Psychology

Back

What will I study?

AS

Unit 1:

Cognitive Psychology - Memory, Developmental Psychology, Early Social Development, Research Methods

Unit 2:

Biological Psychology - Stress, Social Psychology, Social Influence, Individual Difference of Psychopathology.

A2

Unit 3:

Topics in Psychology - Three from Biological rhythms and sleep, Perception, Aggression, Relationships, Eating behaviour, Gender, Intelligence and learning, Cognition and development.

Unit 4:

Section A: Psychopathology - One from schizophrenia, depression, phobic disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder.
Section B: Psychology in action - One from media psychology, the psychology of addictive behaviour, anomalistic psychology
Section C: Psychological Research and Scientific Method - extend knowledge, understanding and skills of research design, data analysis, and data interpretation and reporting gained at AS. Develop an understanding of the nature of science and scientific method.

How will I be assessed?

This qualification is 100% examined. Each of the four units is worth 25% of the final A Level Grade. Modules will be sat in the January and June of years 12 and 13.

What can this subject lead to?

The subject can lead to many career options in settings such as:

Hospitals, clinics, and health centres - assessing and treating children and adults with mental health problems
Business and industry - testing potential employees, assessing employee satisfaction, running leadership courses, offering stress management strategies, assisting with equipment and workplace environment design to maximise efficiency and productivity
School - testing abilities, identifying problems, consulting with parents, designing and implementing programmes to improve achievement
Prisons and similar institutions - devising rehabilitation schedules, profiling criminals and criminal behaviour
The armed forces and civilian forces, assessing and devising training schedules

These are just a few, there are many more options.

Entry requirements

It is not necessary for prospective students to have studied GCSE Psychology, nor to have any prior knowledge of Psychology. However, it is desirable that students have achieved at least Grade B in GCSE Mathematics, Science and English.