Social Psychology - BSc (Hons)

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

Teaching and assessment

Modules are taught by weekly lectures, workshops, small group seminars and project supervision. The Psychology Statistics and Practical modules include laboratory practical sessions, statistics classes, computing classes and lectures in statistics and methodology.

Most modules are assessed by examination and coursework in equal measure. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks and, where appropriate, the marks for your year abroad or placement count towards your final degree result. Our assessment methods are varied and will include, but are not limited to, examinations, written assignments and essays, group work and oral presentations.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

• meet the needs of those contemplating a career in the psychological professions, as well as those motivated by an intellectual interest in psychology
• attract candidates from a variety of educational backgrounds
• provide an understanding of the principal perspective in psychology (for example, social, cognitive, and biological)
• introduce students to a range of theoretical and methodological approaches
• enable students to study chosen areas of psychology in depth
• cover the foundations of psychology to provide entry into the British Psychological Society
• provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship and engages with work at the frontiers of knowledge
• enable students to manage their own learning and carry out independent research
• develop critical, analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied within non-applied psychological and extra-psychological settings
• develop skills appropriate for graduate employment, both in the psychology professions and other fields.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

• general psychology
• psychology statistics, practical experimentation and research
• cognitive and social development
• interpersonal and group behaviour
• cognition and cognitive neuropsychology
• personality and individual differences
• philosophical and theoretical issues in psychology
• the relationship between psychology and allied disciplines
• different frameworks in psychology and levels of description and explanation.

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

• critical reflection
• oral discussion
• written analysis and interpretation
• critical evaluation and exposition of ideas
• development of writing and reading skills
• time management and preparation
• self-reflection and development, responding to feedback from different sources (for example staff and peers, information technology)
• clarity in thinking, critical thinking, problem identification.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in:

• conducting an empirical study, under supervision
• the design and conduct of psychological research
• evaluating and selecting frameworks and methodologies for exploring issues in psychology
• using the major analytic techniques employed by psychologists
• employing the inferential method of science (deductive methods, single case methods, semiotics)
• psychological statistical methods and their interpretation
• the use of psychology-oriented software applications (for example, database programmes, experiment generators, statistical packages)
• disseminating psychological information to appropriate bodies.

Transferable skills

You gain transferable skills in:

• communication – how to organise information clearly; respond to written sources; present information orally; adapt style for different audiences; use images as a communication tool
• numeracy – how to make sense of statistical materials; integrate numerical and non-numerical information; understand the limits and potentialities of arguments based on quantitative information
• information technology – how to produce written documents; undertake online research; communicate using email; process information using databases
• working with others – how to define and review the work of others; work co-operatively on group tasks; understand how groups function
• improving own learning – how to explore personal strengths and weaknesses; time management; review your working environment (especially the student-staff relationship); develop specialist learning skills (for example by taking a foreign language); develop autonomy in learning
• problem solving – how to identify and define problems; explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them.

Careers

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have gone on to work in:

• government administration
• social welfare
• the Home Office
• the probation service
• teaching
• special needs work
• NHS and health charities
• social work
• public relations
• marketing
• publishing.

Many continue their studies at postgraduate level to qualify as a:

• clinical psychologist
• educational psychologist
• forensic psychologist
• neuropsychologist
• occupational psychologist.

Help finding a job

The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:

• apply for jobs
• write a good CV
• perform well in interviews.

Work experience

The School of Psychology has valuable links with educational establishments, hospitals and prisons in the area, offering you the possibility of both visits and work placements. We also offer a Research Experience Scheme that gives you a taste of working within a research environment.

Career-enhancing skills

Studying for a degree is not just about mastering your subject area. Employers also look for a range of key transferable skills, which you develop as part of your degree.

These include:

• computing skills
• writing and presentation skills
• analytical and problem-solving skills
• the ability to respond to challenges.

You can also gain extra skills by signing up for our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.

Professional recognition

The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership with Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (provided you graduate with at least second class honours and pass your final-year research project). 

This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist, which is important if you want to work within the NHS or a local education authority.