Bachelor of Science (BSc)

BSc Psychology

Academic psychology is a broad discipline that explores every aspect of behaviour, from the 'hidden' biology to everyday social phenomena.
  • Duration: 3 years (4 years with Study Abroad/Placement Year)
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: C800 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Industrial experience
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course unit details:
Foundations of Health Psychology

Course unit fact file
Unit code PSYC11512
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 4
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Topics covered will include:  

  • the concept of health
  • the biomedical and biopsychosocial approaches to health  
  • the influence of stress on health  
  • the social cognition approach to predicting and changing health behaviour  

This unit will also provide students with an illustration of the ways in which a strong research basis is critical in this area, and ii. a critical evaluation of basic theoretical and methodological issues. 

Aims

This unit aims to:  

  • offer a transformative educational experience in health psychology guided by world class experts
  • provide an understanding of historical and contemporary theories in health psychology and challenge students to use their knowledge to tackle health-related real-world problems.
  • foster ethically minded, socially responsible graduates and support them in gaining volunteering and work experience to contribute to health benefits.
  • deliver education on foundations of health psychology using a variety of methods and technologies to encourage students to become independent, active and self-directed learners 

Teaching and learning methods

This unit is taught via lectures and seminars.  

Supplementary reading and resources via Canvas 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Understand the principal approaches to understanding health from a psychological perspective.  
  • Integrate findings from different fields of research to understand health.
  • Understand and describe, from theoretical and methodological perspectives, key psychological models that have been used to understand health and health behaviour.  
  • Apply multiple perspectives to health issues, recognising that psychology as applied to health involves a range of research methods, theories, and evidence.
  • Summarise the evidence base for findings from the main approaches to health psychology.  

Intellectual skills

  • Appreciate the historical and conceptual roots of health psychology, recognising the importance of the subjective nature of experience.  
  • Appreciate the contributions psychology research has made to health.  
  • Apply knowledge to real world cases in the field of health psychology.  
  • Apply scientific reasoning and evidence-based analysis to evaluate health psychology theories, research, ethical issues, and arguments.  
  • Understand the process of theory development, and construct operationalise and critically evaluate research questions and methodologies in health psychology.  
  • Understand and articulate the limitations of social cognition models in understanding health behaviour.  
  • Employ, interrelate and systematically analyse different perspectives, methods, and theories to solve a broad range of health issues.   

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Work in groups
  • Communicate effectively, presenting concise and persuasive arguments  

Assessment methods

Assessment Task

Length

How and when feedback is provided

Weighting within unit (if relevant)

Essay

1500 words

Students will receive individual feedback on their work 20 working days after the final assessment deadline.

100%

Feedback methods

Students will receive verbal feedback on their essay plans in a dedicated face-to-face seminar as well as a grade and written feedback on their final coursework essay. 

Recommended reading

Abraham, C., Conner, M., Jones, F., O'Connor, D. (2016). Health Psychology. Taylor and Francis. 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 10
Seminars 4
Independent study hours
Independent study 86

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Christopher Armitage Unit coordinator

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