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Course overview
A successful Psychology student has an appetite for understanding how scientific principles can be applied to human behaviour. If you're interested in people and inquisitive about their behaviour, this is the subject for you.Studying Psychology provides an excellent general qualification for many careers. You will be able to use it to progress to Higher Education. Universities recognise the research skills and the understanding of human behaviour that a psychology qualification brings. Psychology forms a part of a large number of degree courses including social work, teaching, criminal justice, business studies, medicine and many more.
What else do I need to know?
The course includes a wide variety of learning experiences such as lectures, one to one tutorials, practical work, group work, discussions/debates and personal research when preparing for assessment. Also, as part of your course in Psychology you will be offered the chance to go on several educational visits including a trip to New York, which includes many new cultural experiences including a tour of the United Nations. There is also an overnight visit to London and a trip to Alton Towers where you get to conduct a piece of research.Find yourself reaching higher on our Honours Programme.
Step up to a top university or move into a competitive programme like Medicine or Law with our Honours Programme. Perfect for ambitious and high-achieving students.
The Honours Programme is an additional pathway for students whose aspirations are to progress onto highly competitive courses at top universities, such as those in the Russell Group. Once accepted onto the programme, you’ll be expected to commit extra time every week to this intensive support pathway.
Find out more here
What are the entry requirements?
You will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 5 or above including maths and English Language, in subjects relevant to your A Level or A+ Programme subject choices.
How is it assessed?
Assessment is comprised of three examinations at the end of two years’ study. Progression to year two will be dependant on successful completion of the first year taking into account Internal Progression Examination results and the Key Assessment Profile throughout the first year.
Paper 1: Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology
You will learn about issues such as why people conform or give in to group pressure. You will also look at why humans obey orders, even those that will inflict harm on others. This unit considers how memory works, why we forget certain things and whether eye witness accounts of crimes can be trusted. Human attachment is also investigated including the reasons why we attach to our parent or caregiver. Lastly you will look at what is abnormal behaviour, what causes it and how is it treated?
Paper 2 : Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology, Research Methods.
In this unit you will learn about different psychologists’ views on human behaviour, their arguments and debates. Biopsychology considers the role our biology plays in influencing our behaviour. You will consider how the brain transmits messages and how we study the brain in a scientific way.
You will also look at the body’s natural biological rhythms and their effect on our lives, and learn how to investigate human behaviour in a scientific way. Half of this paper is research methods e.g., statistics & experimental designs.
Paper 3 : Gender, Schizophrenia, Forensic Psychology, Issues and Debates
In gender, you will consider why people develop gender disorders. You will consider the symptoms and types of schizophrenia, its cause and possible treatments. In forensic psychology you will consider different approaches to offender profiling and offender behaviour including theories as to how to deal with offender behaviour. Issues and debates are also considered, for example, is our gender biologically created or environmentally made.
Paper 1: Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology
You will learn about issues such as why people conform or give in to group pressure. You will also look at why humans obey orders, even those that will inflict harm on others. This unit considers how memory works, why we forget certain things and whether eye witness accounts of crimes can be trusted. Human attachment is also investigated including the reasons why we attach to our parent or caregiver. Lastly you will look at what is abnormal behaviour, what causes it and how is it treated?
Paper 2 : Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology, Research Methods.
In this unit you will learn about different psychologists’ views on human behaviour, their arguments and debates. Biopsychology considers the role our biology plays in influencing our behaviour. You will consider how the brain transmits messages and how we study the brain in a scientific way.
You will also look at the body’s natural biological rhythms and their effect on our lives, and learn how to investigate human behaviour in a scientific way. Half of this paper is research methods e.g., statistics & experimental designs.
Paper 3 : Gender, Schizophrenia, Forensic Psychology, Issues and Debates
In gender, you will consider why people develop gender disorders. You will consider the symptoms and types of schizophrenia, its cause and possible treatments. In forensic psychology you will consider different approaches to offender profiling and offender behaviour including theories as to how to deal with offender behaviour. Issues and debates are also considered, for example, is our gender biologically created or environmentally made.
What financial support is on offer?
This course is free for anyone aged 16 – 18. If you are outside this age group please contact 01782 254188.
College Maintenance Allowance (CMA): Anyone with a household income under £23,000 can receive up to £20 per week financial support to help pay for travel and meals and meet the costs of essential trips, books, stationery and equipment. The payments will be subject to full attendance on your course. A range of other financial support is available, depending on your personal circumstances. For more details visit www.nscg.ac.uk/finance
College Maintenance Allowance (CMA): Anyone with a household income under £23,000 can receive up to £20 per week financial support to help pay for travel and meals and meet the costs of essential trips, books, stationery and equipment. The payments will be subject to full attendance on your course. A range of other financial support is available, depending on your personal circumstances. For more details visit www.nscg.ac.uk/finance
What can I do next?
When you have gained your A Level in Psychology you can use it to progress into Higher Education. There are a wide range of undergraduate degrees available in Psychology both locally and further afield. Both Staffordshire and Keele University offer lots of different psychology degree courses. It can also be combined with many other subjects, for example Criminology and Health. The sorts of jobs psychology graduates go on to do are wide ranging including teaching, social work, work within the National Health Service, counselling and many more.
How do I find out more?
If you wish to find out more you can contact Cassie McClelland, Head of Psychology, by emailing: cassie.mcclelland@nscg.ac.uk
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