computing, library,
creativity) and ideas for effective written and oral communication, which can then be extended
during meetings with personal tutors throughout your studies. There are also Year Tutors who
oversee each Stage of the course and you may seek assistance from them. You will be supported
in your studies by university and departmental handbooks and by module booklets and you will be
given specific guidance from the Course Team when choosing options in Year Three. The support
provided by the Department is enhanced by a strong university infrastructure, including a Disabilities
Office, the Counselling Service, the Careers Service, and by access to Library and Computing
facilities. There are many short-courses (writing, computers, presentation, CV preparation) on offer
from the University and you may enrol on these for free. There is a Staff/Student Liaison committee
where student representatives (elected by you and your classmates) can meet with Department staff
to discuss and raise issues. You will be invited to attend and participate in the various colloquia,
talks and presentations run by the School of Social and International Studies.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
The teaching and learning strategy takes into consideration the learning outcomes, progression
through the levels of study, the nature of the subject, and the need for you to take greater
responsibility for your own learning as you progress through the course. Teaching on the course
includes lectures, small group seminars and practical workshops, and the core modules include
practical work. The course structure ensures broad coverage of Psychology, modules are assessed
by a variety of means including coursework and exams. Coursework includes essays, practical
assessments, case studies, personal biographies and presentations. You will be given the
opportunity to practice through formative assessment. There will be a final year report from your
independent research project in the form of a dissertation undertaken with supervision from a
member of staff. This gives you the opportunity to increase your specialist subject knowledge, and
also to demonstrate your ability to design, execute and produce an original piece of empirical work.
Admission requirements
Offers are made following detailed consideration of each individual application. Most important in
the decision to offer a place is our assessment of a candidate’s potential to benefit from their studies
and of their ability to succeed on this particular course. Entrance requirements will vary but are set
after consideration of each applicant’s academic background and achievements and all other
relevant experience. A typical offer to someone seeking entry through the UCAS scheme would be
280 UCAS points, as well as the equivalent of GCSE Grade C or higher in Mathematics and
English. Enquiries from mature candidates who may not necessarily meet these criteria are
encouraged. University Regulations apply in respect to AP(E)L.
Further information
If you would like more information about the University of Bradford, please check the undergraduate
prospectus. More details about the Department and its courses can be obtained from the
Admissions Secretary, Centre for Psychology Studies, University of Bradford, Richmond Road,
Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP. Tel 01274 233515, email ssisugadmissions@bradford.ac.uk.
Further information is also available on the Department’s web pages
(http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/psychology/).
Disclaimer: This course is subject to change in light of alterations by the accrediting body or
University regulations.