What will I study?
Year One core modules currently include:
Psychological Research in Context
Explore the history and context of contemporary research in psychology. You will ask questions such
as: What is psychology and how has it evolved? What are the debates that influence contemporary
psychology? What are the multiple perspectives on psychology?
The course content will focus on: the schools of psychology, such as experimental, applied and critical
psychology; debates in psychology, such as the value of reductionism and the existence or not of free
will; pioneers of psychology and how they paved the way for today’s perspective on the field; classic
research studies in psychology and their influence on recent studies and articles taken from a range of
academic journals in psychology.
Cognitive and Biological Psychology (One)
Study the cognitive and biological aspects of psychology with particular emphasis on human
experimental psychology and neuroscience. You will be introduced to: the structure and function of the
brain and allied structures; the main approaches taken in behavioural neuroscience such as functional
neuroanatomy and neurophysiology; the language of biological psychology; the study of cognitive
processes in a range of domains such as perception, attention, memory, language, and thinking, the
methods of investigating ‘hidden’ mental processes and understand how empirical evidence can inform
theory about how these processes are organised.
Social and Developmental Psychology (One)
Examine the fundamental aspects of social psychology, such as social attitudes and attribution, and
developmental psychology, such as social, cognitive and emotional development during childhood. You
will begin to consider the significance of social context for development and develop a critical
awareness of social and developmental psychological research.
Research Methods (One)
An introduction to a variety of research methods used in psychology. You have the opportunity to
develop and practice report writing skills, understand experimentation and self-report methods and
gain practical experience.
In groups you will run and report upon your study. You will be required to formulate hypotheses,
search for and review any relevant literature in the library, prepare necessary materials or instruments,
select a sample, collect and analyse data using appropriate statistical techniques, interpret the findings
and produce an individual written report of the work undertaken.
Statistics (One)
Study the fundamental concepts and practices of statistical data analysis in psychology. By the end of
the module you should be able to design research studies in psychology, and be familiar with a range
of descriptive, nonparametric, and parametric statistics. The module is assessed by one examination at
the end of the module. Continuous feedback throughout the year will help you progress, help you
develop your skills, and act as resource to draw upon when conducting research.
Year Two core modules currently include:
Critical Thinking in Psychology
You will consider some of the key debates in contemporary psychology and discuss how these inform
current research and practice.
Cognitive and Biological Psychology (Two)
Building upon the module in Year One you will explore in depth, and critically evaluate from a cognitive
and biological perspective, concepts and research methodologies in topics such as memory, attention,
sensation, and perception.
You will also understand of how the evidence from investigations can inform theory about how these
processes are organised and how to become a critical reader of the research literature.
Social and Developmental Psychology (Two)
You will complete comprehensive study on areas in social psychology, including prejudice and social
identity, intergroup contact and conflict and altruism. From developmental psychology you will study
development within social and cultural contexts, the role of families and peers in development and
socio-cultural perspectives on schooling.
Research Methods and Statistics (Two)
An integrated module studying advanced experimental, psychometric, and qualitative research
techniques in laboratory practicals. Supporting this are a series of lectures and workshops designed to
help you develop your statistical knowledge and skills.
Laboratory work will involve one experimental, one regression based study and one study involving a
free choice of method. All studies will be on an area relevant to psychology. You will be organised into
small groups and each group will have to run and report upon their study. You will also be required to
formulate hypotheses, search for and review relevant literature, prepare or select necessary stimuli or
scales, select a sample, collect and analyse data appropriately, interpret findings and produce
individual reports of the work undertaken.
The module will also build upon the content of Statistics 1. Particular emphasis will be placed on
factorial ANOVA and the concept of interaction. You will also consider the theory and statistical
techniques associated primarily with non-experimental research. These include multiple regression,
Cronbach’s alpha, multiple correlations, and exploratory factor analysis.
Individual Differences and Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology
Examine several key topics aligned to individual differences in psychology including personality,
intelligence, motivation, mood, and mental health, and placing this material in context from a historical
and cultural perspective.
