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Psychology is the study of human behaviour and mental processes and this A Level equivalent course combines research and theory to explore this subject fully.
Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language.
On this course you will study towards two exams & two course-work (C/W) units (one exam and one C/W unit in first year, followed by one exam and one C/W unit in second year):
The first year exam involves the study of psychological approaches and applications, which focuses on four key approaches: behaviourist, social, cognitive and biological. The basics of these four approaches are taught and then used to explain/link to three key topics: aggression, consumerism and gender. You will explore concepts such as aggressive behaviour being learnt, masculinity being a social construct, how technology can be used measure brain activity when watching adverts, and how we are made to feel a certain way about products without realising we are being influenced. The course-work unit in the first year focuses on research methods. This unit has learners writing a report on what psychological research is and how/why it’s conducted. Learners then plan, conduct and review their own small-scale piece of research into a psychological topic, much like a real psychologist would.
The second year exam involves the study of health psychology, which focuses on looking at explanations behind stress and addiction such as smoking, shopping, gambling and alcohol. Additionally, reasons for adherence in relation to health behaviours (e.g. why people stick/don’t stick to diets or why people do/don’t practice safe sex) will be explored. Forms of support such as different types of therapy, exercise and mindfulness to help those with stress and/or addictions will also be covered in this unit.
The second year course-work unit focuses on psychopathology (mental health). This unit has learners writing reports on the history of mental health and how it has been viewed over time, definitions of what ‘mental health is’, and how those with mental health issues have been supported/treated historically. Learners will write a report on factors contributing to mental health issues such as signs or symptoms and write about the support available for a mental health issue of their choosing. For example, the role of medication and cognitive behavioural therapy for sufferers of OCD. Exam content is taught between September and January with the actual exam being in the January (this applies to both years’ exams). C/W content is taught between January and May (again, this applied to both years).
Teaching concentrates on guiding you through a process of active learning via group discussions, case studies and personal investigation. Regular reading and research are essential, as it is the ongoing practical element of this course which is supported and accessed by your lecturers. The course is applied – meaning that whilst it is theoretical, it is also very much about applying subject content to everyday life.
Year 1 is a 50/50 split between exam content and C/W Year 2 is a 65/35 split between exam content and C/W (with the exam being the bigger unit)
Exams in both years will be traditional written exams. C/W in first year will be a mix of reports and a practical, C/W in second year will be reports.
