Bachelor of Science (Psychology)

Program Overview

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Entry Points (2022) 545

Course Overview

Psychology is the study of behaviour and mental processes, and includes individual and social, human and animal, normal and abnormal aspects. The School of Psychology provides modules in all the main aspects of Psychology including Forensic Psychology, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods. The course satisfies the requirements for graduate membership of relevant professional societies (the Psychological Society of Ireland and the British Psychological Society).

Students might consider studying Psychology if they are interested in becoming a professional psychologist, researching Psychology in a research centre, lecturing in Psychology or improving their general education by studying an interesting and useful discipline with careers of a more general type in mind, such as the media, IT or management.

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Psychology at the Virtual Open Day

Read questions and answers from our 'Ask a Lecturer' in Psychology Live Q&A session.

Explore courses and careers in Arts through a video presentation.

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Who Teaches this Course

Program Outline

Course Outline

First-year Psychology is taken with two other subjects selected from the extensive Arts menu. In second year and final year of the BSc in (Psychology) students solely study Psychology courses. Please refer to page 23 to see subjects on offer in first year.

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YEAR ONE

• Cognitive Psychology

• Theories of Personality

• Research Methods & Practical Skills in Psychology

• Social Psychology

• Psychology of Learning

• Developmental Psychology

• Biology and Behaviour

Plus two other subjects are selected from the extensive arts menu.

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YEAR TWO

• Developmental Psychology

• Experimental Psychology

• Qualitative Research Methods

• Biological Psychology

• Psychology of Learning

• Social Psychology

• Theories of Personality

• Perception, Attention and Performance

• Research Methods in Psychology

• Memory and Cognition

• Professional Skills in Psychology

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YEAR THREE

Options include

• Study Abroad

• Work Placement

• Research Placement

• Community Service

• Service Learning

• Elective Psychology Modules

• Modules from other disciplines

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FINAL YEAR

• Applied Behavioural Analysis

• Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology

• Psychological Measurement: Theory and Practice

• Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

• Issues in Cognitive Neuroscience

• Health Psychology

• Forensic, Abnormal and Clinical Psychology

• Research Project

• Relational Frame Theory

• Behavioural Medicine

• Paediatric Clinical Behavioural Interventions

• Neuropsychology

• Positive Psychology

• Human Sexuality

• Various elective modules

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Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).

Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

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Glossary of Terms

Credits

You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.

Module

An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.

Subject

Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.

Optional

A module you may choose to study.

Required

A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).

Required Core Subject

A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.

Semester

Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

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Year 1 (60 Credits)

Optional Subject: Ancient Classics (20 Credits):

Optional

CCS315:

Intermediate Latin 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CCS205:

Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part One)

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CC321:

Latin Texts from Medieval Ireland and Britain

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

CC230:

Beginning Latin Part 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CC1101:

Mythology and the City in Ancient Greece

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CC114:

Written Words & Spoken Languages in the Ancient World

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CC1100:

Classics in 20 Objects

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

CCS316:

Intermediate Latin 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

CCS312:

Advanced Classical and Medieval Latin 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

CCS206:

Ancient Greek for Beginners (Part Two)

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

CC232:

Beginning Latin Part 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

CC1102:

Empire and Literature in Ancient Rome

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Archaeology (20 Credits):

Required

AR113:

Prehistoric Ireland & Europe

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

AR1104:

Material Culture and Museums

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

AR1102:

Recording Monuments in the Landscape

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

AR1105:

Medieval Ireland and Europe

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Classics (20 Credits):

Optional Subject: Economics (20 Credits):

Required

EC1108:

Skills for Economics I

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EC135:

Principles of Microeconomics

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EC1109:

Skills for Economics II

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

EC136:

Principles of Macroeconomics

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: English (20 Credits):

Required

EN124:

Introduction to English 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EN1101:

Literature and the Social World

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EN1106:

Exploring English

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

EN1102:

Exploring English - 1BA and Denominated Programmes

- 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required

EN125:

