Why study Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour. It includes issues such as how we think,
how we see other people, how children develop, how relationships are formed and how we can
help people in mental distress. Psychology is useful because whatever you intend to do in life it
will involve trying to understand and deal with other people.
What does the course cover?
The single honours course covers the five major strands of psychology, which are individual
differences, cognition, developmental, biopsychology and social psychology, plus research
methods. In the final year you study a range of courses covering the applications of psychology,
this may cover areas such as education, clinical and forensic psychology.
What is noteworthy about this course?
This is a unique partnership which allows students the opportunity to gain a BSc degree in
psychology through the joint expertise of Newman University and Holy Cross University Centre.
This partnership blends on-line learning with face-to-face support making it ideal to fit around
work and family commitments. There is a strong employability thread throughout the programme
where students are encouraged to consider their studies and relate them to current and future
work aims.
How will I be assessed?
The psychology degree programme uses a wide variety of assessment strategies, designed to
help you develop a range of skills which will be useful in the modern work place. These include
traditional assessments such as essays, exams, short notes and multiple ­choice tests. There
are also less traditional assessments such as Powerpoint presentations, writing dialogues and
presenting portfolios. Finally there are a variety of assessments linked to research which include
writing reports, giving conference style presentations and writing a dissertation.
What careers could I consider?
Many single honours students aim to enter the various psychological professions, including
clinical, forensic, occupational, educational, counselling, health and sport psychology. Students
can also pursue an academic career and may progress onto a PhD. Psychology graduates can
also progress into a variety of careers, typically in people orientated and caring roles e.g.
nursing, teaching, social work, personnel, marketing, software design, health research, or
rehabilitation.
What is GBC?
Holy Cross's Psychology with Applications degree is accredited by the British Psychological
Society (BPS) and students gaining at least a lower 2nd class honours degree gain Graduate
Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS, which can help students with meeting
entry criteria for postgraduate study. GBC is essential for anyone intending to become a
Chartered Psychologist.
Modules listed here are indicative and may be subject to change for each academic year.
Year 1
The Reflective Learner in Psychology & Counselling
This module will focus on the development of ethical, reflective and academic practice within
psychology and counselling. The application of study skills such as; referencing skills, group
work, report and essay writing, will be enhanced. The module will also aim to facilitate the
development of students' psychological literacy and their understanding of the role that
anxiety and stress can play as blocks to effective learning. Students will be required to reflect
on their work in semester 1 and future career development.
Foundations of Psychology
This module provides students with a broad introduction to the history of psychology as a
scientific discipline. A number of different psychological perspectives will be introduced, and
students will be expected to apply and evaluate the application of such perspectives to
important contemporary issues, such as drug addiction, violent behaviour, mental illness, etc.
Research skills will be developed through the use of online databases and other library
resources. Students will receive basic training in using Powerpoint to produce presentations,
and in using the Library-based information resources.
Principles & Applications of Psychology
Students will be introduced to the principles of psychology as both an academic and an
applied discipline. Definitions of psychology will be considered, along with its claims to being
an evidence-based science. Students will examine the methods used by psychologists and it
will also examine the range of professional applications of psychology. Routes to professional
careers in psychology will also be considered, including the role of Graduate Basis for
Chartership within the British Psychological Society.
Research Design & Analysis 1
This module will introduce students to the strengths, limitations and ethical issues associated
with qualitative and quantitative research design. Students will develop their understanding of
hypothesis testing and probability, as well as descriptive statistics. Students will be introduced
to the basic principles behind statistical tests. General principles of qualitative design
(developing research questions, interviewing, focus groups) will be explored. Students will
develop their understanding of application of analysis in qualitative research, as well as
develop their ability to analyse qualitative data.
Global Perspectives & Contexts in Psychology
This module builds on semester one modules, in which students were introduced to the core
domains of psychology, and to classic studies and contemporary issues in psychology. In this
module, students explore how these core domains and issues apply within different cultural
contexts, and examine global perspectives in psychology. . The module also examines
similarities and differences in behaviour across cultures (for example, individual development,
social behaviour, personality, cognition, emotion, language, perception and health).
