Psychology of Child Development

Research underpins everything that you will learn on your degree. Developing an understanding of how to design, analyse and interpret research studies will provide you with the core skills needed throughout your course. You will learn to undertake research in a range of different areas and how to convey these findings to a range of different audiences.

Developmental psychology considers the psychology of life span providing you with an understanding of how we learn language, develop attachments and the impact of ageing upon our behaviours. You will learn about the way in which our behaviours and actions are shaped by the groups we identify with and how as individuals our attitudes develop, alongside other core areas of social psychology.

Cognition concentrates on mental processes such as memory, thinking and language. Your physiological systems underpin all of these behaviours. Psychobiology gives you an understanding of the interaction between your biology and behaviour. Together these two approaches allow you to understand a range of processes including memory, attention and perception.

The module introduces you to the ethical practice of psychology, and starts the process of planning your career either as a psychologist, or in another role where you will apply the knowledge and skills you develop from your psychology degree to a different domain.

Psychology is a fast developing subject area that can be applied to all aspects of human behaviour. Familiarising yourself with a range of exciting new areas and developing an understanding the research conducted within the School, allows you to determine the applied areas of psychology that you might choose to specialise in during the remaining years of your degree.

This module will introduce you to a variety of statistical and research techniques in both academic and commercial settings. You will have the opportunity to apply these techniques within a practical setting.

This module explores social psychology and developmental psychology. You will look into a range of topics to develop your understanding and knowledge of social psychology such as attribution, social cognition and aggression and developmental psychology such as language development, attachment and Theory of Mind.

This module will allow you to demonstrate an understanding of a number of fundamental issues in human cognition, ranging from visual perceptual processes to problem solving and reasoning. You will also be provided with an understanding of key areas within physiological psychology.

Establish the skills to carry out, and write up, your own independent empirical studies using qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.

This module aims to complement the Developmental Psychology aspects of other modules and to develop your knowledge of the subject by providing deeper and more detailed coverage of about four key topic areas where normative neurocognitive development can be contrasted with developmental disorders. The four key topics explored in this module are neurodevelopment, physical dysfunctions, language development & disorders and current theories of cognitive development.

You'll develop your knowledge and engagement with clinical and health psychology, and its application to areas of psychological and somatic health. You'll learn all about the therapeutic process, from developing a theoretically driven biopsychosocial formulation to informing a therapeutic strategy.

The aim of this module is to provide you with a comprehensive introduction to a number of areas of crime and the criminal justice system that psychologists have addressed and sought to understand. Topics covered may include, eye-witness testimony, expert witnesses, domestic and honour based violence, crime detection and treatment and a range of other areas. 

This module highlights the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to the understanding of brain function and behaviour, with particular emphasis on covering some of the important topics and techniques involved in Biopsychology. The module also provides a historical context in which to consider current brain research methods. 

The module covers a number of topic areas chosen both for their importance in educational practice and to reflect the application of psychological research to the area of education. The module will pay particular attention to assessment issues in educational psychology and will look at the role of an Educational Psychologist.

This module will give you a detailed understanding of the major developmental disorders and how psychologists help those that are suffering from them. You will also learn the social and emotional aspects of psychopathology.

You will examine psychological theories of topics such as personality, intelligence, emotion, motivation and the self. This is achieved within a framework of discussion of concepts and debates within psychology. There is also a focus on the application of theories to individual differences and the ethical concerns which these can raise.

You'll conduct an empirical investigation under the supervision of a member of staff. You'll apply your knowledge of research design, statistical analysis and report writing. The topic may be in any area of Developmental Psychology of interest to you.

You'll learn about the development of forensic psychology. The module aims to increase understanding of the origins of offending behaviour and the assessment and treatment of offenders. You'll also study current issues specific to violent and sexual offenders.

The aim of this module is to develop your critical understanding of topics relating to the impact and consequences of crime from both social psychological and forensic perspectives. You will explore content on how impacts and consequences relate to both individual both victims and society in general.

The module examines individuals with brain damage or those suffering from brain dysfunction or trauma from a neuropsychological and cognitive perspective. The module covers the use of techniques, such as neuroimaging, in developing the understanding of neuropsychological disorders.

The module introduces the field of psychopharmacology with a particular emphasis on examining "abused" drugs. You'll also study chemical treatments used for psychiatric disorders. The module approaches these topics from historical, physiological, neurochemical, and psychological perspectives.

This module provides a short placement opportunity for you to apply your psychological knowledge in a workplace setting. This allows you to build confidence and experience ahead of post-study employment, to learn more about the application of your psychological skills to a new job or to experience new settings in which you might work.

You'll learn about the many different roles of a Clinical and Health Psychologist. You'll explore how they apply skills in different professional arenas. You'll be able to communicate a clear and coherent explanation of the roles of a clinical or health psychologist. You'll also gain professional competence in clinical communication skills.

In this module, you will develop your skills in applying cognitive behavioural theories within clinical and health psychology. You will also develop your problem-solving skills in applying techniques to treatment plans.