Introduction to English 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: French (20 Credits):

Required

FR1100:

Introduction to French Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Required

FR1101:

Introduction to French Literature in Context

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Gaeilge (20 Credits):

Required

NG1105:

An Teanga Bheo

- 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required

NG1107:

Scéal agus Pobal na Gaeilge

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

NG1106:

Litríocht agus Cultúr na Linne

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Geography/Tíreolaíocht (20 Credits):

Required

TI150:

Principles of Human Geography

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

TI1100:

Geography in Practice

- 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

TI104:

Elements Of The Geography of Ireland

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

TI151:

Principles of Physical Geography

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: German (Advanced) (20 Credits):

Required

GR1102:

Skills for studying German (Advanced)

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

GR1100:

German Language and Culture (Advanced)

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: German (Beginners) (20 Credits):

Required

GR1103:

Skills for studying German (Beginners)

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

GR1101:

German Language and Culture (Beginners)

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: History (20 Credits):

Required

HISK1101:

Skills for Historians (1)

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

HI1103:

Europe and Ireland 1789 - 1918

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

HI1105:

Europe and Ireland 1789 - 1918 (Remote Learning)

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

HISK1102:

Skills for Historians (2)

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

HI1104:

Europe: From Medieval to Modern

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Information Technology (20 Credits):

Required

CT1100:

Computer Systems

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CT1120:

Algorithms

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CT1101:

Programming I

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CT1102:

Programming II

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Italian (20 Credits):

Required

IT1100:

Italian Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Required

IT1101:

Italy at the movies

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Léann an Aistriúcháin (20 Credits):

Required

LN103:

Gnéithe den Aistriúchán

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

LN105:

Bunscileanna Aistriúcháin

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

LN1103:

Bunscileanna Gramadaí

- 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Léann na Cumarsáide (20 Credits):

Required

CG1101:

Machnamh Criticiúil agus Láithreoireacht

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CG1100:

Scéalaíocht Dhigiteach

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CG1105:

Bunús na hIriseoireachta

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

CG1104:

Na Meáin agus an tSochaí

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Mathematics (20 Credits):

Optional

MA131:

Mathematical Skills

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

MA133:

Analysis and Algebra 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

MA185:

Analysis and Algebra 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

MA135:

Analysis and Algebra 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

MA186:

Analysis and Algebra 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

MA187:

Mathematical Skills

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

MA208:

Quantitative Techniques for Business

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Modern Irish Culture Studies: Literature & Music (20 Credits):

Required

ISSK1100:

Introducing Modern and Contemporary Irish Literature

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

IS1100:

Irish Music and Emigration

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

IS1103:

Introducing Irish Traditional Music & Dance since 1893

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

IS1104:

The Migrant Experience in Modern Irish Writing

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Philosophy (20 Credits):

Required

PISK1100:

Critical Thinking & Persuasive Writing

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

PI108:

Introduction To Practical Ethics

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

PI120:

Philosophical Questions & Issues

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

PI107:

Introduction To The History Of Philosophy

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required Core Subject: Psychology (20 Credits):

Required

PS122:

Introductory Psychology 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

PS1103:

Introduction to Research Methods and Practical Skills in Psychology

- 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional

PS1100:

Critical and Collaborative Thinking

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

PS124:

Introductory Psychology 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional

PS137:

Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Sociological & Political Studies (20 Credits):

Required

SP1120:

Practicing Politics

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

SP1125:

Introduction to Politics

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required

SP1121:

Practicing Sociology

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required

SP1126:

Introduction to Sociology

- 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional Subject: Spanish (Beginners) (20 Credits):

Required

SH1100:

Intensive Beginners Spanish Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Required

SH1102:

Mundo hispano: An Introduction to the Hispanic World

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional Subject: Spanish (Intermediate) (20 Credits):

Required

SH1101:

Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture

- 15 Credits - Semester 1

Required

SH1102:

Mundo hispano: An Introduction to the Hispanic World

- 5 Credits - Semester 1

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Year 2 (60 Credits)

Required Core Subject: Psychology (60 Credits):

Required

PS413:

Qualitative Research Methods

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

PS338:

Theories of Personality

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

PS220:

Psychology of Learning

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

PS214:

Developmental Psychology 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

PS403:

Biological Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

PS412:

Experimental Psychology Workshop I

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional

PS400:

Villanova University

- 30 Credits - Semester 4

Required

PS3104:

Professional Skills in Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required

PS320:

Memory & Cognition

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Required

PS428:

Social Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Required

PS219:

Research Methods in Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Required

PS415:

Perception, Attention & Performance

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

PS414:

Experimental Psychology Workshop 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

PS427:

Forensic, Abnormal & Clinical Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional

PS2100:

Experimental Psychology Workshop

- 10 Credits - Semester 4

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Year 3 (60 Credits)

Required Core Subject: Psychology (60 Credits):

Optional

PS342:

Introduction to Positive Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional

PS340:

Neuropsychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional

PS408:

Human Sexuality

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional

PS409:

Psychology, Science & Pseudoscience

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional

PS3114:

Introduction to Communication Skills and Counselling

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Required

PS322:

Health Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Required

PS334:

Applied Behaviour Analysis

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Required

PS420:

Psychological Measurement: Theory & Practice

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Required

PS405:

Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Required

PS325:

Research Project 1

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional

PS338:

Theories of Personality

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional

PS3109:

Vertically Integrated Projects 1 S1

- 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional

PS3106:

Language & Cognition: A Contextual Behavioural Approach

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS4100:

Technology and Health

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS345:

Applied Developmental Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS343:

Pediatric Clinical Behavioural Interventions

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS336:

Psychology, Society & Human Values

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

LW365:

Criminology

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Required

PS427:

Forensic, Abnormal & Clinical Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Required

PS327:

Research Project 2

- 10 Credits - Semester 6

Required

PS418:

Issues in the Cognitive Neurosciences

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Required

PS3100:

Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS329:

Service Learning in Psychology

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS3101:

Modelling Learning and Decision Making

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS341:

Introduction to Collaborative Enquiry & Applied Systems Science

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS3107:

Introduction to Psychophysiology

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS3103:

Health and Well-Being: Theory & Practice

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS3102:

Brain and Behaviour: Theory & Practice

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS339:

Behavioural Medicine

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS419:

Relational Frame Theory, Language & Cognition

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS320:

Memory & Cognition

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

ED2104:

Design Your Life Semester 2

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional

PS3110:

Vertically Integrated Projects 1 S2

- 5 Credits - Semester 6

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Why Choose This Course?

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Career Opportunities

Psychology prepares you for a diversity of interdisciplinary fields, including neuroscience, sports science, health promotion and education. Graduates have gone on to do further training to become professional psychologists (e.g., a clinical or occupational psychologist) and work in a variety of settings. For example, in the health services, they treat mental health issues; in educational settings, they identify learning needs; and in industry, they work on recruitment and retention. Researchers in the field of psychology also work as lecturers in third-level colleges or other research settings. Many graduates also find their psychology degree helps them in nonpsychology professions, such as banking, the media, information technology and management and the criminal justice system.

The BSc in Psychology provides the foundation for professional careers in psychology, as well as careers in a host of cognate areas. Graduates are to be found across all employment sectors, including:

Social and health services

Counselling and therapy

Industry and commerce

Civil service

Education

The defence forces

Journalism and the media

Sport and recreation

Organisation and management

The criminal justice system

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Work Placement

In third year, there will be a limited number of work placements relevant to psychology.

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Study Abroad

The links we have forged with European universities such as Maastricht and Munich mean that students have the option to study for part of their psychology degree abroad through the Erasmus programme.

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About University of Galway

Founded in 1845, we've been inspiring students for 178 years. University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching.