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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
85
Psychology
COURSE CODES:
PLACES 2011:
POINTS 2010:
DEGREE AWARDED:
TR006
31
545*
B.A.
TR001 (TSM)
17
570
TSM points:
See note on page 28
TR006 – Psychology is a single honor course where
psychology is read almost exclusively for four years.
TR001 (TSM) – Psychology may be combined with one
other subject within the two-subject moderatorship (TSM)
programme. TSM is a joint honor programme. Both
subjects are normally studied for three years and one
subject only is studied in the fourth year. An honors degree
is awarded in both subjects.
For subjects that combine with Psychology see page 92.
Single honor and TSM students follow the same courses.
However, while TSM students cover all the principal areas
of psychology, the workload is less extensive than that of
the single honor programme.
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and
mental processes. Although classified as an arts course,
Psychology has many of the features of a science course
– practical work, statistical description and analysis of data
and courses on the underlying physiology of the human
brain, for instance. These are in addition to the more familiar
psychological topics such as human development, perception,
learning, motivation, cognitive processes, individual differences
and social psychology.
There are five thematic areas in psychology: Biological,
Cognitive, Developmental, Personality and individual differences,
and Social psychology.
Is this the right course for you?
Psychology is a rigorous, fascinating and demanding field of
the life sciences. If you are interested in the factors influencing
human thinking, feeling and behaviour, as individuals and in
groups, you will enjoy this course. The School of Psychology
is committed to excellence in education and training at all
levels, and aims to offer a knowledge base and a set of skills
that not only equip students for the many careers that exist in
psychology, but also prepare students intellectually for other
careers. Psychology is a branch of science that demands
clear, rigorous thinking, numeracy and the ability to define,
study and solve problems in complex, changing settings.
Psychology educates and trains students to be aware of the
factors influencing human thinking, feeling and behaving, as
individuals and in groups. Such abilities are highly transferable
to many different spheres of life. Psychology is also an applied
science that deals with how people act and behave in the real
world. It provides support for families in their social life and work,
though clinical and counselling interventions.
Course overview
The course is designed to develop a wide knowledge of
the concepts, principles, theories and research methods of
contemporary psychology; to develop skills of analysis and
synthesis, research design, statistical description and evaluation,
problem-solving and computer use; to provide practice in the
design, execution, reporting and assessment of research and
to develop competence in group work, communication and
presentation skills and self-assessment. This preparation is
designed to cultivate a high level of competence in scholarship
and research, enabling the successful graduate to proceed
directly to advanced postgraduate work, professional training
or a productive career.
During lecture term, single honor students spend approximately
10-12 hours per week (5-6 hours for TSM students) receiving
tuition such as lectures, seminars and laboratory practicals.
The Freshman years
The Junior and Senior Freshman (first and second) years of
both the single honor and TSM programmes provide a broad
foundation on which more advanced course work is built in
the Sophister (third and fourth) years. In addition, modules in
methodology and statistics enable students to develop their
research skills in a systematic fashion. Training in academic
skills is also provided which enable you to build the skills
required to write essays, to develop an attitude of scepticism
and to develop independent, critical thinking.
As a Freshman student, you will take foundation-level modules
in a range of areas such as:
n
Introduction to psychology
n
Social psychology
n
Perception
n
History of psychology
n
Psychological disorder
n
Developmental psychology
n
Cognition
n
Fundamentals of neuroscience and behaviour
n
Evolutionary psychology
n
Personality and individual differences
You will also be given the opportunity to take module(s) from
the Broad Curriculum options (see page 13).
Research methods, statistics and laboratory
practicals
Modules in research methods and statistical analysis, and
in laboratory practicals are provided in the Freshman years.
These will enable you to understand the different research
methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) upon which
psychology is based and will prepare you for planning,
conducting and communicating your own research. Some of
the practicals relate specifically to the foundation courses and
provide hands-on experience of carrying out research in different
areas of psychology. Other practicals concentrate on statistical
description and analysis and key research-related skills, such as
literature searching.