Psychology

Course summary

Psychology is the study of the relationship between behaviour, performance and mental processes. Applied psychology is the application of this knowledge in order to understand events, treat mental health issues, improve sporting performance and understand how children develop and how to treat criminals. There is a wide range of possible employment opportunities following further study at degree level. Everyone taking this qualification will study three mandatory units, covering the following content areas: •Applications of psychological approaches • Conducting psychological research • Health psychology. The mandatory content allows you to concentrate on the development of your knowledge and understanding of psychology, as well as the application of skills that are important in psychology, over an extended period. You will choose one optional unit, which has been designed to support progression to more specialist applied psychology courses in higher education and to link with relevant occupational areas, such as: •Criminal and forensic psychology • Principles of children’s psychological development • Psychopathology and treatment •Applied sports psychology. This will allow you to choose a specific specialist area in which you wish to develop your knowledge and skills.