Psychology with Sociology BSc (Hons)

Core modules

Social and Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Examine the major theories and methodological approaches in social and developmental psychology; develop an understanding of the range of development across the lifespan; develop an appreciation and understanding of the diversity of development of individuals and groups across age, time, culture and place; and consider the relationship between theories in social psychology and an everyday understanding of social behaviour.

Cognitive and Biological Psychology

Building upon the module in Year One you will explore in depth, and critically evaluate from a cognitive and biological perspective, concepts and research methodologies in topics such as memory, attention, sensation, and perception. You will also understand of how the evidence from investigations can inform theory about how these processes are organised and how to become a critical reader of the research literature.

Research Methods and Statistics (Two)

An integrated module studying advanced experimental, psychometric, and qualitative research techniques in laboratory practicals. Supporting this are a series of lectures and workshops designed to help you develop your statistical knowledge and skills.Laboratory work will involve one experimental study, one regression-based study, and a qualitative study. All studies will be on an area relevant to psychology. You will be organised into small groups, and each group will have to run and report upon their study. You will also be required to formulate hypotheses, search for and review relevant literature, prepare or select necessary stimuli or scales, select a sample, collect and analyse data appropriately, interpret findings, and produce individual reports of the work undertaken. The module will also build upon the content of Statistics (One). Particular emphasis will be placed on factorial ANOVA and the concept of interaction. You will also consider the theory and statistical techniques associated primarily with non-experimental research. These include multiple regression, Cronbach’s alpha, multiple correlations, and exploratory factor analysis.

Constructing Modern Societies

The module seeks to develop your skills of reflexivity and your critical awareness of – and responsible engagement with – the real world, by introducing you to the fundamental and essential concepts and values of sociological thought and practice. Sociology is often stated to be discussion of modern times (Giddens), and it is in that spirit that this module attempts to help you use a sociological imagination, based upon sound sociological knowledge, to help you navigate the modern world.

Optional modules

Choose an optional module from a range that may include:

Sociology of Education

You will examine the various perspectives and theoretical traditions that have developed through the sociological analysis of formal education and lifelong learning. It will focus on how both formal and informal learning contribute to some of the key processes of identity formation, social and cultural reproduction, and transformation in modern societies.

Gender, Violence and Society

You will explore feminist research and activism into gender inequalities in contemporary societies. It takes as its starting points that: a) women and men still experience gender inequalities in all contemporary societies; b) that the persistence of gender inequalities is toxic for all women and men; and c) that both women and men can and do engage in individual and collective activism – underpinned by feminist sociological research – to challenge gender inequalities.  The module focuses upon broad gender themes in Term One (such as school, university, personal relationships, paid and unpaid work, abortion, body image, eating disorders and cosmetic surgery), and it looks at contributions made by contemporary campaigning organisations such as the Fawcett Society and UK Feminista. Then it narrows to consider selected aspects of gendered violence in Terms Two and Three (such as personal safety, stalking, abuse of power by professionals, intimate partner violence, rape, child abuse and sexual exploitation, pornography, and prostitution). The module argues that violence (Term Two and Three material) can only occur because of the taken-for-granted nature of many more everyday instances of gender inequalities (Term One material).

Religion and Society

You will be introduced to some of the major theoretical perspectives within the sociology of religion. You will also explore the diversity of religious life in contemporary society, from institutional affiliation to spiritual seeking. The module will also encourage you to reflect on "religion", in its widest sense, and on how religion impacts upon the lives of believers.

Political Sociology

Study political phenomena, including sociological approaches towards the state and society, globalisation, postmodernism, and cultural politics.

The Body in Society

This module explores a sociological perspective on how aspects of the human body relate to of the social organisation of everyday life. It will introduce students to key theorists whose work helps us sociologically understand issues of embodiment. The module considers the body in sociology through a focus on key theoretical perspectives relating to embodiment, and research addressing related issues.

The Sociology of Consumption

This module will allow you to apply key issues, concepts and debates in the sociology of consumption. You'll explore the social, political, and economic significance of consumption practices at a global and local level. More specifically, the module will address how the dynamism of neo-liberal capitalistic society can colonise time as well as space, how the future is dissolved into the present and how this may cause consumptive habitual practices that provides a cyclical perception of the future with the promise of progress via a cult of speed.

Core modules

Psychology Research Project

A major piece of work in which you will carry out independent research, the topic and design of which is decided upon in consultation with a supervisor. The project will demonstrate that you can conduct an extended research report, as well as show your understanding of the methodological skills and presentational techniques developed throughout the course.

Professional Practice in Psychology

Addressing aspects of professional psychology, you will work on a problem from a set of professional scenarios and form a project team to address it. The first half of the module addresses a single area of professional practice: the theory and application of occupational and organisational psychology. The second half of the module uses problem-based learning methods to give you an experience of professional project work across a broader range of applied areas of interest. Students select a problem from a set of professional scenarios and form a project team to address it. The project team work as a group to produce a consultancy report of their findings and each student writes an essay reflecting on their experiences.

Advanced Psychology

Choose between the following:

Students select a module in either Advanced Social and Developmental Psychology or Advanced Cognitive and Biological Psychology. These modules involve exploring these core areas of psychology in more depth and will develop your critical analysis skills on these areas.

• Advanced Cognitive and Biological Psychology
  This advanced psychology module aims to give students further insight into biological and cognitive material, building on the basic knowledge acquired in Year Two. In particular, you will be encouraged to: develop a reflective understanding of the anatomy and physiological processes that underpin psychological experience; develop an understanding of the methodologies used to examine issues in biological psychology; critically examine how contemporary bio-psychological models are developed, and evaluate them as explanations of behaviour; develop a thorough understanding of how various cognitive psychological constructs can be used to theorise mental functioning in a range of domains; develop an in-depth understanding of the cognitive processes that underlie the performance of several different everyday tasks; have an understanding of relevant research evidence, and of how research relates to theory; and to be able to critically evaluate different accounts of cognitive functioning in specific domains.
• Advanced Social and Developmental Psychology
  This module will build on the Year Two Social and Lifespan Developmental Psychology module. You will further explore child development and its relationship to a child’s genetics and environment, childhood, education and family, attachment and emotional development, adolescence, language development, cognitive processing and development, difficulties in development, social categorisation, social identity, pro-social behaviour, processes of social influence, and intergroup relations. You will also develop knowledge and understanding of social psychological processes, and be able to contextualise the development and use of social and developmental psychological theory and research. You'll build on your understanding of how evidence from investigations can inform theory and practice and provide in-depth discussions of a set of contemporary applied issues in social and developmental psychology. You'll also evaluate the relevance of theory and research in social and developmental psychology to specific areas of application, and you'll become a critical reader of the research literature.

Optional modules

Choose one from a selection of optional Psychology modules and one from a selection of Sociology modules that may include:

Psychology modules

Gender, Identity and Body Image

Taking a social constructionist stance, you will challenge the taken-for-granted "obviousness" of our assumptions about a number of issues relating to gender, identity and body image.

Cyberpsychology

Study the impact of the Internet and new technologies on our social relationships and the ways we relate to each other, as well as more technical aspects of cyberpsychology and the philosophical issues relating to how we do, might, or should interact within virtual environments.

Health Psychology of Chronic Illness

Health psychology is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the application of psychological knowledge to health, illness and healthcare. Its primary purpose is to understand and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. This module will introduce students to some of the core areas within the field, exploring key concepts used in the study of both healthy and ill populations. The module will cover contemporary psychological theories of health and illness from a number of perspectives, and will draw upon research that has used a variety of methodological approaches. For example, we will explore psychological perspectives on behaviours that pose a risk to health (such as smoking, obesity and exercise), consider what happens when we get ill (e.g. seeking help, medicine-taking behaviour, and adjustment to illness) and explore how psychologists can help people who are dying and suffering from bereavement. Particular focus will be given to how theory can be used to inform practice and the development of interventions.

