School of Psychology

Programme summary for BSc (Hons) Critical Psychology

About the programme

This is the first British Psychological Society (BPS)-accredited BSc Critical Psychology programme in the UK and draws on the nationally renowned UEL Critical Psychology Research Group. Central to critical psychology is an emphasis on social justice and human welfare, both at the level of the individual and at the level of society. As these topics are introduced, so is an analysis of the ways in which such knowledge is produced, and the implications this has both ideologically and politically. This degree offers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS.

2-subject degrees

It is not possible to combine this programme with another subject as part of a 2-subject degree.

Programme structure

BSc (Hons) Critical Psychology is a three-year full-time programme or normally a minimum of four and a half years part-time, though this can often be reduced to four years, depending on previous qualifications and experience.

There are two semesters in each year of study, and in each semester a full-time student would usually study and be assessed in three modules. Each module carries a 20-credit value. At Level 3, however, there is a double, 40-credit research project module, which runs for the entire year.

To be awarded an honours degree in critical psychology, a student would have completed (or been given prior accreditation in up to two-thirds of) a total of 18 modules, with a value of 360 credits. This would comprise 120 credits at Level 1, 120 at level 2 and 120 at Level 3. The research project Level 3 module must be passed in order to achieve an Honours degree.

A student studying part time would progress at a slower pace. Up to two modules per semester may be followed and assessed in the part time mode.

Career opportunities

As well as providing a route into professional psychology, a degree in this field is relevant to many other careers. For example: social welfare, sport and leisure, education, human resource management, consumer research and advertising, media, market research and community work.

Support

Students joining the programme are offered an induction programme in the week before classes begin. Returning students also receive induction to the next level or year of their programme.

All students are allocated a personal and academic tutor. Additional help is available from year group tutors, the programme leader and leaders of individual modules. The School of Psychology has a well-established mentoring scheme in which volunteers from the second and third years of the programme act as mentors to the first year students.

First year students are supported by a programme designed to help them develop study skills, covering IT skills, library use, report and essay writing, the ethics of study and research, and working in groups. Research Methodology teaching is supplemented by on-line interactive programme materials & discussion groups.

Final year project supervisors also provide personal support and help with career choice, job applications and preparation of CVs.

Students can take advantage of the flexibility of our provision (full-time/part-time, and for core modules day or evening teaching), to adjust their mode of study to suit changes in their financial, occupational or family responsibilities.

Specialist support (for example, for financial advice, careers advice, counselling and learning support) is also available from central University services. The University has a student special needs advisor.

Admission

For admission to the BSc Critical Psychology programmes candidates normally need:

• 240 UCAS tariff points, with at least 140 points obtained from A2 qualifications or new GNVQ equivalent;
• We also accept people with Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-University level qualifications including International and European Baccalaureate
• We also accept those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications.
• Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes
• In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.
• International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.

For further information or clarification, please contact the Psychology Field Administration Team at psychology@uel.ac.uk or telephone 020 8223 4609

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