Undergraduate study

• A year working in an applied psychology organisation
• Invaluable practical experience of working within an applied psychology setting
• The opportunity to apply psychological knowledge in a practical context
• An opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team
• The possibility of carrying out the final year dissertation in the placement organisation during the final year
• Individual supervision by a member of academic staff and a member of the placement organisation (ideally a professional psychologist)
• Teaching by research active subject specialists
• Combination with a range of science and non-science subjects
• Opportunity to develop generic employability skills such as CV preparation and interview skills
• Relevance to a wide range of career paths both within and outside psychology
• Individually supervised final-year projects
• Integrated small group seminars that encourage student participation
• A supportive system of pastoral care
• A range of different assessment procedures used

The new four-year Dual Honours Applied Psychology programme is an extension of our successful Dual Honours Psychology degree differing only in terms of a placement year sandwiched between the second and final year. Students taking the Applied Psychology programme will spend their third year on a 30-week (minimum) placement, gaining practical experience and developing important employability skills in one of the many areas in which psychologists work.

Applied Psychology is a large and varied discipline concerned with the systematic study of mind and behaviour. The basic premise of Applied Psychology is the use of psychological principles to address problems in a variety of different settings such as mental health, health and education. By its very nature, the Applied Psychology programme is multidisciplinary oriented which is attractive to employers in both psychology and non-psychology careers.

Our students come to the course with both arts and science A-levels, ACCESS, International Baccalaureate and vocational entry qualifications. The School is lively and expansionist, with academic staff providing teaching and research expertise across a range of specialised topics.

The research activity of the School is currently focused on three main areas:

• Social and developmental psychology
• Cognition and neuropsychology
• Applied psychology

Outcomes

On completing the undergraduate degree course in Applied Psychology, graduates will have:

• Demonstrated an advanced understanding of the issues involved in the application of psychological knowledge and skills in a placement agency
• Demonstrated awareness of and ability to use and evaluate psychological literature relevant to the placement agency
• Further developed employability skills such as written and oral presentation, observation, data collection, time management and personal organisation by their application in an applied psychology environment
• Developed initiative, independence, ability to take personal responsibility, and make decisions in complex and unpredictable circumstances
• Demonstrated an ability to critically reflect on the placement experience and consider the strengths and weaknesses of applying a psychological perspective in the placement agency
• Demonstrated enhanced employability skills through the placement and application process (which includes CV preparation and interviews)
• Developed a psychological perspective, or way of thinking, which can be used when confronted with or when analysing social and personal issues. This perspective might be characterised by the adoption of an open-minded but critically-evaluative consideration of the nature of the problem or issue; an emphasis on the importance of scientific and systematic methods of data collection and concept development; and a recognition of the importance of evidence-based argument
• Developed an appreciation of a psychological perspective on the human condition
• Developed a critical understanding of the major ideas, concepts, findings and theories of psychology
• Developed knowledge and skills in the use of the major methodologies used in psychology, including qualitative methodologies
• Planned, executed and reported an independent piece of research
• Developed the ability to interpret critically empirical research studies

First year
Four core modules are taken:

Individuals in Society introduces psychological procedures and methods of enquiry and illustrates them in three different areas: child development, social psychology, and the study of individual differences.

Research Methods 1 introduces the range of research methods used in psychology, and focuses on developing an introductory understanding of data collection and analysis.

Biological and Cognitive Psychology introduces fundamental mechanisms and ideas in psychology by looking at perception, memory, learning and the biological basis of human behaviour.

Research Methods 2 extends the work done in the first module on research perspectives and develops understanding of more advanced techniques of data analysis.

Second year 
Four modules are taken:

Developmental and Social Psychology extends and builds on the material taught in the first year. You will study more detailed and specific accounts of research and theories in developmental and social psychology.

Survey and Qualitative Research Methods extends and builds on the material taught in the first year, particularly in relation to the design and analysis of questionnaires, observational methods and qualitative research methods. Data from interviews, observations, and conversations, lend themselves to qualitative analysis.

Biological Psychology, Perception and Cognition extends and builds on the material taught in the first year. You will gain more detailed knowledge of recent and current issues in biological basis of behaviour, perception and low level cognitive processes.

