BA (Hons) Psychology with Sociology

This module will give you a grounding in key debates, theoretical perspectives and research approaches across the social sciences, including Psychology, Sociology and Criminology. This module will set up topics and themes that will be explored in more detail across subsequent modules. The module will also ask you to link theory and research data with real-world, practical applications, considering how the knowledge and skills acquired can support future vocational destinations – how, for example, might theories and data relating to social class, gender or LGBT status assist in a classroom setting, or with probation or social work? 

This module provides an introduction to Social Psychology. It seeks to make you aware of psychological explanations of human behaviour in a social context. The module will enable you to understand how certain behaviours (such as pro- or anti-social) can be shaped by different social contexts and events, with an investigation also of how lessons learned from social psychology might impact attempts to negotiate global issues such as conflict or climate change. 

TBC

Across two research-based modules, we will focus on research methods and data analysis. You will practise with data sets or conducting small research projects as a group. The classic paradigms of quantitative and qualitative will be covered in depth, but given the broad nature of social sciences, these modules will also focus on ethnography, community-based action research and participatory action research.  

Across two research-based modules we will focus on research methods and data analysis. You will practise with data sets or conducting small research projects as a group. The classic paradigms of quantitative and qualitative will be covered in depth, but given the broad nature of social sciences, these modules will also focus on ethnography, community-based action research and participatory action research.  

This module spans a wide range of applied psychological research, theory, and practice regarding the promotion of physical and mental health and the treatment of illness. The core themes include health psychology, behavioural medicine, and mental illness. In addition to mental and physical health, the module covers key concepts concerning the origin, presentation, and treatment of common and prevalent mental health concerns. You will gain a introduction to the social and cultural issues surrounding mental health, mental including stigma and diagnosis. Throughout lectures, the continuity between research and applied intervention will be emphasised and examples examined of modern advances in these areas. 

This module will introduce you to the concept of social divisions and provide you with an in-depth exploration of several key examples relevant to twenty-first century society, incorporating class, gender, race, age, LGBT+, physical and mental health, disabilities and also global divisions. Key moments in the historical, social, cultural and political trajectories of these divisions will be considered, as will key patterns and trends impacting members across a variety of key social institutions; for example the family, education, health, housing, politics, employment and the media. You will also consider whether or not patterned inequalities are necessarily a negative aspect of a functioning society. The module will build from themes related to conflict vs consensus views on society introduced in “Introduction to Sociology” (Level 4), while also introducing several arguments and trends explored in more detail in “Race, Racism and Cultural Identity” (Level 6). This module also highlights other key social divisions that you may choose to make the subject of your third-year Dissertation (Level 6).

This module will introduce you to a range of key sociological theories surrounding crime and deviance, including how these differ from biological or psychological explanations, from Merton’s strain theory to cultural criminology. It will then focus on the media and explore its relationship with crime and deviance, including to what extent the media marginalizes or amplifies sociological explanations over others. This relationship will be investigated across case-studies relating to a range of social forces and social variables, such as crime involving women as victims or perpetrators, moral panics, law-breaking related to civil disobedience or rebellion, eco-crimes and crimes involving digital technology. You will be investigating and critiquing trends and patterns in media portrayals and their potential impacts on public understandings. You will be encouraged to think of this relationship beyond the media coming after finished events and passively reporting them, considering media portrayals of crime as a key part of an unfolding narrative 

This module will enable you to develop an understanding of personality development during the lifespan, self-concept, self-esteem, and temperament. There will be a focus throughout the module on developmental and environmental aspects of learner differences and learning needs. The module encourages critical evaluation of classic and modern approaches to cognitive and social development, the role of policy in learning and education, and the contribution of psychological research to SEN assessment and provision. 

This module will provide you with core knowledge and understanding of approaches to explaining criminal behaviour and its impact upon individuals and society. Moreover, it will give an account of psychological factors that help explain crime at both a general level and in terms of specific offences. It looks at how crime commission, crime detection and crime reduction are influenced by psychological factors. The possible relationships between psychology and crime have generated a significant amount of public interest in recent years (which is manifested in examples such as the proliferation of films, TV programmes and books on issues such as serial murder). This module will explore some of the ways in which psychological perspectives contribute to the day-to-day operation of Criminal Justice and our engagements with both perpetrators and victims of crime. 

TBC

This module will equip you with the tools and knowledge to understand the processes and constraints surrounding the construction of policy, to address the social issues encountered across previous modules. You will also develop an understanding of how policies formulated through local, national and international governance inform the various careers you may progress to.

This module allows you to work on an academic research project or extended essay of your own choosing, using appropriate research tools. You will be allocated a supervisor who will advise on choice of topic and the progress of your work. You will be encouraged to use the research project or essay as a summative exercise through which to evaluate your own academic progress during the degree programme. This process will connect you to the applied nature of social science and the occupational experience of researchers. It will also provide you with practical skills in participant recruitment, research ethics and design, project management, data analysis and dissemination.