Psychology

Durham University

What motivates people to act and think the way that they do? With this degree you can be part of the fascinating future of psychological science. Our BSc in Psychology is designed to give you an understanding of the mind and behaviour. As such it shares features with other disciplines, including biology, anthropology, philosophy and education. You will study people's internal mental processes, the biological mechanisms that underlie their behaviour, and the social and developmental context in which they act. This degree follows the British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines and offers an extensive range of options in the final year, drawing both from fundamental scientific research and applied psychology. These modules include topics in social psychology, developmental psychology, cognition and behavioural neuroscience, as well as neurorehabilitation, education and health. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four. The emphasis in Year 1 is to provide you with fundamental knowledge and skills. This will provide the bases underpinning second and third-year modules. In Year 2, your knowledge and skills are further developed and fostered moreover, all the subject areas essential for accreditation by the BPS and providing eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) are covered. In the third year, you will carry out your own dissertation project. You will also select from a variety of specialist topic modules primarily provided by lecturers eminent in their field.Course structureYear 1 modulesCore modules:Introduction to Psychology 1: Cognitive and Biological Psychology introduces a broad foundation of knowledge of the core areas of cognitive psychology and biological psychology.Introduction to Psychology 2: Developmental and Social Psychology allows you to acquire a broad foundation of knowledge in core areas of psychology including developmental psychology, social psychology and individual differences.Introduction to Psychological Research introduces key research methods and statistical techniques used in psychology.Academic Skill Development for Psychology introduces students to the fundamental skills required for studying Psychology at degree level in a tutorial-based manner. The skills covered will include aspects of written and oral communication in line with psychological literacy skills, e.g. summarizing articles, critical evaluation, presentations.Optional modules:In recent years, optional modules have included: Careers in Psychology. Year 2 modulesCore modules:Cognitive and Biological Psychology develops an understanding of theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches in cognitive and biological psychology, with particular emphasis on memory, decision making, learning, and perceptionSocial and Developmental Psychology provides a broad knowledge and understanding of research and theory in some of the key areas of developmental psychology and examines the contribution that social psychology has made to an understanding of the relations between people and social structures involving people.Differential and Clinical Psychology develops knowledge and understanding of theory and research in differential psychology, the study of psychological differences and similarities between people and understanding of theory and research in atypical and clinical psychology.Contemporary and Conceptual Issues in Psychology develops skills in researching and communicating a range of contemporary and conceptual issues in psychology. It provides an opportunity to discuss psychological research in a tutorial context.Advanced Research Methods and Statistics provides experience of the practical application of a wide range of methods in psychological research and develops presentation skills necessary for communicating research aims and find