Programme Specification
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Criminology (2015 to 2018 entry)
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:
- 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 with Criminology |
| Programme code | PSUB21 |
| Length of programme | BSc – 3 years full-time BSc with placement – 4 years full-time |
| UCAS code | C8M9, C8M0 |
| Admissions criteria | BSc (Hons) - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/c8m9 BSc (Hons) DPS/DIntS - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/c8m0 |
| Date at which the programme specification was published | Wed, 01 Jul 2020 16:09:41 BST |
1. Programme Aims
The overarching aim of the Psychology with Criminology 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 a thorough, theoretical and evidence-based understanding of the connections between individual behaviour, the law, social norms and the criminal justice system
- 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 main theoretical approaches within criminology and contemporary and historic debates related to the role of biological and social/contextual bases of behaviour in psychological and criminological theory. |
|
K9 |
An understanding of the nature of crime and how relevant agencies and agents respond to it. |
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 |
Critically evaluate competing theories and explanations for criminological and social problems. |
|
C8 |
Apply criminological theory and research to problems and questions in criminology. |
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 |
Analyse and assess criminological findings methodologically and communicate information about them. |
|
P10 |
Use appropriate analytical methods and research tools in relation to criminological and social problems; including quantitative, qualitative and evaluative techniques. |
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 |
Interpret and apply principles of social and criminal justice to the construction of effective written and spoken arguments. |
|
T9 |
Deploy critical judgment in recognizing how criminological insights are informed by psychology. |
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 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 |
| SSA201 | Introduction to Criminology and Social Policy A | 10 | 1 |
| SSA157 | Academic and Professional Skills for Social Sciences Psychology students | 10 | 1&2 |
| 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 |
| SSA202 | Introduction to Criminology and Social Policy B | 10 | 2 |
| SSA206 | Crime and Social Welfare | 10 | 2 |
4.2 Part B – Compulsory Degree Modules. Applies to students entering Part B in 2019/20
|
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 |
| SSB201 | Criminological Theory | 20 | 1 |
| PSB514 | Brain and Behaviour I | 10 | 2 |
| PSB511 | Quantitative Research Methods | 10 | 2 |
| PSB509 | Qualitative Research Methods | 10 | 2 |
|
PSB512 |
Psychology Practicals B | 10 | 2 |
| SSB211 | The Criminal Justice System in England & Wales | 20 | 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
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
PSC300 |
Project |
40 |
1&2 |
|
CXC171 |
Advanced Social Psychology |
10 |
1 |
|
CXC173 |
Language, Culture and Mind |
10 |
2 |
|
SSC210 |
Rehabilitation and recovery |
20 |
2 |
4.4b Part C – Optional Degree Modules
Optional modules (40 credits) At least 20 credits must be chosen from group (i). The remaining 20 credits can be chosen from either group (i) or group (ii):
|
Code |
Module Title |
Modular Weight |
Semester |
|
Group (i) |
|||
| SSC238 | Youth Justice | 20 | 1 |
| SSC220 | Crime Prevention | 20 | 1 |
| SSC239 | Environmental Criminology | 20 | 2 |
| CXC138 | Forensic Psychology | 20 | 2 |
| SSC211 | Criminal Justice System in England and Wales | 20 | 2 |
| Group (ii) | |||
| PSC301 | Advanced Experimental and Qualitative Design & Analysis | 20 | 1 |
| PSC321 | Psychology of Workplace Health | 20 | 1 |
| CXC130 | Social Psychology and Everyday Life | 20 | 1 |
| MAC103 | Learning in Early Childhood | 20 | 1 |
| BSC720 | Behavioural Decision Science | 10 | 2 |
| BSC722 | Consumer Behaviour | 10 | 2 |
| PSC311 | Clinical Psychology | 20 | 2 |
| PSC320 | Parenting and Socialisation | 20 | 2 |
| MAC203 | Educational Neuroscience | 20 | 2 |
Note: Students wishing to qualify for fast track Probational Office Training PQuiP must take module SSC211 (applies to students who did not take SSB211 at Part B)
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.
