Psychology of Child Development, BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

This degree program in Child Psychology provides a comprehensive understanding of children's cognitive, emotional, and social development. Students delve into research methods, psychology, and statistics recognized by the British Psychological Society. With specialized modules in child development, facilities for child observation, and placement opportunities, graduates are well-equipped for careers in educational or clinical psychology, allied health, and various other industries.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This is a course designed to help you understand children’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour in scientific detail. While you’ll study the core modules in research methods, psychology and statistics that will give you a degree recognised by the British Psychology Society, you’ll also take a series of specialist modules focused around child development. There’s also the chance to go on a placement to assist with child-centred research. Whether you see your future in clinical psychology, research, education or a range of other roles in and around child development, this degree can offer the tools and knowledge for a fascinating career.

Outline:

Year 1

• Compulsory Modules:
• Methods and practice of psychological inquiry:
Research underpins everything that you will learn on your degree. Developing an understanding of how to design, analyse and interpret research studies will provide you with the core skills needed throughout your course. You will learn to undertake research in a range of different areas and how to convey these findings to a range of different audiences.
• Introduction to Psychobiology and Cognition: Cognition concentrates on mental processes such as memory, thinking and language.
Your physiological systems underpin all of these behaviours. Together these two approaches allow you to understand a range of processes including memory, attention and perception.
• Being a Psychologist: The module introduces you to the ethical practice of psychology, and starts the process of planning your career either as a psychologist, or in another role where you will apply the knowledge and skills you develop from your psychology degree to a different domain.
• Topics in Psychology: Psychology is a fast developing subject area that can be applied to all aspects of human behaviour.
Familiarising yourself with a range of exciting new areas and developing an understanding the research conducted within the School, allows you to determine the applied areas of psychology that you might choose to specialise in during the remaining years of your degree.

Year 2

• Compulsory Modules:
• Psychological Research Methods 1: Design and Quantitative Analysis:
This module will introduce you to a variety of statistical and research techniques in both academic and commercial settings. You will have the opportunity to apply these techniques within a practical setting.
• Social and Developmental Psychology: This module explores social psychology and developmental psychology.
You will look into a range of topics to develop your understanding and knowledge of social psychology such as attribution, social cognition and aggression and developmental psychology such as language development, attachment and Theory of Mind. You will also be provided with an understanding of key areas within physiological psychology.
• Qualitative Psychological Research: Establish the skills to carry out, and write up, your own independent empirical studies using qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.
The four key topics explored in this module are neurodevelopment, physical dysfunctions, language development & disorders and current theories of cognitive development.
• Optional Modules:
• Clinical Psychology:
You'll develop your knowledge and engagement with clinical and health psychology, and its application to areas of psychological and somatic health. You'll learn all about the therapeutic process, from developing a theoretically driven biopsychosocial formulation to informing a therapeutic strategy. Topics covered may include, eye-witness testimony, expert witnesses, domestic and honour based violence, crime detection and treatment and a range of other areas.
• Topics & Techniques in Neuroscience: This module highlights the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to the understanding of brain function and behaviour, with particular emphasis on covering some of the important topics and techniques involved in Biopsychology.
The module also provides a historical context in which to consider current brain research methods.
• Topics & Techniques in Neuroscience: This module highlights the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to the understanding of brain function and behaviour, with particular emphasis on covering some of the important topics and techniques involved in Biopsychology.
The module also provides a historical context in which to consider current brain research methods.

Year 3

You will also learn the social and emotional aspects of psychopathology.

• Essential Issues in Psychology: History, Individual Differences and Ethics: You will examine psychological theories of topics such as personality, intelligence, emotion, motivation and the self.
This is achieved within a framework of discussion of concepts and debates within psychology. There is also a focus on the application of theories to individual differences and the ethical concerns which these can raise.
• Developmental Psychology Project: You'll conduct an empirical investigation under the supervision of a member of staff.
You'll apply your knowledge of research design, statistical analysis and report writing. The topic may be in any area of Developmental Psychology of interest to you. You'll also study current issues specific to violent and sexual offenders.
• Crime: Impacts and Consequences: The aim of this module is to develop your critical understanding of topics relating to the impact and consequences of crime from both social psychological and forensic perspectives.
You will explore content on how impacts and consequences relate to both individual both victims and society in general.
• Neuropsychological Disorders and Techniques: The module examines individuals with brain damage or those suffering from brain dysfunction or trauma from a neuropsychological and cognitive perspective.
The module covers the use of techniques, such as neuroimaging, in developing the understanding of neuropsychological disorders.
• Brain, Treatments and Behaviour: The module introduces the field of psychopharmacology with a particular emphasis on examining "abused" drugs.
You'll also study chemical treatments used for psychiatric disorders. The module approaches these topics from historical, physiological, neurochemical, and psychological perspectives. This allows you to build confidence and experience ahead of post-study employment, to learn more about the application of your psychological skills to a new job or to experience new settings in which you might work.
• Application of Clinical Psychology Practice, Clinical Research, Service Delivery: You'll learn about the many different roles of a Clinical and Health Psychologist.
You'll explore how they apply skills in different professional arenas. You'll be able to communicate a clear and coherent explanation of the roles of a clinical or health psychologist. You'll also gain professional competence in clinical communication skills.
• Cognitive Behaviour Assessment and Treatment Planning in Clinical Psychology: In this module, you will develop your skills in applying cognitive behavioural theories within clinical and health psychology.
You will also develop your problem-solving skills in applying techniques to treatment plans.

Assessment:

In your first year, you’ll have coursework and multiple-choice exams, while the second year will introduce essays to the mix, before your final year brings more substantial research project work as part of our honours assessment.

Teaching:

You’ll have lectures and tutorials, as well as practical sessions and – in your own time – plenty of independent study. You’ll go to work in a well-equipped lecture theatre, computer suites and multiple laboratories. Here, we also have dedicated facilities for observing children, as well as the tools for neurological analysis and a cognitive psychology complex. You could also pursue roles in allied health – working alongside occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. However, our graduates are valued in a wide range of sectors. As such, you could also take on a graduate-level role in organisations including the Police, Prison Service, NHS, social and community services, health authorities and in the pharmaceutical industry, not to mention education and training organisations. While this is a specialist degree, it offers the well-rounded understanding of psychology to earn accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS). We offer the chance to get involved in research, whether assisting or participating, with paid internships, placements and part-time roles. As this course shares a common first year with Forensic Psychology, Neuropsychology and more, you may have the chance to switch specialisms as your interests develop. We work with a range of organisations and individuals to ensure that our curriculum offers the skills and knowledge you’ll need in the workplace – including NHS Trusts, patient groups medical practitioners, allied health professionals, the Prison Service, police forces, local education authorities, schools and professional sports organisations.

| Fees and funding | 2024/25 |

|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------:|:------------------------------------------------------:|

| UK | |

| Full-time | £9,250 per year |

| Sandwich year | £1,500 for the sandwich year |

| Part-time | £1,540 per 20 credits |

| International | |

| Full-time | £16,500 per year |

| Additional costs | |

| | As part of your course there may be additional costs | | | | Most of these will be optional, but some courses have | | | essential additional costs. | | | | (https://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/) |