Plasticidad en los Suelos

The content of the undergraduate psychology curriculum is determined by the accreditation requirements set by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Within that framework, teaching, learning and assessment philosophy emphasizes the role of the learner, who is expected to access information in published books and journal articles, and be able to express topic-related ideas and arguments clearly.

The mandatory/core BPS areas are: Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Individual Differences, Social Psychology, Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology (coverage is embedded within units and across other the Programme’s core domains), Research Methods, and Empirical Project (the completion of an empirical practical component at Level 6). The research methods unit at Level 4 (Investigating Psychology, Single Honours, 2F4Z0011, or equivalent) and the Level 6 project (or equivalent) must be passed and cannot be condoned or compensated.

Students on the BSc (Hons) Psychology (with Study Overseas) must pass the Level 5 summer Exam Board with an average of 65 and no outstanding resits, and must pass an interview, to be eligible

for the study abroad year. These interviews will be conducted by the Link Tutor and additional staff. A workshop will be offered to help students to prepare for this interview. If students do not meet these criteria they will, provided they meet progression requirements, complete their final year of study at MMU.

The QAA subject benchmark for Psychology has also informed the curriculum. Having been designed in this way, the programme is comparable to other Psychology Honours degrees in the UK.

Since the curriculum is defined by BPS subject syllabus and QAA Psychology Benchmark Statements it links closely to professional and chartered career routes. The pedagogicalstrategies adopted emphasise the role of the student as an active learner, where the development of subject specific and generic skills is accompanied by the acquisition of subject knowledge. Progression through the Programme takes the form of increasing academic content, understanding and complexity, which is accompanied by the transition from supported and guided study to independent and self-directed learning; the aim being to ensure that student skills and autonomy develop in parallel. This evolution is designed to facilitate the progression from education (University) to employment (employability).

Teaching/learning and assessment methods are varied and selected to address the specific learning aims and outcomes of individual units, tutor preferences and the resources available. This diverse approach encourages explicit and implicit development of student skills and permits emphasis upon active student participation in learning. Indeed, students via formative and summative assessments, across the Programme, are required to engage with and reflect upon the learning process; particularly, to consider their performance in the context of personal development and career aspirations.

At level 3 (Foundation year) there is a core module Academic Skills for Higher Education (ASHE) which is specifically designed to help students develop the skills required to be prepared for and successful in higher academic study. Other core units develop understanding of the connection between theory, research and application to real life/work context.

At level 5 and 6 there is a strong applied focus upon work-related settings, real world contexts and everyday exemplars, which embeds work-related experiences within the Programme curriculum. This is reflected by unit content and assessment tasks. In addition to this, practical work (individual and group) is used to promote the integration of theory, methods, research and application to real life/work related settings. Students are able to broaden their knowledge and understanding through attendance at research seminars, peer discussion and with tutors via drop-in (office hours) provision. Guest lecturers with relevant professional practice are used, where appropriate, to support unit content, provide work-related insights and demonstrate the applicability of psychology theory and methods to employment.

Subject skills are introduced, explored and practised through lectures, seminars, directed and self- directed practicals, workshops and worksheets, individual project supervision, supervised activities in the community and preparation of assessments. Students are encouraged to explore further and practise their skills individually, collaboratively and with tutors via office hour provision.

Generic skills are developed through workshops and worksheets, group activities and assignments, tutorials, computer based learning, and preparation of assessments. Students are encouraged to

further develop their skills through discussion with each other and with tutors via our drop-in office hours provision, and through reading dedicated textbooks, appropriate university literature and completing the tutorial provision on recommended computer programmes.

Students taking the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy course and the BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology course, will explore and develop subject specific knowledge and skills in these areas. The curriculum design of these two new routes does not follow the same pattern as the BSc (Hons) Psychology and BSc (Hons) Psychology (with Study Overseas) courses. This is in order to include sufficient specialist information to justify the specialist awards on the two new pathways. This means that transfer between the two new specialist courses the BSc (Hons) Psychology (with Study Overseas) course is not possible as it would jeopardise the specialist qualification that students are studying for and any contained awards they might achieve.

The study overseas route provides an attractive option for Psychology students. At the same time, the requirement for studying the core BPS syllabus and the full credit quota of the MMU Programme, are not disrupted. This additional year enables participating students to select units from partner institutions on the basis of interest and employability, rather than purely to map them onto BPS core requirements. Participation in this overseas route, and specifically the year at a partner institution, has the following specific benefits for students:

(i) A strong focus on developing skills such as independence and initiative, as learners engage with the challenges of studying a new curriculum at an overseas institution.

(ii) The development of networking and cultural adaptation skills that are essential components of employability in a fluid and global economy.

(iii)An opportunity to understand Psychology as an international discipline and to see at first hand how it is applied to diverse international, cross-cultural contexts.

Experience of a culturally diverse diet of Psychology study areas, including those at Level 6 equivalent; this will inspire and inform students’ choices of Level 6 option units on their return to MMU.

In-bound Student Mobility

Students on the In-bound Student Mobility schemes will study the same curriculum as MMU home students. Where appropriate, 15 credit unit specifications (based on the same curriculum content) have been development to accommodate students study at MMU for less than a full academic year.

Combined Honours

Curriculum Design

The above strategies also apply to Combined Honours students taking psychology in combination with another approved subject but may vary dependent on the student’s choice of major/minor/equal study at Year Two and Three.

Students wishing to gain eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS) must study the mandatory/core BPS areas of Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Individual Differences, Social Psychology, Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology (coverage is embedded within units and across other of the Programme’s core domains), Research Methods, and Empirical Project (the completion of an empirical practical component at Level 6). The research methods unit at Level 4 (Investigating Psychology, Combined Honours, 2F4Z0012, or equivalent) and the project (or equivalent) must be passed and cannot be condoned or compensated.