Final year (national level 6):
Core modules
Communicating Psychological Science (30 credits)
Build on your knowledge and skills in research methods. Develop the skills, tools and ideas you need to successfully complete your empirical project. Complete self-audits of your interests and transferable skills. Plan and write your research questions and project proposals. Gain knowledge of ethical principles and practices. Develop your confidence in presenting and communicating psychological theories and research to a range of audiences. Deepen your understanding of models of reflexivity and how you can apply them. Critically and reflexively consider your career options and take part in interactive sessions to make your career commitments. Build your skills in developing effective professional networks and relationships.
Empirical Project (30 credits)
On this module students will individually plan and execute an original piece of empirical research. This will include reading, understanding and critically appraising relevant psychological literature, operationalising a research question by selecting and implementing appropriate research methodologies and statistical techniques to answer the research question. Students will consider and highlight how to address relevant ethical issues associated with their research topic and disseminate their individual research findings via presentation at a classroom based undergraduate conference.
Clinical Practice and Governance (15 credits)
Deepen your knowledge, understanding, and practice of key conceptual, ethical, legal, and regulatory issues in clinical psychology. Learn about and debate on current conceptual issues in clinical psychology, like cultural competence, prescription privileges, artificial intelligence in assessments and associated issues, professional codes of conduct in clinical research and practice, boundaries in practice and ethical dilemmas. Learn about the regulatory framework in which clinical psychologists practice, the legal obligations they must comply with, such as ethical issues concerning consent, confidentiality, data protection, and safeguarding, as well as challenges clinicians encounter when working with people with mental health problems, such as protecting an individual’s liberty and protecting individuals from harm.
Inclusive Practice in Mental Health Services (15 credits)
Explore the evolving landscape of mental health services with a focus on inclusive practice and co-production of clinical care. Critically examine the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in mental health services. Learn effective ways of actively engaging with diverse patient populations using collaborative methods. Develop skills in using co-production tools. Practice skills in co-production by working with experts by experience. Analyse the role of power dynamics and privilege in mental health service provision. Identify strategies for promoting inclusivity and equity. Apply knowledge of inclusive practice to real-world scenarios
Optional modules (choose two for a total of 30 credits)
Please note, not all optional modules may be available every year.
Health Psychology (15 credits)
Consider a range of topics within health psychology, from mental health to chronic conditions, and apply theories and research to these topics effectively. Challenge traditional biomedical perspectives by delving into the biopsychosocial and community health psychology approaches, gaining a deeper understanding of health and illness.
Psychology Placement (15 credits)
This module provides the opportunity to work with an organisation on a psychology related placement where you can apply the knowledge and skills developed during your degree to real-world problems.
Placement opportunities vary but past placement have included working:
- alongside a Clinical Psychologist in a local healthcare setting
- with local mental health organisations and charities
- as a Research Assistant
- as a Teaching Assistant
There may be the opportunity to develop your own placement.
Sexual and Romantic Relationship Dynamics (15 credits)
Consider a range of perspectives, including evolutionary, biological, and socio-cultural, to explain the origins and practices in relationship behaviours. Relationship formation, maintenance, and dissolution are so central to human behaviour that many people dedicate a significant amount of their lifetime and resources towards obtaining and maintaining relationships. These behaviours often form a cornerstone of cultural practices that transcends temporal and national borders. Use evolutionary, biological, and socio-cultural theory to explain the origins and practices of relationship behaviours. Learn to apply core theory to explain contemporary sexual and romantic practices.
Advanced Research Methods and Statistics (15 credits)
Learn a range of intermediate to advanced statistical and research skills and techniques across correlational and experimental designs using industry standard software. Build on your existing knowledge, revise and consolidate core understanding in the field to enable you to deploy more advanced designs and analyses in your final year work, in post-graduate study and employment. Become familiar with meta-science, handling complex data sets, open-science and open-data practices, and analyse and report findings to a professional standard.
Digital Humans (15 credits)
Learn about the field of cyberpsychology, the psychology of how humans interact with technology and online environments. Explore how the online world impacts human behavior, and how humans are adapting to a world with increasing amounts of technology: becoming digital humans in the process. Critically examine the rise of artificial technology, and its impact on human behaviours, gaining an in-depth understanding of how humans interact with technology, in all its forms, and in online environments. This module covers predominantly cognitive psychology, individual differences, and social psychology, with some elements of biological and developmental psychology.
Perspectives on Addiction (15 credits)
Investigate the complex issue of addictive behaviours from a range of perspectives. Examine theories surrounding the causes and maintenance of addictive behaviours including tobacco and alcohol addiction, illegal drug use and non-substance addictions such as gambling. Investigate the role of biology, cognition, learning theories and the social world in underpinning addictive behaviours and how they can pose a challenge to treatment and recovery. Consider the interface between the psychology of addiction and the wider legal and political context of these issues and consider the perspective of the lived experience.
Psychology of Belief (15 credits)
Learn about the psychology of belief, from religious and political, to the paranormal. Understand and explain why humans have a predisposition to believe in a range of topics falling under four core areas, from each other to little green men, within the context of empirical scientific evidence. Apply your knowledge and skills from core areas of psychology to understand the belief in spirituality, political preference, ghosts, conspiracies, and many more.