Psychopathology: Phenomenology, Assessment, Treatment and Current Issues

It has been estimated that mental illness accounts for a third of all illnesses in the UK, and a quarter of the population will be affected at some point in their lifespan. The overarching aim of this module is to develop students’ knowledge of mental disorders and topics relevant to clinical psychology. Specifically, this module aims to: provide students with comprehensive knowledge of psychological disorders in adults and psychological and developmental disorders in children; provide awareness about current clinical practice, such as commonly adopted classification (DSM-V) and recommended treatments (NICE guidelines); develop students’ understanding of theory, research and current issues around clinical psychology and consider their impact; critically evaluate recent psychological research and scrutinise its application to contemporary clinical practice; and encourage the consideration of multiple viewpoints and critically examine different approaches in the field.

Contesting Mental Illness: The Psychology of Distress

This modules focuses on critiquing key assumptions behind mainstream psychiatry and exploring psychological and service-user led alternatives. Through taking this approach, you'll develop a psychological foundation for understanding mental health difficulties, along with developing important employability skills relevant to a career in clinical psychology and the helping professions.

Trauma in Children and Adolescents

The aim of the module is to provide theoretical understanding of the impact of childhood trauma on children and adolescents, and to provide an understanding of the role and roots of resilience. The module seeks to provide students with knowledge about the signs and symptoms, behavioural patterns, and underlying psychological and biological changes associated with psychopathology after childhood and adolescent trauma.

Psychology of Religion

Why does religion exist? What function does it serve in society? What’s the difference between a cult and a religion? What is the difference between a psychotic hallucination and a religious vision? What is the role of religion and spirituality in everyday life? How might it contribute to our wellbeing? How might religious practices have something to offer society (e.g. the mindfulness practice of Buddhism). These are the sorts of questions that will be explored in this module. Lectures will typically include: the historical and cultural background to religion and spirituality; the evolutionary, biological, social and cognitive explanations for religion; understanding cults and why people join them;  and the psychology of religious and spiritual experiences and practices.

Occupational Psychology

Occupational Psychology is concerned with the application of psychological knowledge for the understanding of individual behaviour in organisations and workplaces.

Mind Reading and Mind Control

Psychologists are often asked if they know what people are thinking. This module will explore the extent to which current methods in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience allow us to read people’s minds, and even control what they are thinking. It will provide you with a critical and practical understanding of the modern developments that enable us to determine the inner workings of the mind.

Personality, Personality Disorder and Violence

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of personality by discussing the most prominent personality models such as the Five Factor Model, and more specific maladaptive trait models, such as the Dark Triad.

Psychology in the Criminal Justice System

The module will develop students' knowledge of the utilisation of psychology within the criminal justice system and investigative procedures.

Psychology of Criminal Behaviour

The module will develop students' knowledge of the utilisation of psychology to explain a range of criminal behaviours.

Black and Cultural Psychology

Qualitative III: Applied and Creative Approaches to Qualitative Research

Sociology modules

Sociology of Interpersonal Abuse

Explore the dynamics of interpersonal abuse, with a particular focus upon rape and domestic violence.

Youth Culture and Society

This module will allow you to critically appraise and evaluate key issues, concepts and debates in the sociology of youth.

Race, Culture and Society

This module considers sociological perspectives on ‘race’ and racism, examines ‘old’ and ‘new’ forms of racism and encourages you to think about how social identities are ‘racialised’.

Technology and Society

This module is concerned with the impact information and communication technologies have on social change in contemporary society.

Identities and Intimacies

This module is focused on the sociology of intimate life. Throughout the module you will reflect on issues connected to love, family, friend and sexual relationships and practices. You will reflect on the meaning of words such as ‘love’, ‘family’, and ‘friendship’, as well as developing your knowledge of sociological understandings of identity.

Please note:

The number of places available on some optional modules may be limited. These will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Students who are unable to select their first choice will be offered an alternative from the remaining optional modules.