Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and experience. Everything you think, feel and do can be researched by psychologists. Psychology is considered a STEM subject and you will cover aspects of Biology and Maths within the course.
In the first year of the programme, you will learn about classic and contemporary research studies in psychology. You will discover aspects includeing: the causes of phobias; why some people have no self-control and how this links to their brain functioning; how we learn to be aggressive by watching others; how we identify autism in adults; what happens if your brain is split down the middle and why do we obey unjust requests from authority figures. You will also learn about a variety of ways to collect and evaluate psychological research.
In the second year, you will learn about issues in mental health and their causes, how mental health conditions are diagnosed, and possible treatments. You will also learn about criminal psychology, including investigating the causes of crime, the collection and processing of forensic evidence and the punishment and prevention of crime.
Lastly, you will learn about child development, such as delving into the adolescent brain, perceptual development in babies, forms of attachment, and gender stereotyping.
You will need 5 GCSEs at grade 9-4, including Maths English. To enrol on the course, you will also need a to achieve a grade 6 in Maths or Science.
| Study level | Cost |
|---|---|
| 16-18 | Free |
You will learn how psychologists explain human behaviour through a wide range of teaching methods. You will take part in lectures and class discussions, as well as carrying out your own research, practical projects, essay writing and data analysis.
You will be assessed throughout your time at college, completing a range of practise exam questions and mock exams. Your formal assessments will consist of three external exams and will take place at the end of the two year course.
On the A-Level Psychology course, you will cover three modules:
- Research Methods - Learning how to carry out and evaluate research in psychology
- Core Studies - Delve into a range of research studies - both classical and contemporary - that will introduce you to a range of approaches and debates in psychology
- Applied Psychology - Consider how three areas of psychology can be useful in the real world. This includes mental mealth, criminal psychology and child development
You could progress to Higher Education, enrolling on a degree course in a range of related subjects, such as psychology, criminology, forensic science or counselling.
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