Psychology with Health and Wellbeing in Society Modules

In the first and second years, the focus is upon providing a good foundation in what the British Psychological Society (BPS) recognises as the core areas of Psychology. All modules in the first and second years are compulsory.

First year

• Block 1: Professional Skills for Psychologists: focuses on important academic and professional skills to help students transition to higher education studies and beyond.
• Block 2: Core Areas and Research Methods 1: provides a concise overview of the core paradigms in psychology, namely biological, cognitive and developmental psychology, while embedding quantitative research methods.
• Block 3: Psychological & Sociological Theories of Health and Illness: aims to introduce students to the sociological and psychological analysis of health, illness, and health care.
• Block 4: Core Areas and Research Methods 2: provides a concise overview of the core paradigms in psychology, namely social, personality and intelligence, and international perspectives, while embedding qualitative research methods.

Second year

• Block 1: Mind, Brain and Behaviour: builds on the core areas of the BPS guidelines to give students in-depth coverage of topics in biological and cognitive psychology. Practical sessions will enable students to develop their knowledge of more advanced research designs and quantitative research skills.
• Block 2: Psychology Across the Lifespan: applies the lifespan perspective to studying human development, emphasising the importance of all developmental stages and the interconnectivity between domains of change.
• Block 3: Application of Social Theories of Health and Illness: critically discusses the way sociological factors contribute to health.
• Block 3: Choose one of the following:
  • Psychology and Mental Health: explores how we define, classify and explain psychological problems.
  • Psychology of Social Problems: applies psychological theory and research to topics that cover current important debates and issues, directly informed by local, national and global priorities such as DMU’s commitment to decolonization and net zero, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Developmental Goals.

• Block 4: Personality and Social Psychology: builds on the core areas of the BPS guidelines to give students in-depth coverage of topics in social psychology and personality and intelligence, and developing a research project on one of these topics.

Third year

• Block 1: Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology: students will learn to contrast perspectives within significant conceptual debates in psychology, which are placed within their historical context.
• Block 1: Employability Skills and Psychology: you will undertake a period of work experience and consider how psychological theory can be applied in a work environment.
• Block 2: Choose one from the following:
  • Counselling Psychology: introduces the basic principles of counselling psychology and practice.
  • Cognitive Neuropsychology: provides an overview of modern cognitive neuropsychological approaches to dysfunction following head injury and how theory is applied to case histories.
  • Wellbeing and Positive Psychology: introduces the scientific study of optimal human functioning within areas such as happiness, wellbeing, personal strengths, positive emotions, optimism, hope and flow.
  • Introduction to Data Science for Psychologists: introduces basic skills in computer programming and computational data processing, which are essential employability skills in data science and related fields.
  • Loss, Grief and Bereavement: Cultural, Social, and Therapeutic Perspectives: enables students to develop understanding of loss, grief and bereavement from theoretical, cultural, social and therapeutic perspectives.
  • Psychology of Addiction: provides students an opportunity aims to critically explore addiction to licit and illicit substances and is theoretically grounded within a neuropsychosocial approach.
  • Psychology of Human Rights, Activism and Social Justice: provides students an opportunity to explore perspectives on  local, regional, national, and transnational activism and protest and resistance; together with related issues such as prejudice, discrimination and stigma.
  • Psychology and Culture: Global Issues and International Perspectives: provides students with up-to-date knowledge about cross-cultural theories and models as they relate to the study of human behaviour to consider how and why behaviour differs across cultures.
• Block 3: Choose one from the following:
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing: provides opportunities to explore and critically evaluate factors which influence mental health and well-being across the life course from the perspective of individuals, groups, communities and society.
  • Health, Technology and Society: considers the range of implications technology has on our daily lives and individuals’ health and wellbeing.
  • Social Exclusion and Health: explores the concept of social exclusion and related topics such as poverty, inequalities in health and social capital.
  • Gender, Health and Healthcare: explores the extent and character of gender differences in health care institutions, ideologies and practices.

• Block 4: Psychology Project: gives you the opportunity to design and conduct an empirical study showing originality and expertise in methodological and data handling techniques.

Our extensive range of final year options allow you to tailor your study to specific career pathways. The range of modules available are subject to change and are dependent on student numbers enrolled and could be withdrawn without prior notice due to limited numbers or staff availability.