Year 2
Personal Career Development
This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and self-management skills to make
informed choices in preparing for work experience and the transition to employment and/or
further study on graduation. Learners will be provided with the opportunities to develop critical
awareness of the workplace, identify different career and study options, recognize and
articulate own experience, accomplishments and talents and plan and implement career
management strategies for the short and long term.
Classic and Contemporary Issues in Psychology
This course will introduce students to a number of influential early studies, positions, debates,
movements and controversies in psychology. The module will demonstrate how these early
studies, positions, debates, movements and controversies are still relevant to psychology
today. Students' understandings of these positions will be illustrated through reference to
classic studies, debates and controversies on topics such as tyranny and the Stanford Prison
Study, Milgram's 'obedience' studies, Social Learning, classical and operant conditioning and
intelligence testing. Issues concerning the ethics of psychological experimentation will also be
introduced, through consideration of ethical issues arising from classic studies.
Research Design and Analysis 2
This module will build on foundation level modules to enhance knowledge of research
methodology and will be equally divided into three main areas: quantitative methods, qualitative
methods and writing a research proposal. Students will be introduced to key specific
approaches in qualitative psychology such as IPA, grounded theory and IPA. In quantitative
methods, they will be introduced to surveys and questionnaire analysis, and explore the
fundamental principles of more advanced quantitative analysis (such as two-way ANOVA and
multiple regression).
The Individual in Society
Students will build on the module 'Foundations of Psychology' by exploring the breadth and
depth of topics such as Intelligence, Personality, Groups, Interpersonal Behaviours, Prejudice
and Discrimination, and Social Influence. Issues of measurement and testing, including
psychometric testing, reliability, validity and usage will be explored.
Human Development: An Ethological Approach
This module builds upon the first year course and particularly the modules Foundations of
Psychology and Introduction to Research Methods. Developmental Psychology is generally
viewed as one of several core areas in the discipline. This module, however, suggests that
developmental psychology must be viewed as something more important and pervasive: All
areas of the study of human existence can only be fully understood if a developmental
perspective is adopted in the sense that all behaviour develops either by evolution (phylogeny)
or during the lifespan of the organism (ontogeny). Furthermore, this module places
developmental psychology in the wider context of studying the human condition by exploring
not only the phylogeny and ontogeny of behaviour and thought but also their function and
mechanism.
Year 3
Psychology in Question Part 1
This course will introduce students to a number of controversies and debates in contemporary
psychology. Part I will introduce students to Critical Psychology, and the importance of the
themes of Epistemology, Power Relations and Levels of Analysis. Students will be
encouraged to consider how these themes might impact upon the production of knowledge
within the discipline of psychology, and what this might mean for psychology as a whole.
These issues will be explored in relation to specific controversies within the discipline of
psychology.
Therapeutic Approaches in Psychology
This module extends students’ knowledge through a consideration of the applied area of
Counselling Psychology. Key theories used to work with clients in Counselling Psychology
settings will be explored and evaluated. The philosophy and professional context of the
discipline will be discussed and students will develop and critique a range of counselling skills
appropriate to helping professions.
Applying Psychology to Work
This module offers students the opportunity to evaluate their work experiences in relation to
psychological theories and concepts which enables students to make links to such areas as
social, organisational and occupational psychology. Students will use their current experience
of work settings (this may be voluntary or paid) and consider how psychological theories and
concepts could be applied to their working experiences. If students are not currently working,
they will need to obtain a minimum of 10 hours of voluntary work whilst undertaking this
module. Students will be allocated a Newman tutor who will offer guidance and support
through this module. Online lectures on aspects of psychology and work will be provided e.g.
environmental psychology, personnel selection, leadership and management. These will
reflect the specialities and interests of staff whilst the module is running. This module will be
assessed by a critical essay that explores the extent to which psychological research and
theory can account for, or are informed by, aspects of the work setting.
Cognition and the Brain
This module covers the key processes associated with cognition as well as the biological and
neurological underpinnings of such cognitive processes. The module also introduces cognitive
psychology as a specific approach to understanding behaviour with its emphasis on
theoretically led hypothesis and the experimental testing of these hypotheses to further
develop theory. The module will provide a foundation in the cognitive and biological aspects of
psychology.
Optional Module (one selected from the list below)
Some of the following will be available as options: Health Psychology, Neuropsychology,
Psychological Distress and Mental Wellbeing, Educational Psychology, Forensic Psychology,
Advanced Quantitative Research Methods, Advanced Qualitative Research Methods.
