BA (Honours) PSYCHOLOGY
BA (Honours) PSYCHOLOGY Why study Psychology at Strathclyde? Psychology is principally concerned with human behaviour. Through the scientific study of humans, psychology offers an introduction to a way of thinking about human nature which is assuming increasing importance in society. With its diverse subject matter, Psychology should appeal equally to students with arts or science backgrounds. The University of Strathclyde offers one of the most comprehensive Psychology degrees in the UK, thanks to its excellent links with local hospitals, schools, nurseries and industrial concerns, along with a range of academic and teaching facilities. Most classes have an associated element of practical work, so that the psychological phenomena discussed in lectures become more meaningful through direct experience. You also learn how to carry out research and how to evaluate the research of others. Psychology at Strathclyde is primarily concerned with the conduct and abilities considered to be normal and only secondarily concerned with varieties of psychological abnormality. Degree Structure The full-time BA joint Honours degree is four years. All students are admitted as potential Honours students. The single Honours degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society. Students may exit with a BA degree at the end of Year 3 if they have achieved the required standard. Due to the popularity of this subject the number of students admitted to the second year of the course is limited and there are criteria for admission to the single Honours degree at the end of Year 2. Subject Combinations Within the BA (Honours) Humanities & Social Sciences programme, Psychology can be studied to single Honours, or joint Honours in combination with the subjects listed opposite.
The curriculum, by year, is as follows: Year 1 Psychology 1a and 1b introduce the basic principles of learning, biological bases of behaviour, thinking, memory, personality, social influences on behaviour, changes in thought and behaviour from childhood to later life. The scientific basis of the discipline is also described and students are introduced to research methods used by psychologiest. Education English French History Italian Law Politics Spanish Economics* Human Resource Management* Mathematics** * offered by Strathclyde Business School ** offered by the Faculty of Science Note: Students who want to enter the teaching profession as primary school teachers must study BA (Hons) Primary Education as a single honours subject. Year 2 Introduction to Research Design and Analysis is a two-semester class which develops students ability to conduct research and perfor appropriate statistical analyses Practical sessions are used to develop key research skills and to provide experiential learning which complements lectures. You also take classes that investigate the following topics: Social & Health Psychology draws upon social psychological theory and evidence by providing a conceptual overview of the main theoretical strands of research within social psychology, and demonstrates how social psychology has been applied to help understand important health-related issues. Cognition and Neuropsychology aims to introduce students to two key areas of modern psychology by means of an integrated class which explores how our theoretical and experimental understanding of higher mental
functions such as perception, attention, memory and language has been enhanced through neuropsychological studies of how such functions may be damaged as a result of brain lesions. Year 3 Single Honours students take all six Year 3 classes. Students taking Psychology in combination with other subjects will choose from the six classes. Research Methods in Psychology gives you the opportunity to design and conduct your own experiments. Individual Differences helps you to think scientifically about conceptual and practical issues related to the study of individual differences, with specific reference to intelligence and personality. Students design their own measurement instrument. Cognition focuses on how we perceive time and recognise faces, memory and learning, language, and problem solving, deductive reasoning and decision-making. Development reviews the ways that children develop from infancy right through to the end of adolescence. Psychobiology introduces neuroscience the brain, genes and inheritance, drugs, senses, and movement. Social Psychology relates to key themes in this area, including attitudes and attitude change, identity, prejudice, and epistemology. Strathclyde has a great central location and the staff are friendly and helpful. My flexible timetable allows me time to take part in societies and I have met many students from other courses through being class representative and also as event organiser for the Bulgarian society. Aleksandrova Lyubov Studying Law and Psychology
Year 4 (Honours) Single Honours students undertake a Dissertation in Psychology, and normally study four other classes. Students taking Psychology in combination with another subject will choose fewer classes depending on the combination. Honours classes use an innovative format which allows students to study up to eight topics. Topic examples include: Neuropsychology of Ageing and Dementia Forensic Psychology Psychoanalytic personality Psychology Practical Aspects of Memory Performance Psychology Physiological Psychology Qualitative Methodologies in Practice Social Development Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Impairment in Psychological Disorders Health Psychology Perception and Action Psychology of Language Teaching Programme All our teaching is grounded in sound pedagogical principles which promote active learning, collaborative learning and the development of transferable skills. You attend lectures, tutorials, laboratory practical sessions and seminars. Courses are assessed by a combination of coursework and end-of-semester exams. Accreditation The BA with Single Honours in Psychology programme is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society, our discipline s professional body, if the minimum standard of qualification of second class Honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. Students are also able to choose the class Advanced Organisational Behaviour which is offered by Strathclyde Business School.
Careers Graduates who have undertaken a single Honours Psychology degree, gain accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the purpose of eligibility to apply for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership. This means that they can continue their studies to become professional Psychologists and pursue careers in such areas such as clinical, educational, occupational psychology and in research. Contacts Enquiries regarding entry qualifications or course content should be made to: t: 0141 444 8409/8412 e: hass-admissions-ba@strath.ac.uk Specific enquiries about studying Psychology should be made to: e: hass-courses-psh@strath.ac.uk Find out more... visit the University website at www.strath.ac.uk Among the range of other possible careers are teaching, human resource management, careers guidance, social work, market research, recruitment consultancy, counselling, management and professional positions throughout the private and public sectors. Employers will be particularly interested in your ability to gather, evaluate and communicate complex ideas, to analyse and interpret quantitative data, and to apply psychological knowledge in professional contexts- all skills that the study of psychology will help you to develop. the place of useful learning www.strath.ac.uk University of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1XQ Information current at August 2014. Please consult the University website for the most up-to-date information. The University of Strathclyde is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC015263.