Undergraduate study

• Teaching by research active subject specialists
• Accreditation by the British Psychological Society
• Combination with a range of science and non-science subjects
• Relevance to a wide range of different career paths
• Individually supervised final-year projects
• The possibility of taking part in exchange programmes in the USA and Canada in the Study Abroad programme
• Integrated small group seminars that encourage student participation
• A supportive system of pastoral care
• A range of different assessment procedures used

Psychology is a large and varied discipline concerned with the systematic study of mind and behaviour. The subject is an exciting one to study and provides a useful background for many different types of career. 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

Anyone who is interested in understanding more about human behaviour and in acquiring the skills of scientific research can profitably read Psychology at Keele. The course teaches a range of psychological skills that are transferable to other areas of study and to the world of employment.

Outcomes

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

• 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 evaluation 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 modules will be 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 upon 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 upon 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 the usean introduction to research methods in neuropsychology and psychobiology.

Third year

Three modules are taken:

Special Option: you will choose one module to study in depth (from an array of about 12 choices). Whilst 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
Health Psychology
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 students in 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 that runs over both semesters of the final year.

Major route only

In addition, in their third year, students majoring in 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.

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 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.

Dual Honours course can be combined with: 

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

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 time during which they develop their appreciation of psychological research and learn about the research conducted within the School.

In the third year there are no practical classes but students draw on their knowledge of methodology by completing a research dissertation. 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 study of psychology are transferable across disciplines and into the world of work. These include 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 course 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 Psychology at postgraduate level and to pursue professional training courses in an applied setting.

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