Programme Specification
BSc (Hons) Psychology (2016 to 2019 entry)
Academic Year: 2019/20
This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.
This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.
This specification should be read in conjunction with:
- Reg. XX (Undergraduate Awards) (see University Regulations)
- Module Specifications
- Summary
- Aims
- Learning outcomes
- Structure
- Progression & weighting
Programme summary
| Awarding body/institution | Loughborough University |
| Teaching institution (if different) | |
| Owning school/department | School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences |
| Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body | British Psychological Society (BPS), for Graduate Membership of the Society (GM) and Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC). |
| Final award | BSc/BSc+DIntS/BSc+DPS |
| Programme title | BSc (Hons) Psychology |
| Programme code | PSUB13 |
| Length of programme | BSc – 3 years full-time BSc with placement – 4 years full-time |
| UCAS code | C800, C801 |
| Admissions criteria | BSc (Hons) - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/c800 BSc (Hons) DPS/DIntS - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/c801 |
| Date at which the programme specification was published | Mon, 05 Aug 2019 09:24:39 BST |
1. Programme Aims
The overarching aim of the BSc Psychology programme is to provide a comprehensive and coherent understanding of key and cutting-edge aspects of psychological science.
Within this general aim, curriculum content reflects the need to meet the programme standards for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and:
- equip students with intellectual, practical and transferable skills for careers in which psychology provides a relevant foundation;
- develop a range of research skills for investigating experience and behaviour, culminating in the deployment of these skills in the conduct and reporting of an independent piece of research;
- foster a constructive, critical approach to the evaluation of psychological theory and research, and to relations between psychology and its cognate disciplines in both academic and applied settings;
- enable students to develop and sustain arguments and solve problems through a conceptually and empirically grounded understanding of psychological topics, and to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to different audiences; and
- promote and provide a multi-disciplinary educational experience.
2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:
- British Psychological Society GBC curriculum
- Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
- The subject benchmark statement for Psychology
3. Programme Learning Outcomes
3.1 Knowledge and Understanding
On successful completion of these programmes, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following areas.
|
K1 |
Social psychology: e.g. social cognition, attribution, attitudes, group processes and intergroup relations, close relationships and social constructionism. |
|
K2 |
Cognitive psychology: e.g. perception, learning, memory, thinking, language, consciousness and cognitive neuropsychology. |
|
K3 |
Individual differences and personality: e.g. abnormal and normal personality, psychological testing, intelligence, cognitive style, emotion, motivation and mood. |
|
K4 |
Developmental psychology: e.g. childhood, adolescence and life-span development, development of attachment, social relations, cognitive and language development, social and cultural contexts of development. |
|
K5 |
Biological psychology: e.g. biological bases of behaviour, hormones and behaviour, behavioural genetics, neuropsychology, socio-biology and evolutionary psychology. |
|
K6 |
Conceptual and historical issues in psychology: e.g. the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline, its historical origins, development and limitations. |
|
K7 |
Research design, including qualitative and quantitative methods, the nature and appropriate statistical analysis of data, psychometrics and measurement techniques, an empirical project. |
| K8 |
The major career pathways along which psychological skills can be professionally developed (including clinical, counselling, health, educational, industrial/organisational, and academic psychology). |
| K9 | The role of psychology in researching, defining and promoting both physical and mental health and wellbeing. |
3.2 Skills and other attributes
a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:
On successful completion of these programmes, students should be able to:
|
C1 |
Demonstrate evidence-based scientific reasoning and make critical judgements about arguments and primary source material in psychology. |
|
C2 |
Apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues, recognising that psychology involves a range of research methods, theories, evidence and applications. |
|
C3 |
Search for similarities and general principles in order to detect and evaluate meaningful patterns in behaviour, psychological functioning, and experience. |
|
C4 |
Recognise the continuous significance and importance for psychology of contextual, interpersonal and cultural influences, and appreciate the complexities their recognition raises. |
|
C5 |
Examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues associated with the use of different methods, paradigms, analytic techniques and applications in psychology. |
|
C6 |