There will also be some emphasis on placing the material in context from a historical perspective.
Topics covered will include: the theories and approaches to understanding and investigating personality
and intelligence; historical evolution of approaches to studying individual differences; real-world
applications of individual differences for assessment and intervention into emotional experiences,
stress & coping, and health and illness; therapeutic implications of approaches to personality and
personality growth and applying concepts and theories in individual differences to society e.g. in the
workplace, in education or training.
Year Three core modules currently include:
Professional Practice in Psychology
Addressing aspects of professional psychology, you will work on a problem from a set of professional
scenarios and form a project team to address the problem.
The first half of the module addresses a single area of professional practice; theory and application of
occupational and organisational psychology. The second half of the module uses problem-based
learning methods to give you an experience of professional project work across a broader range of
applied areas of interest. Students select a problem from a set of professional scenarios and form a
project team to address the problem. The project team work as a group to produce an executive
summary and presentation of their proposed solution to the problem.
Psychology Research Project
A major piece of work whereby you will carry out independent research, the topic and design of which
is decided upon in consultation with a supervisor. The project will demonstrate that you can conduct an
extended research report, as well as an understanding of the methodological skills and presentational
techniques developed throughout the course.
Optional modules
Choose from a selection that currently includes:
Language and Literacy Development in Children
Explore the cognitive basis of children's early language and literacy skills, and debates the causes of
developmental language disorders.
Biological Perspectives on Psychiatric Disorders
Examines biological accounts of psychiatric disorders, concentrating particularly on how biology links to
cognitive deficits that are symptomatic of a disorder.
Psychology, Educational Needs and Inclusion
Develop your own specialist understanding of a particular area of educational support needs, while
encouraging critical reflection on the role that psychology can and does play in that particular area.
Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary psychology examines to what extent human behaviour can be explained by our
evolutionary past and covers topics ranging from cooperation, cheating, comparative psychology and
the evolution of the social brain.
Statistics (Three): Advanced Statistics for Research
Study advanced methods of statistical data analysis the kind necessary to study complex real-world
data set. You will be introduced to sophisticated methods of statistical computing and deal with real
world data.
Criminological Psychology
Study the application of psychology to legal processes and the criminal justice system as well as the
understanding of offending behaviour.
Infant Development
Explore the psychological aspects of infant development with a focus on exploring a holistic approach
to understanding an infant’s cognitive, emotional, social, and neural development.
Cognitive Neuroscience
You will critically evaluating the different methods of clinical and non-clinical evidence within cognitive
modules, including attention, social cognition and sleep.
Psychology of Trauma
Examine a range of psychopathology and trauma related issues such as the origins and history of
psychotic illness, psychopharmacology and psychosocial therapy, childhood trauma and psychosis, as
well as outcomes of trauma, namely dissociation, substance use and deliberate self-harm.
Gender, Identity and Body Image
A social constructionist stance allows you to challenge the taken for granted ‘obviousness’ of our
assumptions about a number of issues relating to gender, identity and body image.
Work-Based Psychology Practice
You will apply psychological theory and practice to work-based settings, and develop the skills and
knowledge that characterise professional psychologists within work settings.
Cyberpsychology
Study the impact of the Internet and new technologies on our social relationships and the ways we
relate to each other, as well as more technical aspects of cyberpsychology and philosophical issues
relating to how we do, might, or should interact within virtual environments.
Psychology of Anomalous Experiences
Module description to be confirmed.
Health Psychology
Module description to be confirmed.
The Psychology of Sex
Module description to be confirmed.
Community, Health and Applied Social Psychology
Module description to be confirmed.
Psychology of the Emergency Services
Module description to be confirmed.
Addictive Behaviours
Module description to be confirmed.
Psychopathology and Offending Behaviour
Understand how personality disorders, brain injuries, intellectual disabilities, substance misuse and
major mental illnesses influence behaviour and how these conditions are associated with criminal
offending.
