Applied Psychology - BSc (Hons)

What modules will I study?

• Year 1 - Semester 1

  Title: Applied Psychology

  Credits: 10

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  This module examines a range of perspectives in psychology and considers the extent to which they are compatible, as well as the areas of contestation between the approaches.  In psychology labs, students will examine the perspectives and practise using experimental, observational and research approaches.

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  Title: Personal Development

  Credits: 5

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  The aim of this module is to provide learners with the materials, environment, and opportunities necessary to gain a deeper understanding interpersonal relationships especially in the context of self, family, workplace, community, and society. Weekly experiential group work labs sessions take place in specifically designed personal development laboratories.

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  Title: Psychology and Society

  Credits: 10

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  This module will allow students to explore the person in the social world and examine the intersection between identity and society. Topics such as socialisation, race, gender, sexual orientation, dis/ability and social expectations will be explored in relation to how they impact on individual identities and lives. Students will focus on the importance of context for understanding human thinking and functioning.

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  Title: Research Methods

  Credits: 5

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  This module will prepare students for their study of psychology. Using material from the other modules taught this semester it will provide a grounding in referencing, note-taking, literature reviewing, essay writing, reporting and data collection and analysis.

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• Year 1 - Semester 2

  Title: Criminal Psychology

  Credits: 10

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  This module examines elements of the interface between psychology and crime. This involves psychological examination and explanation of the causes and motivation for criminal behaviour including the relationship to mental state, the societal response to crime the courts and law enforcement and psychology within the criminal justice system, and crime prevention including rehabilitation and restorative justice.

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  Title: Psychology and Activism

  Credits: 10

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  This module will examine the psychology of social change through the lens of activism and political lobbying. Theories of influence and social change will be examined. Practical and applied skills of advocacy and activism for shifting attitudes and initiating social change in the social justice space will be explored.

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  Title: Psychology and Family

  Credits: 5

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  This personal development module enables learners, through the process and practice of experiential group work in Personal Development laboratories to gain a deeper understanding of the theories underpinning the concepts and types of family, explain the influences of culture, race, social class and gender on family systems and understand the connection between our personal experience of family as that of dealing with family issues in a professional capacity

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  Title: Research Skills

  Credits: 5

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  This module builds the work done in semester 1 and teaches students about simple research techniques and experimental design as well as qualitative approaches to data collection.

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• Year 2 - Semester 3

  Title: Functional Behaviour

  Credits: 5

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  This module provides students with an understanding of the fundamental principles and methods of behavioural and radical behavioural psychology. Learning and behaviour change are examined through concepts such as reinforcement, antecedents, motivating operations, and stimulus control.

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  Title: Mental Health & Wellbeing

  Credits: 5

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  The aim of this module is to provide learners with an understanding of the issues underpinning mental ill-health and attaining positive mental health and wellbeing in both personal and professional lives. It outlines the relevant theoretical background towards improving mental health and wellbeing in challenging times and among a diverse population.

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  Title: Psychological Characteristics

  Credits: 5

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  This module aims to give students an insight into the ways in which theory and research on intelligence and personality have developed, from the beginnings of trying to understand identity and development to more recent developments and debates in the area.

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  Title: Psychology & Biology

  Credits: 10

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  This module introduces students to biological psychology, the scientific study of the brain and how it effects behaviour. It will explore the basic structure and function of the brain and its cells and allow students to become familiar with the methodological approaches used in this field.

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  Title: Psychometrics

  Credits: 5

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  This module allows students to gain practical experience in assembling, administering and analysing psychometric instruments. Students will learn to understand the validation process for psychometric scales and the ways in which these can be assembled to test various hypotheses.

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• Year 2 - Semester 4

  Title: Cognitive Psychology

  Credits: 10

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  This module provides an overview of psychological theories and research in perception and higher-order cognitive processes within the field of Cognitive Psychology. It will involve the student engaging in some experimental methods in cognitive psychology and writing a lab report to demonstrate their work. 

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  Title: Developmental Psychology

  Credits: 5

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  This module examines development across the lifespan in relation to biological, cognitive and social development. It will present a critical view of the main theories of development and examine how these relate to more recent theoretical developments.

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  Title: Experimental Research

  Credits: 5

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  In this unit, students further develop their understanding of experimental research methods used in cognitive and experimental psychology, as well as learning about survey design. This unit discusses the most common experimental designs in psychology, and associated statistical techniques including t-tests, ANOVA, and non-parametric tests. Students will get experience performing these tests with a statistical package.

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  Title: Loss & Grief

  Credits: 5

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  This module provides opportunities for a continuing exploration of the self as an individual and as an emerging psychology professional, with a focus on the use of self when engaging with others. In addition to personal reflection skills and creative group activities, this module in the Personal Development for psychology stream will focus on experiences of loss. bereavement and grief across the life course, including childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

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  Title: Social Psychology

  Credits: 5

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  This module will allow students to investigate human behaviour in a social and cultural context. It will provide an overview of psychological theories and research in the field of social psychology. Students will be introduced to topics relating to the person in the social world at a personal, interpersonal, group and societal level and examine the ways in which the individual and the social are interrelated and mutually influenced.

