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

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Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £32,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

A small number of scholarships may be available.

Course unit details:
Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology

Course unit fact file
Unit code PSYC21151
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 5
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The course unit focuses on the historical development of psychology as a science and the way in which earlier philosophical ideas were transformed within the context of psychology, leading to the different approaches to psychology that can be discerned throughout its history. It will also deal with the philosophy of science and consider how science develops over time, the extent to which one can define a scientific method, and the extent to which psychology exemplifies the characteristics of scientific method. Finally, it will deal with the development of philosophical ideas about the mind that later fed into psychology.

Aims

The unit aims to:

  • Provide a comprehensive introduction to the history of psychology.
  • Illustrate the way in which different approaches to psychology rest on different philosophical presuppositions.
  • Provide an introduction to the philosophy of science and show how it relates to psychology.

Teaching and learning methods

Online Q&A8 hrs
Lecture22 hrs
Independent Study70 hrs

Knowledge and understanding

  • Relate different methods of investigation to general theories of scientific method
  • Describe the historical and conceptual development of psychology
  • Express the philosophical presuppositions that underlie different approaches to psychology
  • Distinguish the various schools of thought in the philosophy of science and the different ways in which they think about scientific method
  • Describe theories in their broad theoretical and historical frameworks

Intellectual skills

  • Appraise different approaches in psychology in relation to fundamental ideas about the nature of mind and science
  • Evaluate complex ideas and theories in relation to evidence and argument

Demonstrate their skills in:

  • Synthesising information
  • Summarising theories and evidence
  • Critical thinking
  • Presenting concise and persuasive arguments

Practical skills

  • Use the library and electronic sources to support academic reading

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Discuss empirical finding and historical, theoretical and philosophical underpinnings with others

Assessment methods

Assessment task

Length

How and when feedback is provided

Weighting within unit (if relevant)

Essay

3 pages

Students will receive a grade and written feedback, 20 working days after the final submission deadline

100%

Feedback methods

Feedback will be provided via grades on Blackboard and individual/cohort level feedback

Recommended reading

Brysbaert, M. & Rastle, K.. (2021). Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology. Pearson. ISBN: 9781292130255

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Work based learning 8
Independent study hours
Independent study 70

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Johan Hulleman Unit coordinator

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