Psychology

Subject in detail

Subject aims

Our degrees in Psychology will provide you with a solid grounding across the discipline, with particular focus on areas specified by the British Psychological Society, including:

Cognitive psychology (how we remember, learn, think, reason, perceive, speak and understand)
Health psychology (how biological, psychological, environmental and cultural factors are involved in physical health and the prevention of illness)
Social psychology (how human behaviour and experience are affected by social context)
Clinical psychology (how psychological science can be applied in the understanding and management of psychological problems)

We also teach a broad range of research methods. Like all degrees, we will train you in experimental methodology, but we also place a strong emphasis on observational research and qualitative analysis (using data from interviews and focus groups). In addition, our programme has a distinctive focus on topics that are not always found in psychology degrees, including critical social psychology and cyberpsychology.

The optional professional placement in the third year is another distinctive aspect of the programme; we are one of very few UK degree programmes in Psychology to offer a placement.

One-fifth of our programme consists of units taught by other departments at the University of Bath. In each year you take core psychology units and choose extra units to explore an area outside psychology. In the third/fourth year (if you wish) all your units can be psychology or you can continue with your chosen options to the next level.

If you study the MSci Psychology programme you will have a choice of advanced level optional units in pure and applied psychology, and you will also conduct an extended research project supervised by a member of staff in our Department.

Teaching and learning

Our programmes are modular, consisting of self-contained units, taught and assessed on a semester basis. As you progress and successfully pass the examinations, you will receive credit for the units, thus providing you with a clear indication of your academic progress.

Teaching takes the form of lectures, classes and seminars, involving you in about 12-15 contact hours each week. Teaching contact is likely to be greatest in the first year. Lectures in the first year are quite formal, in larger groups, whereas classes and seminars involve interaction between the lecturer and a small number of students for study skills and discussion.

In the first two years, practical work involves you in exercises in psychological research methods, collecting data in the laboratory or in the field, analysing them and writing up your findings. In the final year(s) you will be conducting your own research projects under close individual supervision.

We have designed a programme of study which will provide you with excellent analytical and problem solving skills and a sound theoretical understanding of the discipline. Additionally, you will be able to demonstrate many transferable skills which are required in the workplace. These include written, oral and visual communication skills; self confidence and self-reliance in assimilating and appraising new information and technologies; team working; flexibility; initiative; and leadership.

Methods of assessment

Assessment consists of a combination of coursework essays, class exercises, projects, oral presentations, examinations and final year dissertation/s.

If studying the MSci (Hons) Psychology, you must achieve an overall grade average of 60% or more in your second year of study to be eligible to follow this route (transfer also depends on the availability of places available). If you do not reach this level, then you can still graduate with a BSc (Hons) degree.

Units & programme structure