Critically analyse methods and theory in psychology and demonstrate the relationship between theory and evidence. |
|
C7 |
Construct psychological, psychosocial and neuropsychological hypotheses to account for a range of normal and challenging human behaviours. |
| C8 | Apply evidence-based principles to the development of policy and practice in a range of applied professional settings. |
b. Subject-specific practical skills:
On successful completion of these programmes, students should be able to:
|
P1 |
Observe, record and give a systematic account of human behaviour in a range of settings. |
|
P2 |
Make effective use of a variety of methods of data collection, including experiments, observation, psychometric tests, questionnaires, interviews and field studies. |
|
P3 |
Analyse data using both quantitative and qualitative psychological methods. |
|
P4 |
Present and evaluate psychological research findings. |
|
P5 |
Use a variety of specialist software packages, laboratory and psychometric instruments, and digital data gathering platforms. |
|
P6 |
Deploy effective listening skills and communicate psychological concepts, methods, and findings effectively in speech and writing. |
|
P7 |
Apply ethical considerations to psychological research and professional practice. |
|
P8 |
Conduct and report an empirically-based research project under appropriate supervision, demonstrating appropriate levels of personal planning and project management. |
|
P9 |
Design an empirical investigation to test a specific theory in relation to, or to identify attributes indicative of normal and pathological psychological states. |
| P10 | Use and critique a range of laboratory based and ambulatory technologies which capture and quantify aspects of human behaviour. |
c. Key transferable skills:
On successful completion of these programmes, students should be able to:
|
T1 |
Generate, organise, analyse and interpret qualitative, numerical, statistical and other forms of data effectively. |
|
T2 |
Demonstrate computer literacy with respect to relevant and widely used word-processing, database and analytic software packages and resources. |
|
T3 |
Use electronic and other resources to search for, identify and organise information in library books, journals, and appropriate online sources. |
|
T4 |
Work independently and in groups to solve problems, find alternative solutions, reach common goals and evaluate outcomes. |
|
T5 |
Deploy critical judgements and evaluations to arrive at supported conclusions. |
|
T6 |
Communicate effectively to a range of audiences using a range of media. |
|
T7 |
Learn independently and pragmatically and take responsibility for their own learning and skill development. |
|
T8 |
Recognise the value of building on experience, appropriately testing new ideas, and reviewing evidence. |
| T9 | Apply the practical rigour and intellectual critique required for behavioural experimental methods to a range of applied personal and professional challenges. |
4. Programme structure
Candidates must take a total modular weight of 120 credits in each Part with a minimum modular weight of 50 in each semester, taking into account both compulsory and optional modules. Individual modules taught and assessed over both semesters with a modular weight of 10 may count against either semester 1 or semester 2, depending on the balance of other modular weights between semesters. Where the modular weight of a module taught and assessed over both semesters is 20 or 40, this shall be split equally between semesters.
4.1a Part A – Compulsory Introductory Modules:
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
PSA500 |
Foundations in Developmental Psychology |
10 |
1 |
|
PSA510 |
Foundations in Qualitative Research Methods |
10 |
1 |
|
PSA503 |
Foundations in Quantitative Research Methods |
10 |
1 |
|
PSA508 |
Foundations in Social Psychology |
10 |
1 |
|
PSA505 |
Academic & Professional Skills for Psychology |
10 |
1 |
|
PSA501 |
Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology |
10 |
2 |
|
PSA509 |
Foundations in Cognitive Psychology |
10 |
2 |
|
PSA511 |
Psychology Practicals A |
10 |
2 |
|
PSA502 |
Foundations in Biological Psychology |
10 |
2 |
|
PSA302 |
Professions in Psychology |
10 |
2 |
4.1b Part A – Optional Introductory Modules:
20 credits from optional modules listed in the table below and may include 10-credits from the University-wide Language Programme:
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
PSA301 |
Introductory Neuroscience |
10 |
1 |
|
SSA156 |
Self and Identity |
10 |
1 |
|
SSA155 |
Social Psychology and Relationships |
10 |
1 |
|
BSA702 |
Introduction to Work Psychology |
10 |
2 |
|
PSA026 |
Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology |
20 |
2 |
|
SSA158 |
Ideas and Controversies in Psychology |
10 |
2 |
|
|
A module from the University-Wide Language Programme, subject to approval by Programme Director |
10 |
1 or 2 |
4.2a Part B – Compulsory Degree Modules:
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
PSB510 |
Personality and Individual Differences |
10 |
1 |
|
PSB513 |
Human Cognition |
10 |
1 |
|
PSB507 |
Social Psychology |
10 |
1 |
|
PSB508 |
Developmental Psychology |
10 |
1 |
|
PSB514 |
Brain and Behaviour I |
10 |
2 |
|
PSB511 |
Quantitative Research Methods |
10 |
2 |
|
PSB512 |
Psychology Practicals B |
10 |
2 |
|
PSB509 |
Qualitative Research Methods |
10 |
2 |
4.2b Part B – Optional Degree Modules all subject to confirmation, availability and having taken appropriate pre-requisite modules.
