Our BPS-accredited Psychology with Development and Education degree takes you on a journey from infancy to adulthood and how we are shaped by brain development, society, education, and technology. Abertay's Psychology degrees are ranked top 10 in the UK for course satisfaction (The Guardian University Guide 2022).
Programme Overview
Psychology is the scientific study of the most complex machine imaginable: the human mind. This BPS-accredited Psychology with Development and Education degree helps you learn how children and adolescents develop, learn, reason, and socialise, as well as exploring atypical development including neurodivergence.
The first two years of this degree are designed to help you dig deep into the science of psychology, learning the way humans think, feel and behave. In years three and four, you take more advanced options related to your specialist pathway, covering development and education in more depth.
Developmental and educational psychology
Our academic experts will give you a deep understanding of developmental and educational psychology, including:
Education and learning.
A child’s place in society.
How children interact with technology.
How children develop.
Psychology is both an experimental and observational science. This means you will observe and measure human behaviour, tackle literature research, and develop, test, and evaluate theories. This culminates in conducting your own supervised research project in your final year, which is one of the corner stones of your degree.
Psychology pathways
You can switch to another Psychology pathway if you develop an interest in a particular topic later on. See 'How the course works' below for full details.
High quality teaching and student satisfaction
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology course scored an impressive 95% for Overall Student Satisfaction in the 2020 National Student Survey (NSS).
Please note: Students on this course may have to undertake a PVG check if they choose a specific placement (optional) as part of the course
How the Course Works
Learning and Assessment
You'll learn through a combination of lectures, practical laboratory classes, seminars/tutorials and independent study.
Psychology degrees at Abertay are flexible. You can study different pathways and switch to a new pathway if your interests change over time.
You apply for one of these specific degree pathways at the start:
BSc (Hons) Psychology
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Development and Education
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic and Investigative Psychology
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Scene Investigation
But if you’re unsure which to choose, don’t worry, apply for the course that appeals most.
This is because you have an opportunity to switch to a different pathway at the start of Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 (conditions apply*). Our academic team will always be available to help if you do decide to switch pathways.
Your degree title will be reflected in the pathway you choose e.g: BSc (Hons) Psychology with Development and Education or BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Scene Investigation.
No other Scottish university is offering these flexible undergraduate degree pathways in psychology. We believe this gives our graduates a distinct edge when it comes to applying for postgraduate study or employment.
*Dependant on the relevant modules being taken. Please check your Student Handbook for full details.
Teaching and Assessment
You'll learn through a combination of lectures, practical laboratory classes, seminars, tutorials, and independent study.
The practical laboratory classes are where you’ll learn relevant scientific techniques first-hand and engage in research by designing experiments then collecting and analysing the data.
You will be assessed using a variety of methods. These include examinations and class tests, practical laboratory reports, essays, oral and poster presentations, research projects, writing scientific articles and case studies.
All students must complete their Honours project on an area of psychological research related to their chosen pathway.
Accreditation
This Psychology with Development and Education degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and its core areas follow the curriculum set out by the BPS. This accreditation is essential for students who want to become a Chartered Psychologist, and means that successful graduates are eligible to apply for further professional psychology training.
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