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• Year 3 - Semester 5

  Title: Applied Skills in Practice

  Credits: 5

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  This module prepares students for an integral part of all academic programmes of the University, the work experience module.  Students will learn to assess their skills, identify appropriate placements, prepare CVs and covering letters and interview skills.  The placement can either be in Ireland or abroad. 

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  Title: Electives in Counselling, Sport & Health, or Forensic & Criminal Psychology

  Credits: 10

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  The counselling module introduces students to the theory, knowledge and methodology in the professional practice of counselling psychology. The module focuses on theoretical and empirical knowledge in the history and philosophy of psychological interventions and develops practical interviewing and counselling skills.

  The sport psychology module will examine some of the most important aspects of Sport and Exercise Psychology and their impact on Sports performance, as well as Exercise adoption and adherence

  The forensic and criminal module will engage students in key topics in Forensic Psychology which will include the development of offending, the rehabilitation of offenders, eyewitness testimonies, criminal statistics, and the public response to crime.

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  Title: Psychology Group Work

  Credits: 5

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  This module affords the learner the opportunity to further enhance and develop their group facilitation skills and techniques. Building on learning from previous Personal Development modules, the learner obtains experience in facilitating support and psychoeducational groups under supervision.

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  Title: Qualitative Methods

  Credits: 10

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  This module will allow students to develop a clear understanding of some qualitative methods used in psychology. Focusing primarily on phenomenology and discursive psychology the module will examine the underlying ontological and epistemological assumptions of the approaches and the reasons for the critique of positivist inspired methodologies arising from the 'crisis in social psychology' of the 1980s. Students will learn, through practical application, about the need for rigour and warranting of claims in data led methods.

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• Year 3 - Semester 6

  Title: Work Experience or Study Abroad

  Credits: 5

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  This Work Placement/Study Abroad provides students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout their course of study up to this point in a new and relevant experiential setting either at home or abroad. This is achieved whilst facilitating the development of the practical life-skill competencies and communication skills necessary to function as an effective member of the work environment and wider society. The module will be delivered alongside an online personal development module with weekly groups.

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  Title: Applied Personal Development

  Credits: 5

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  This module builds on the foundational work of understanding self and others through personal development, with a focus on individual and peer group support for the psychology student while on work experience. It is intended to provide a space of emotional support and exploration for the psychology student while on work experience in Ireland or internationally. The module will emphasise personal reflection and accessing supports as needed while working as a psychology student in a variety of professional settings.

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• Year 4 - Semester 7

  Title: Advanced Developmental Psychology

  Credits: 5

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  This module will provide students with an opportunity to critically analyse research in developmental psychology which examines cognitive, interpersonal and social influences on the developing person. It will examine a range of ways of collecting data on development across the lifespan in Ireland and critically evaluate a range of studies using a variety of research methods.

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  Title: Advanced Psychometrics

  Credits: 5

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  This module focuses in-depth on the current and historical understanding of personality and individual differences. It will review the main theories of personality and use contemporary empirical evidence to explore the complex relationship between personality and behaviour.

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  Title: Advanced Social Psychology

  Credits: 10

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  This module will allow students to critically evaluate a range of social psychological research and examine research from a range of methodological approaches as they relate to individuals, groups and social issues. The module will present key seminal studies and more recent developments from a range of perspectives and methodological approaches under each of these three headings and consider the implications for social psychology of diversity of approach and understanding.

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  Title: Individual differences

  Credits:

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  In the final year of the programme students will study neuropsychology, and advanced topics in social, developmental and cognitive psychology.  They will continue to improve their research skills and  will produce a final year thesis.

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  Title: Research Theory

  Credits: 5

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  The main aim of this module is to explore and critically evaluate the range of research methodologies that are available in both qualitative and quantitative research. Students are also made aware of the theoretical approaches underlying research and applied issues in real world research. The course also aims to provide students with some of the skills required to conduct, consume, and critically evaluate research. A major focus is designing quantitative and qualitative research, as well as project planning and ethics.

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  Title: Research Thesis (Full Year)

  Credits: 10

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  The process of preparing and writing a dissertation for the capstone research provides the student with the opportunity to pursue in depth a topic of his or her own choice. It should allow them to apply and develop research skills acquired during the BSc Psychology Honours programme and to demonstrate a reflective understanding of the research endeavour through their own work. This module will also focus on ethics, data collection, data analysis, writing for publication and presenting at conferences.

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• Year 4 - Semester 8

  Title: Neuropsychology

  Credits: 10

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  This module will introduce students to the principles and methods of Neuroscience and Cognitive Neuropsychology. Lectures will cover current research in cognitive neuroscience such as brain mapping, plasticity, learning and memory. The module will also provide in-depth knowledge of the advances that have been made in behavioural genetics during recent years with the growing evidence for the role of genes in shaping our behaviour. Students will examine the role of environment in behaviour and gene. Topics exploring typical and atypical neuropsychology will be introduced and developed across the module.

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  Title: Advanced Cognitive Psychology

  Credits: 10

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  This module is designed to develop students' understanding of cognitive and social psychology, building on their earlier Cognitive and Social Psychology modules in the programme. The module develops a broader and more detailed understanding of cognitive processes such as attention, perception and memory and explores how these processes underpin social processing.

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