Psychology with Counselling BSc(Hons)

You'll be introduced to theoretical approaches and debates in cognitive and biological psychology, as well as analytical research skills using quantitative methods. You'll carry out research in our laboratories to identify and explain internal mental processes and biological factors that underpin behaviour.

You'll be introduced to a range of helping skills and qualities and to a structured model of helping. You'll have the opportunity to practise your helping skills and receive feedback from tutors and peers.

You'll be introduced to the main counselling theories (psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and person-centred) and explore how they relate to helping skills within the Egan model of helping. You'll explore the counselling theories using exercises and case studies in order to develop an understanding of the different approaches.

This module will introduce you to research methods and data analysis in psychology. It provides the opportunity to develop both a theoretical understanding and practical skills. It covers key research issues, methods and data analysis in both quantitative and qualitative approaches. You'll also gain experience as a participant in several research projects.

In this module you will study Personality and Social Psychology. The module addresses three important questions. How do psychologists study personality? How do psychologists study individual and group behaviours, such as attitudes and language? Is Personality best understood as originating in constitutional or social factors?

You'll have the opportunity to build on your knowledge of broad counselling perspectives developed in Year 1, by exploring in greater detail different approaches to counselling. This may include examining cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, humanist-existential, systemic and constructionist approaches. You'll critically reflect on the implications of these differing perspectives for practice.

In this module you'll be supported to develop a critical understanding of cognitive and biological explanations of human behaviour. You'll explore a diverse range of topics including psychopharmacology, behavioural genetics, memory and human perception.

You'll be supported to build on your knowledge of developmental psychology considering human development within the context of social experiences and everyday life. You'll critically consider a range of psychological approaches across the lifespan through the discussion and application of a socio-cultural ontology. You'll also review and evaluate current research in developmental psychology and reflect on its merit in explaining individual developmental trajectories.

Through this module you'll be supported to further develop your knowledge of research design and analysis. You'll explore analysis of variance, multiple regression, factor analysis, discursive analyses, phenomenological analyses and ethics.

You'll be supported to build on your knowledge of social psychology and personality psychology through lectures and seminars. You'll consider some of the key issues we face in our world today, including crowds and social conflict, group processes and identity and close relationships.

You'll be helped to analyse counselling approaches for therapeutic effectiveness, with inclusion of human development research. A combination of counselling models will be theoretically explored which will contribute to ways of working in a helping/counselling skills capacity. There will be an emphasis on your personal and practical development through the use of a learning log.

You'll conduct research into your chosen area of psychology through the collection of original data to produce a report. You'll also communicate your research findings and work in progress through a short assessed presentation. Throughout the project you'll be supported to demonstrate high level research skills, an awareness of ethical principles and approval procedures, and an ability to work independently under supervision from a qualified member of psychology staff.

This module studies the key approaches, concepts and issues within the field of forensic psychology through a series of lectures and online facilities. You'll explore a range of psychological explanations for criminal activity relating to two main themes. Firstly, you'll critically consider various research areas within forensic psychology including prison treatment programmes, eyewitness and expert testimony, investigative interviews, crime and mentally disordered offenders. Secondly, you'll study a range of crimes such as murder, sexual crimes, arson, acquisitive and white collar crime.

You'll explore the field of Investigative Psychology and cover a wide range of areas, including the work of Professor David Canter, Offender Profiling, Geographic Profiling, Investigative Interviewing and the Detection of Deception.

You'll study contemporary psychological research and theories of personal and intimate relationships. This will include material on different perspectives on personal relationships, physical attractiveness and attraction, how people form, maintain and end intimate relationships, sex differences in relationship behaviour, online relationships, and attachment and self-esteem in intimate relationships.

You’ll explore modern police investigation practice in relation to serious crime, including the contribution of forensic science, offender profiling, surveillance data and new technologies. You’ll consider how current research into serious crime, such as homicide, terrorism and sexual offences, informs practice and police decision making, as well as how investigations and major enquiry management have become increasingly professionalised.

The complex factors which interact to construct learning will be explored, using a mix of psychological theories and their influence on educational policy in schools and on further and higher education. You'll be supported to develop an understanding of how different people are enabled and disabled, in participating in learning and education.

You'll be introduced to the critical issues related to health, illness and disability in clinical and health psychology. The module challenges some of the preconceptions of ill-health from mainstream perspectives and considers how health and illness can be influenced by factors including culture, poverty, gender and sexuality. You'll be encouraged to consider how these factors impact on wellbeing and the experience and treatment of physical and mental illness and disability. Multiple perspectives will be considered in the critical, applied and research oriented module design. Through an essay you'll demonstrating a comprehensive and critical understanding of theoretical and applied approaches to the psychology of health and wellbeing.

This module will provide a cognitive approach to understanding human behaviour and perception based on evidence from recent research studies. Topics that you'll cover include theory of mind, face perception, person perception, social neuroscience, atypical social cognition (eg autism) and social cognition in non-humans. You'll cover research incorporating a wide range of methods including experimental psychology, brain imaging, genetics, and computational approaches.

This module investigates states of consciousness, and starts by asking what consciousness is and how we should study it. You'll then explore altered states of consciousness such as sleep, dreaming, meditation, religious and mystical experience, and the effects of psychedelic drugs.

You'll cover key concepts within neuroscience and link neuroscientific evidence that underpin core cognitive theory. Through a series of themed lectures, case studies and examples will be used to demonstrate the links between neuroscience, cognition and behaviour. Lecture themes include: atypical and abnormal (effects of specific damage or traumatic brain injury), typical and functional (underlying mechanisms and neural correlates for typical function and cognitive abilities) and issues in neuroscience (practical, ethical and workplace/professional application).