Psychology, BSc (Hons)

Course summary

Durham’s Psychology Department is a department with excellence in both research and teaching. This research strength extends across the wide variety of academic interests of the Department’s staff, from child health and development, perception, behavioural science, cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, to the evolutionary basis and contextual determinants of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.The wide range and quality of the research interests of the staff in the Department allows us to offer a broad range of final-year option courses. Our breadth of research strength means that you are guaranteed to be taught by some of the leading figures in their field of research. Furthermore, as an expanding department, we expect that the range of opportunities for students will grow over the coming years.Our BSc (Hons) course in Psychology follows the British Psychological Society(BPS) guidelines with an extensive range of options in the final year, drawing both from work in fundamental scientific research and in applied psychology. These final year modules include topics in social psychology, developmental psychology, cognition and behavioural neuroscience, as well as neurorehabilitation, education, and health.Excellent research facilities are available, including a virtual reality suite, developmental testing facilities, and EEG labs. You are encouraged to get involved in experiments being carried out by your lecturers, thus gaining a deeper and more hands-on understanding of the issues you are learning about in your degree, and adding to your contextual experience.Psychology is essentially concerned with understanding the mind and behaviour in humans and non-human animals, and it is closely related to a wide range of other disciplines, including biology, anthropology, philosophy, and education. You will get the chance to study people in terms of their internal mental processes, the biological mechanisms that underlie their behaviour, and the social and developmental context in which they act. The degree provides the opportunity for the development of extensive subject-specific and transferable skills.

You will take modules to the value of 120 credits each year. Year 1 Core modules: Introduction to Psychology 1: Cognitive and Biological Psychology introduces a broad foundation of knowledge of the core areas of cognitive psychology and biological psychology. Introduction to Psychology 2: Developmental and Social Psychology allows you to acquire a broad foundation of knowledge in core areas of psychology including developmental psychology, social psychology and individual differences. Introduction to Psychological Research introduces key research methods and statistical techniques used in psychology. Academic Skill Development for Psychology introduces students to the fundamental skills required for studying Psychology at degree level in a tutorial-based manner. The skills covered will include aspects of written and oral communication in line with psychological literacy skills, e.g. summarizing articles, critical evaluation, presentations. In recent years, optional modules have included: Careers in Psychology. Year 2 Core modules: Cognitive and Biological Psychology develops an understanding of theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches in cognitive and biological psychology, with particular emphasis on memory, decision making, learning, and perception Social and Developmental Psychology provides a broad knowledge and understanding of research and theory in some of the key areas of developmental psychology and examines the contribution that social psychology has made to an understanding of the relations between people and social structures involving people. Differential and Clinical Psychology develops knowledge and understanding of theory and research in differential psychology, the study of psychological differences and similarities between people and understanding of theory and research in atypical and clinical psychology. Contemporary and Conceptual Issues in Psychology develops skills in researching and communicating a range of contemporary and conceptual issues in psychology. It provides an opportunity to discuss psychological research in a tutorial context. Advanced Research Methods and Statistics provides experience of the practical application of a wide range of methods in psychological research and develops presentation skills necessary for communicating research aims and findings. You will also be equipped with the knowledge and understanding of the more advanced statistical methods used in psychological research, together with the practical ability to apply such methods to a variety of data sets. Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a placement or year abroad) In your final year, you will design and carry out your own 7,000-word Dissertation. You will formulate the research question, employing appropriate methods of investigation and analysis, and interpret the results in light of relevant empirical work and psychological theory. In recent years, optional modules have included: Learning and Animal Cognition Emotion and Social Perception Clinical Neuropsychology Neuropsychology of Amnesia Fetal Development Sport and Exercise Psychology The Ever Adapting Brain – Sensory Neuroplasticity Face Recognition.