40 credits from optional modules listed in the table below and may include 10-credits from the University-wide Language Programme:
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
BSB711 |
Psychological Approaches to Human Resource Management | 10 | 1 |
| PSB031 | Psychological Issues and Strategies in Sport | 10 | 1 |
| SSB128 | Political Psychology | 10 | 1 |
| SSB165 | Social Psychology and Communication | 10 | 1 |
| BSB710 | Leading and Developing Others | 10 | 2 |
| SSB175 | Psychological Disorders in Society | 10 | 2 |
| PSB026 | Group and Interpersonal Processes in Competitive Sport | 10 | 2 |
| PSB033 | Principles of Exercise Psychology | 10 | 2 |
| SSB164 | Studying Social Interaction | 10 | 2 |
| A module from the University-Wide Language Programme, subject to approval by Programme Director | 10 | 1 or 2 |
4.3 Part I (4-year/8-semester programme only)
Candidates pursue ONE of the following streams:
(i) Placement Stream (DPS)
Candidates will undertake an appropriate psychology-related placement.
(ii) Study Abroad Stream (DIntS) where applicable
Candidates will study at an approved academic institution overseas.
4.4a Part C – Compulsory Degree Modules, choose one of the following project modules (selection subject to having taken appropriate pre-requisite modules)
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
PSC300 |
Project |
40 |
1&2 |
|
SSC199 |
Project |
40 |
1&2 |
4.4b Part C - Optional Degree Modules all subject to confirmation, availability and having taken appropriate pre-requisite modules.
80 credits from optional modules listed in the table below and may include 10-credits from the University-wide Language Programme:
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
PSC033 |
Psychology of Coaching and Physical Education |
10 |
1 |
|
PSC301 |
Advanced Experimental and Qualitative Design & Analysis |
20 |
1 |
| PSC319 | Psychology of Eating Behaviour | 20 | 1 |
| PSC321 | Psychology of Workplace Health | 20 | 1 |
| SSC130 | Social Psychology of Everyday Life | 20 | 1 |
| SSC171 | Advanced Social Psychology | 10 | 1 |
| SSC020 | Race and Racism | 20 | 1 |
| SSC024 | Gender, Sex and Society | 20 | 1 |
| BSC720 | Behavioural Decision Science | 10 | 2 |
| BSC722 | Consumer Behaviour | 10 | 2 |
| PSC036 | Applied Exercise Psychology | 10 | 2 |
| PSC311 | Clinical Psychology | 20 | 2 |
| PSC315 | Psychology and Health | 20 | 2 |
| PSC320 | Parenting and Socialisation | 20 | 2 |
| PSC322 | Brain and Behaviour II | 20 | 2 |
| SSC173 | Language Culture and Mind | 10 | 2 |
| A module from the University-Wide Language Programme, subject to approval by Programme Director | 10 | 1 or 2 |
5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award
In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to Part C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.
6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification
Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40: Part C 60 to determine the final percentage mark.
