Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology

Academic Year: 2020/21

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:

  • 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) Sport and Exercise Psychology
Programme code PSUB15
Length of programme BSc – 3 years full-time
BSc with placement – 4 years full-time
UCAS code C8C6, C86C
Admissions criteria

BSc (Hons) - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/c8c6 

BSc (Hons) DPS/DIntS - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/c86c

Date at which the programme specification was published Wed, 01 Jul 2020 16:09:12 BST

1. Programme Aims

The overarching aim of the BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology programme is to provide a comprehensive and coherent understanding of key and cutting-edge aspects of psychological science through five integrated but distinct undergraduate pathways.

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 with an emphasis on sport and exercise content;
  • develop a range of research skills for investigating experience and behaviour within sport and exercise context, 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;
  • foster a constructive, critical approach to the evaluation of psychology theory and research, and to apply this perspective to real world settings, including sport and exercise contexts; 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
  • The subject benchmark statement for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism

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

Methods, theories and empirical findings related to the study of participants (e.g. athletes, coaches, parents, support staff) and their behaviour in sport and exercise contexts; and how such study informs the performance and well-being of stakeholders in such contexts.

  K9

The role of cognate areas of sport science in influencing the professional work of the practitioner, including the development of relationships in sport and exercise settings.

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

Apply knowledge of social psychological, organisational, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic approaches to an understanding of human behaviour in sport and exercise contexts.

  C8

Recognise and identify the role of cognate disciplines of sport and exercise science in informing and formulating practical work with sport and exercise participants.

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

Collect and interpret interview, survey and/or observational data when studying participants in various sport and exercise contexts.

  P10

Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills when working with sport and exercise clients.

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

Identify contextual, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that shape behaviour and social interaction in sport and exercise settings

  T9

Utilise a variety of psychological principles to contribute to the performance and wellbeing of others in non-sport and exercise domains.

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.

4.1    Part A – Compulsory Introductory Modules:

Code

Module Title

Modular Weight

Semester

PSA500

Foundations in Developmental and Social Psychology  20 
PSA510 Foundations in Qualitative Research Methods  10 
PSA503 Foundations in Quantitative Research Methods  10
PSA507 Academic & Professional Skills for Sport and Exercise Psychology  20 
PSA501 Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology  10 
PSA509 Foundations in Cognitive Psychology  10 
PSA511 Psychology Practicals A  10 
PSA502 Foundations in Biological Psychology  10 
PSA026 Foundations in Sport and Exercise Psychology  20 

 

4.2a    Part B – Compulsory Degree Modules:

Code

Module Title

Modular Weight

Semester

PSB510

Personality and Individual Differences  10 
PSB513 Human Cognition  10
PSB508 Developmental and Social Psychology  20 

PSB733

Expert Performance in Sport 20 1
PSB732 Current Themes in Sport and Exercise Psychology 20 2
PSB514 Brain and Behaviour I  10
PSB511 Quantitative Research Methods  10 
PSB509 Qualitative Research Methods  10
PSB512 Psychology Practicals B  10 

  

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:

Code

Module Title

Modular Weight

Semester

PSC300

Project 

40 

1&2 

PSC033

Psychology of Coaching and Physical Education 

10 

PSC035

Performance Psychology for Sporting Excellence 

10 

PSC034 Sport Psychology in Action  10 
PSC036 Applied Exercise Psychology  10 

 

4.4b    Part C - 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:

Code

Module Title

Modular Weight

Semester

PSC301

Advanced Experimental and Qualitative Design & Analysis 

20 

PSC319

Psychology of Eating Behaviour 

20 

PSC321

Psychology of Workplace Health 

20 

CXC130 Social Psychology of Everyday Life  20 
MAC103 Learning in Early Childhood 20 1
BSC720 Behavioural Decision Science  10 
BSC722 Consumer Behaviour 10 
PSC311 Clinical Psychology  20 
PSC320 Parenting and Socialisation  20 
MAC203 Educational Neuroscience 20 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.

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