Year 4
Dissertation (double module)
This tutored double module provides students with the opportunity to select an area of
particular interest to them within the field of psychology and to design, plan and execute an
in-depth empirical research project in their chosen area. The research design should include
either quantitative and/or qualitative analyses and draw upon and critically evaluate a range
of both classic and contemporary research findings throughout. The resulting project should
be submitted following university conventions and the most successful projects will be to a
publishable standard. Draft chapters and a poster presentation detailing the research
process and findings will also be assessed elements.
Psychology in Question Part II
This course will introduce students to a number of controversies and debates in
contemporary psychology. Part II will build upon students understanding of Critical
Psychology and the roles and importance of Epistemology, Power Relations and Levels of
Analysis in the construction of psychological knowledge. Two further critical themes of
Situated Knowledge and Temporality will be introduced in Part II. These issues will be
explored in relation to specific controversies within the discipline of Psychology.
Optional Modules (two selected from the list below)
Some of the following will be available as options: Health Psychology, Neuropsychology,
Psychological Distress and Mental Wellbeing, Educational Psychology, Forensic
Psychology, Advanced Quantitative Research Methods, Advanced Qualitative Research
Methods
Optional Modules
Option: Health Psychology
Health psychology is an exciting field within psychology that has important contributions to
make to our understanding of the causes, progression, and treatment of illnesses. The
module explores the theoretical models, which attempt to explain and predict health
behaviour and examines the practical application of these models in health promotion
campaigns. It focuses upon the relationship between stress, health and illness, and the
factors that mediate this relationship (e.g. individual differences). The focus of this module is
concerned with promotion and maintenance of health, prevention and management of illness
and the identification of biopsychosocial factors contributing to health and illness.
Option: Work Psychology
This module explores the psychological factors operating within organisations and the
workplace, and will examine current developments in the field. This module will outline the
historical development of this discipline. This module considers topics relating to human
resource functions (including personnel selection and assessment and motivation) and it will
explore workplace ergonomics, which will include workspace design, environmental
conditions and job design. Additionally, it will explore decision making and leadership.
Students will be offered practical experience of some of the techniques used in the field of
work psychology. There will be the opportunity to engage in a small-scale research project in
the workplace.
Option: Psychological Distress and Mental Wellbeing
This module covers the key concepts related to psychological distress and mental wellbeing.
The module will present different models of psychological distress including biological,
psychological, social approaches as well as integrative bio-psychosocial models. The
pervasiveness of medical views will also be discussed with typical use of terms such as
mental illness, disorders, abnormality and clinical psychology as well as concepts of
categorical (caseness) and dimensional views of psychological distress/illness. The module
will include an historical account of mental distress and then focus on key psychological
disorders and discuss their aetiology, diagnosis and treatment. Students will be encouraged to
consider their own opinions and those of others as it relates to these topics.
Option: Neuropsychology
This module builds upon the second year courses in cognitive and biopsychology, illustrating
how these two important strands of psychology come together to help us understand patients
with various types of neurological disorder. The major cognitive functions of attention, memory
and language will be considered in turn and then two major conditions, head injury and
dementia will be considered as examples.
Option: Educational Psychology
This module builds upon the second year course Human Development: An Ethological
Approach and applies an understanding of contextualised development in an educational
setting. Educational Psychology explores various and seemingly discrete issues associated
with the dynamic between teaching and learning. These issues include the qualities of a good
teacher, the environment of the classroom, the form and function of assessment, diversity and
the use of blended approaches to teaching and learning.
Option: Advanced Quantitative Methods
This module will introduce students to advanced quantitative research methods and
techniques and explore the philosophical underpinnings (epistemology and ontology) relevant
to quantitative research design. In particular, students will develop their understanding of
various types of regression. Moreover, data analytical techniques such as factor and cluster
analyses will be introduced. Students will be introduced to the basic principles behind metaanalysis. Moreover, students will develop their understanding of mixed method design and
triangulation of data.
Start dates:
September 2016
For information, entry requirements and application process please contact:
Holy Cross University Centre,
Manchester Road,
Bury,
BL9 9BB
Tel: 0161 762 4513
www.holycross.ac.uk
All information correct at time of going to press
Psychology May 2016