Psychopathology: Phenomenology, Assessment, Treatment and Current Issues
Module description to be confirmed.
Social Development in Children and Adolescents
Module description to be confirmed.
Advanced Cognitive Psychology
Module description to be confirmed.
Advanced Qualitative Research Methods and Skills
The aim of this module is to familiarise students with, and develop their understanding of, key
techniques used in the field of qualitative inquiry. At the heart of the module are outcomes specifically
designed to equip students with crucial theoretical understanding and practical skills enabling the
application and critical evaluation of several core methods used in qualitative psychology.
Trauma in Children and Adolescents: The Impact on Health and the Role of Resilience
The aim of the module is to provide theoretical understanding of the impact of childhood trauma on
children and adolescents, and to provide an understanding of the role and roots of resilience. The
module seeks to provide students with knowledge about the signs and symptoms, behavioural
patterns, and underlying psychological and biological changes associated with psychopathology after
childhood and adolescent trauma.
Specialist pathways
In Year Two you may get the opportunity to specialise your degree by taking one of three pathways.
You will complete a bespoke range of modules in the areas of:
Mental Health
This pathway is focused on the theories and treatment of psychopathologies including trauma,
psychosis and addictive behaviours.
Year Two
Critical Thinking in Mental Health
Study the key debates in the psychology of mental health and discuss how these inform current
research and practice.
Year Three
Research Project in Mental Health
You will design, conduct, and interpret findings from a psychological research study on a topic within
the psychology of mental health.
Professional Practice in Psychology or Work-Based Psychology Practice
For details on the Professional Practice in Psychology module see the Year Three core modules. The
Work-based Psychology Practice module is a chance for you to apply psychological theory and practice
to work-based settings, and develop the skills and knowledge that characterise professional
psychologists within work settings.
Two pathway-specific modules such as Psychopathology, Psychology of Trauma, and
Addictive Behaviours and one optional module from a wide selection offered by the Division
of Psychology.
Forensic Psychology
On this pathway you will explore our psychological understanding and response to offending behaviour,
encompassing the police, the courts, the prison system and offenders.
Year Two
Critical Thinking in Forensic Psychology
You will consider some of the key debates in forensic psychology and discuss how these inform current
research and practice.
Year Three
Research Project in Forensic Psychology
You will design, conduct, and interpret findings from a psychological research study on a topic within
forensic psychology.
Professional Practice in Psychology or Work-Based Psychology Practice
For details on the Professional Practice in Psychology module see the Year Three core modules. The
Work-based Psychology Practice module is a chance for you to apply psychological theory and practice
to work-based settings, and develop the skills and knowledge that characterise professional
psychologists within work settings.
Two pathway-specific modules such as Criminological Psychology, Psychopathology and
Offending Behaviour, and The Psychology of Sex Offending and one optional module from a
wide selection offered by the Division of Psychology.
Educational and Developmental Psychology
On this Pathway you will study psychological development within educational settings as well as
inclusion and support needs within educational institutions.
Year Two
Critical Thinking in Educational and Developmental Psychology
You will consider some of the key debates in educational and developmental psychology and discuss
how these inform current research and practice.
Year Three
Research Project in Educational / Developmental Psychology
Students design, conduct, and interpret findings from a psychological research study on a topic within
educational and/or developmental psychology.
Professional Practice in Psychology or Work-Based Psychology Practice
For details on the Professional Practice in Psychology module see the Year Three core modules. The
Work-based Psychology Practice module is a chance for you to apply psychological theory and practice
to work-based settings, and develop the skills and knowledge that characterise professional
psychologists within work settings.
Two pathway-specific modules such as Infant Development, Psychology, Educational
Support Needs and Inclusion, Social Development in Children and Adolescents, and
Language and Literary Development and one optional module from a wide selection offered
by the Division of Psychology.
If you would like more information on this course please contact us on:
The School of Social Sciences
s3.enquiries@ntu.ac.uk
+44 (0)115 848 4460