Cognitive and Biological Research Methods further extends and builds on the material taught in the first year modules on research perspectives and quantitative methods. Topics studied include: factorial experimental designs, analysis of variance, the analysis of interactions and an introduction to research methods in neuropsychology and psychobiology. tests.

Third year
You will undertake a single placement module (minimum 30 weeks) within an agency which will provide an opportunity to apply psychological knowledge in a practical context, to work within a multidisciplinary team, gain invaluable practical experience in an area of professional psychology and develop a range of employability skills which will be relevant to psychology and non-psychology paths.

Fourth year 
Three modules will be taken:

Special Option: you will choose one topic to study in-depth (from an array of about 12 choices). While the choices vary from year to year, recent examples include:

Social Development in Children
Thinking about Knowledge and the Mind
Cognitive Neuropsychology
Disclosure Processes in Children and Adolescents
Research in Music Psychology
Peer Relationships in Childhood and Adolescence
Influences on Human Cognitive Performance
Psychology, Health and Social Action
Behaviour Analysis in Clinical Psychology
Psychology of Time
Human Memory
Recognising and Remembering Words

Individual Differences and Conceptual Issues extends and builds on the material taught in the first year. You will develop an evaluative understanding of theories and research relating to individual differences, conceptual and historical issues in psychology.

Individual Research Dissertation involves independent study, supervised by a member of the teaching staff. You will research an area of interest to you, plan and carry out an investigation, and write it up as a research report, utilising the methods and procedures taught in the earlier research methods modules. This is a ‘double’ module which run over both semesters of the final year.

Fourth Year (Major route only)

In addition, in their fourth year students majoring in applied psychology will take four additional psychology-related modules. Three psychology modules offer one-to-one supervision by a research-active member of psychology staff. These modules will provide students with the opportunity to further specialise in areas of psychology, develop research methods expertise and develop new skills in writing (for publication) and presentation (conference style). Students will also take an elective module selected from psychology or approved subjects.

Dual Honours course can be combined with:

For students who decide to Major in Applied Psychology and Minor in their other subject: Year 3 elective modules can be chosen from the subjects marked *.

Major and Foundation course available:

In the first and second years, modules are usually taught through a combination of three lectures, a practical class, and seminars. The practical classes involve developing skills in the use of experimental methods, survey work and qualitative analysis. Some of these practical classes are written up in the form of individual or group reports.

First- and second-year modules are generally assessed by a combination of coursework and examination, but some modules are wholly assessed by examination. First-year students also engage in research participation Ttme during which they develop their appreciation of psychological research and learn about the research conducted within the School.

During the third year you will keep a reflective diary chronicling your placement experiences. You will also do a presentation on your return in the fourth year and your placement supervisor will write a report.

In the fourth year there are no practical classes but students draw on their knowledge of methodology by completing a research dissertation that runs across both semesters. The other third-year modules are assessed by a combination of examinations and coursework, or by examination only.

Programme specifications (new window)

The unique combination of skills that characterise the Dual Honours Applied Psychology programme are transferable across disciplines and into the world of work. The placement experience will improve students' employability skills such as time management, personal organisation, initiative, independence and your ability to take responsibility. Students will also gain first-hand experience of applying psychological knowledge within an applied setting as well as having the opportunity of developing other generic skills in oral and written communication, the use of IT, numeracy and data analysis, team working, problem-solving, and skills in research methodology. We also intend that our programme will prepare our graduates for, and stimulate their enthusiasm about pursuing continuing educational opportunities following graduation and indeed the course prepares our students to study Applied Psychology at postgraduate level and to pursue professional training courses in an applied setting.

Membership of professional institutions

This programme is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) by the British Psychological Society, which is the first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist. Students should note that to be awarded GBC by the British Psychological Society they must pass their empirical dissertation and overall achieve a minimum standard of qualification of second class Honours.

Keele students who elect to take part in the Study Abroad programme take an extra module in their final year to ensure their eligibility for GBC.

Visit our Careers pages (new window)

All students on the Applied Psychology course get to spend a year out working in the community on a psychology placement such as working in a prison or with a local mental health team.