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BSc Psychology

Academic Year 2019/20

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title BSc Psychology Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)
Bachelor of Science
Programme Code PSY-BSC-S UCAS Code C800 HECoS Code 100497
ATAS Clearance Required No
Mode of Study Full Time
Type of Programme Single Honours Length of Programme 3 Academic Year(s) Total Credits for Programme 360
Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Psychology

Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level 
www.qaa.ac.uk

Level 6

QAA Benchmark Group
www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

Psychology (2010)

Accreditations (PSRB)

British Psychological Society

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 30-11-14

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

None

Programme Specific Regulations

Compulsory attendance requirement for tutorial classes and lab classes at Level 1 and Level 2

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

On completion of the programme the student will be able to:

• Appreciate the breadth and depth of contemporary psychological research, knowledge and understanding;

• Use a variety of graduate-level intellectual, methodological and generic skills;

• Proceed to postgraduate study and/or to directly enter the graduate job market;

• Satisfy appropriate professional accreditation standards;

• Express their academic, intellectual and personal potential developed through well-managed systems of learning and pastoral support;

• Engage with the processes of review, evaluation and self-reflection.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Problem solve, reason scientifically on the basis of evidence, and make critical evaluations in the context of psychological theory, methods of inquiry, applications and interventions

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

These skills are developed at Levels 1 and 2 in lectures, practical classes and tutorials. Lectures, seminars, the independent thesis and guided independent reading for the General Paper at Level 3 offer further opportunities for development and consolidation.

Methods of Assessment

Laboratory reports, coursework essays, exams and the independent thesis. At Levels 2 and 3 integrative, well-reasoned, evidence-based answers are required.

Demonstrate an understanding that adopting multiple perspectives on psychological issues is important

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

The importance of multiple perspectives is a feature of many modules at Levels 1 and 2, and is explicitly addressed in the lectures on Conceptual Issues at Level 2 and again in the guided reading for the General Paper at Level 3.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework and exams

Detect meaningful patterns in data and experience

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures in statistics, practical classes, tutorials and research supervision sessions provide opportunities to develop this skill.

Methods of Assessment

Laboratory reports, coursework, the independent thesis at Level 3, exams

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Show knowledge and understanding of the scientific understanding of psychology from broad overview at Level 1 to a deeper understanding at Level 2 of the core areas including research methods, biological psychology, cognitive psychology, personality and individual differences, developmental psychology and social psychology

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Acquisition of core knowledge is achieved mainly through lectures and demonstrations, practical classes and directed reading, reflection and discussion in seminars and tutorial groups, and preparation for coursework assignments.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework essays, laboratory reports, exams

Recognise the variability and diversity of psychological functioning as well as a range of influences on that functioning

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, demonstrations, practical classes, seminars and tutorials.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework essays, laboratory reports, exams

Demonstrate specialised, up-to-date knowledge of a number of key areas acquired at Level 3

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, seminars, guided reading for the independent thesis and research supervision sessions

Methods of Assessment

Essays and other coursework, independent thesis, exams

Display systematic knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of research paradigms, methods and techniques, including statistical analysis

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, practical classes, demonstrations, tutorials, thesis work at Level 3.

Methods of Assessment

Tutorial essays, independent thesis

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Comprehend the research literature related to psychology and be able to use it to help formulate and operationalise research questions;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, tutorials, guided reading, practical classes, research supervision sessions

Methods of Assessment

Coursework essays, laboratory reports, independent thesis

Show skill at designing, performing, analysing, interpreting and communicating the results from empirical studies.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Tutorials, practical classes, research supervision sessions

Methods of Assessment

Laboratory reports, posters, presentations, independent thesis, exams

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Communicate ideas and research findings in written, oral and visual form;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Communication skills are taught in lectures, practical classes, tutorials and research supervision sessions.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework essays, presentations, laboratory reports, independent thesis, exams

Interpret quantitative and qualitative data;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skills of data interpretation are taught in lectures, practical classes, tutorials and research supervision sessions.

Methods of Assessment

Laboratory reports, independent thesis, exams

Be computer literate for the purposes of furthering their learning and communicating their ideas and analysing data;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Computer literacy in developed in practical classes.

Methods of Assessment

Laboratory reports, essays, presentations, independent thesis

Be aware of the issues surrounding group and team work;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures and tutorials

Methods of Assessment

Group work including presentations and research reports

Be self-directed in their learning and project management;

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, individual tutorials, research supervision sessions, placements

Methods of Assessment

Coursework essays and laboratory reports, independent thesis, employability and placement portfolios, exams

Recognise the need to assess their own skills and to use them for ongoing learning.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, workshops, placements

Methods of Assessment

Employability and placement portfolios

MODULE INFORMATION

Stages and Modules

Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits

Availability

Duration Pre-requisite

Assessment

S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Practical % Examination %
Sport and Exercise Psychology PSY3115 3 10 YES 6 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Psychology Thesis PSY3114 3 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 80% 0% 20%
Psychologists at work: Insights Into Graduate Employment PSY3100 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Using Nudges to Change Behaviour PSY3118 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Typical and Atypical Literacy Development PSY3096 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Using Psychology in Everyday Life PSY1010 1 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 60% 0% 40%
Ageing: Mind, Brain and Behaviour PSY3098 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 40% 0% 60%
Psychology of Gender PSY3117 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Foundations in Psychology PSY1008 1 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 60% 0% 40%
The Psychology of Intergroup Relations: Theory and Applications PSY3121 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Introduction to Political Psychology PSY3124 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
An Introduction to Clinical Health Psychology PSY3122 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 0% 50%
Evolutionary Psychology and Comparative Cognition PSY3123 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 15% 25% 60%
Core Psychology II PSY2066 2 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 60% 0% 40%
Introduction to Methods in Psychology PSY1009 1 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 55% 5% 40%
Psychological Methods PSY2067 2 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 85% 15% 0%
Applied Animal Psychology PSY3110 3 10 YES 6 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Core Psychology I PSY2065 2 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 60% 0% 40%

Notes