Home » Psychology

Psychology

Submitted by admin on 14 December 2011 - 3.45am
Course Overview

Type of Course and Awarding Body 

A Level - AQA

AS and A2

Level 

Level Three

What's it all about? 

What are the differences between males and females? Is there a connection between your personality and the types of art you like? What makes one person become a pillar of society and the other not 'give a fig' for the rules? Psychology is the key to unlocking these and other fascinating issues that result from people's behaviours, motivations, thinking, emotional experiences and more. Come and explore with us because we're sure you'll will find psychology useful, exciting and challenging.

Progression 

Successful completion of the AS part will give you the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to progress onto the A2 part of the A level.

An A Level in Psychology is useful for students wishing to pursue a wide range of careers including teaching, counselling and other health professions, human resources, business, prison services, and of course the professional academic route such as clinical and educational psychology. An A Level Psychology attracts UCAS points for those wishing to enter higher education.

Entry Requirements 

In our experience in order to be successful on this level of course you will need one of the following:

  • four to five* GCSEs at grades A*-C (including English and maths (B desirable) and CC in double science)
  • an intermediate GNVQ in a related subject
  • a BTEC first diploma in a related subject
  • an NVQ level 2 / technical certificate in a related subject
  • successful completion of an apprenticeship programme
  • successful completion of the Gateway / Newstart programme
  • equivalent qualifications or relevant work experience.

* A level candidates will be expected to have five GCSEs

Duration 

One year

Are there any exams? 

AS Unit 1 is assessed by a written exam that will last for one hour 30 minutes and accounts for 25% of the AS marks.

AS Unit 2 is also assessed by a written exam that will last for one hour 30 minutes which also accounts for 25% of the AS marks. These account for 50% of the total A level marks.

A2 unit 3 is assessed by a written exam that lasts one hour 30 minutes and accounts for 25% of the A2 marks.

A2 unit 4 is also assessed by a written exam of two hours and also counts for 25% of the A2 marks.

Course Content

What does the course involve? 

The Psychology A level follows the AQA syllabus and aims to develop an enthusiasm for psychology and an understanding of psychological theories, concepts and principles. The course will also develop your critical and analytical skills and is an appropriate and relevant foundation of knowledge and skills for the study of psychology in higher education.

 

The AS year comprises three units ...

Unit 1 (Key Approaches, Research Methods & Gender)

  • The main approaches in psychology: biological, psychodynamic, behaviourist, humanistic, cognitive and bio- psychological.
  • Exploring how each of these historic viewpoints explains the different facets of human behaviour.
  • How psychology is researched and analysed as a scientific discipline using statistical methods.
  • Exploring ethics in psychology and its impact on types of research.
  • Exploring how gender identity develops and what same and cross-cultural research tells us about differences in gender roles.

Unit 2 (Social Influence, Memory and Theories of Forgetting, and Anxiety)

  • How conformity, compliance and obedience can affect people's decision making and may lead to examples of extreme behaviour.
  • How models of memory explain the differences between short-term and long-term memory and their functions.
  • How and why we forget things and how we can learn NOT to.
  • Exploring the origins of phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder and treatments available.

The A2 year comprises of two units ...

Unit 3 (Child Development and Applied Options)

  • Explore how moral devolopment occurs in children.
  • The causes, symptoms and treatments of Schizophrenia and substance abuse.

Unit 4 (Approaches, Debates and methods in Psychology)

  • How the main approaches and debates in psychology contribute to our understanding of areas in psychology.
  • How psychology is researched and analysed using advanced as a scientific discipline using advanced statistical methods.

When can I study? 

Various days and times
Course Facts

September

Full-time

Goschen Centre

Please contact info@cityplym.ac.uk or phone reception on 01752 305300 for details

Advanced

ASFT


Certain "part-time" courses may become "full-time" courses if additional courses are taken.

If you are aged 16-18, due to Government funding, tuition fees may not be applicable for your course (Please note: this does not apply to foundation degrees or access to higher education courses, and other courses not eligible for public funding).

Please note that fees quoted apply to courses starting in the academic year 2011 / 12 (August 2011 - July 2012). There may be a slight increase in fees for courses starting 2012 / 13.

September

Part-time

Kings Road Centre

Please contact info@cityplym.ac.uk or phone reception on 01752 305300 for details

Please contact info@cityplym.ac.uk or phone reception on 01752 305300 for details.

Please contact info@cityplym.ac.uk or phone reception on 01752 305300 for details

Advanced

ASPT


Certain "part-time" courses may become "full-time" courses if additional courses are taken.

If you are aged 16-18, due to Government funding, tuition fees may not be applicable for your course (Please note: this does not apply to foundation degrees or access to higher education courses, and other courses not eligible for public funding).

Please note that fees quoted apply to courses starting in the academic year 2011 / 12 (August 2011 - July 2012). There may be a slight increase in fees for courses starting 2012 / 13.

Click here to request an application form be sent to you through the post or download a printable copy.

Case Studies

Psychology student

More

right content