Psychology and Sociology with Foundation Year | Bishop Grosseteste University

Why study this course

Learn about the range of core psychological domains and methods, accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Learn about and engage with on-site research projects, exploring contemporary issues such as mindfulness, psychopathy and the science of dreaming

Gain a broad skill set by combining sociology theory with research skills and practical application

Guaranteed free interview for PGCE and free interview training

Course summary

If you don’t have, or don’t think you will attain, the normal tariff points for studying at BGU, this course will enable you to study for a degree without any UCAS points. The course is delivered over four years and includes a Foundation Year, which gives you a perfect introduction to what it means to be a university student and prepares you for effective undergraduate study. In your Foundation Year, you will study eight modules, all of which are designed to equip you with the necessary academic skills and knowledge to progress successfully in your chosen subject. You will also engage in a series of bespoke subject sessions delivered by experts, designed to introduce you to your chosen subject area.

Find out more about our Foundation Year programme.

Through studying a Psychology degree at BGU you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific nature of the subject and of its wider cultural and social impact. This course will develop your understanding of psychology and its theories of the mind, emotions and behaviour and become familiar with how these theories are applied in our lives, communities and societies.

BGU’s Sociology undergraduate degree provides a comprehensive and exciting introduction to the study of all aspects of the social world. The course takes you on a journey from the 19th-century foundations of the discipline through to the social, cultural and political changes that are reshaping our globalising world. Along the way, you’ll see how sociological thinking is crucial for people who want to understand the world around them, whether as students, tuition-fee payers, citizens, employees (or via any of their other social roles).

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Key facts

Award	BA (Hons)
UCAS code	LC8F
Duration	4 years
Mode of study	Full-time
Start date	September
Awarding institution	Bishop Grosseteste University
Institution code	B38

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About this course

Psychology

Do you ever wonder why is it we behave as we do? How do gangs, teams and friendship groups form? Do you wonder if smiling really does make you feel more positive? Do you often venture into the bigger questions about life and who we are?

Psychology has a science base, yet includes a balance of liberal arts, technological knowledge, statistics and computer-based skills. As well as classic psychological theories and research, on this undergraduate degree you’ll be debating social issues, studying specific mental processes, such as memory, language and attention, as well as broader issues and theories – both historical and contemporary. As well as applying psychological knowledge to a range of subjects, you will develop your skills in problem-solving, data analysis, predict and reasoning, with a focus on real-world application.

Here at BGU in Lincoln, we ensure you have close support and contact with your tutors and, with small group sizes, you’ll always get the support and feedback you need on your course. We also know how important it is to experience a real working environment so, through work placements and other projects, you’ll be equipped for whichever career path you may choose after your degree. With research-informed teaching and research-active staff, you’ll receive scientific training and gain an in-depth understanding of the nature of the subject, at the same time as applying your knowledge and theory to real-life.

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Sociology

Studying Sociology at BGU in Lincoln means you won’t ‘just’ be studying sociological theory – you’ll be exploring the ways theories help demystify phenomena like terrorism, nationalism, sexism, surveillance, globalisation and multiculturalism. Similarly, when you study research methods you won’t ‘just’ be studying research methods – you’ll be looking at how those methods are used in the real world by marketing agencies, governments, local councils, advertising agencies, PR companies, polling companies and many others.

This undergraduate course showcases sociology’s relevance beyond the confines of academia. Studying a Sociology degree at BGU will provide you with state of the art understanding of key classical and contemporary social, cultural and sociology theories as well as rigorous training in social research methods that are in demand from employers. On completion of this course, you’ll leave us equipped with a wide range of transferable skills that work successfully in an array of public, private and third-sector settings.

At BGU our commitment to small group teaching and one-to-one supervisions means that you’ll never be an anonymous face in a large lecture theatre. Over the course of your degree, you’ll benefit immeasurably from such direct access to academics. We believe that students learn best when they’re being taught by staff who are actively engaged in high-quality research. That’s why our staff have drawn upon their own extensive research experiences to create this degree programme.

What you will study

Students on this course currently study some or all of the following modules:

Course modules

In this module you will explore and consider what it means to be a successful learner at university. You’ll explore the principles of effective learning and engage with a range of tools and techniques to practise and develop strategies for your own learning. These include for example, understanding your needs as a learner, effective time management and organisational skills.

You will learn about a range of resources and practise locating and using these resources to support effective learning. These resources will include, for example, textbooks, websites, academic journals, and popular press. In addition to these key techniques, the module covers academic conventions including referencing, citation and the risks of plagiarism.

This module will allow you to learn to utilise sources in a considered and critical way. You will begin to engage effectively with literature and other sources in a meaningful manner that promotes deep learning and enables knowledge and understanding of a topic. You will also begin to differentiate qualitative and quantitative data and consider their appropriate interpretation and use.

Critical thinking is an integral part of university study. While studying this module you will define critical thinking, its importance and how it can help you in your learning. A range of critical thinking models will be utilised to demonstrate how this works in action, allowing you to recognise critical thinking and identify barriers and challenges.

The skilled use of digital technologies is an important element in university study and is used to support both the obtaining and demonstration of knowledge. This module will develop your digital capabilities and confidence, encouraging you to develop techniques for the purposeful use of a range of digital tools to support learning. These include specific tools such as the Virtual Learning Environment and appropriate and effective uses of wider applications such as social media, email and the internet.

This module explores, compares and evaluates a range of communication types, giving you opportunities to combine written and spoken communication in a range of contexts and for a range of audiences. From a theoretical, sociological perspective you will explore different communication media and styles of discourse, for example, discussion, debate, enquiry and reporting.

Reflection is a powerful learning tool that enables you to consider your existing knowledge and also to plan for your future learning and professional development. The module content includes the principles of reflective learning and collaborative planning with reference to structured models.

Academic writing is an essential element of successful university study, so this module explores a range of techniques to help develop your own academic writing style. It will enable you to draw together your learning throughout the Foundation Year and reflect on the feedback you have received. You will structure a clear and effective piece of academic writing on a subject-linked topic in which you will apply standard academic conventions.

This module will provide you with an overview of the core domains of Psychology and introduce you to the discipline of psychology as a science and current debates, before moving on to provide a more detailed introduction to the discipline of biopsychology and research methods. In the first half of the module, preliminary sessions will focus on the history of psychology and each subsequent week will be devoted to one of five core areas of psychology (social; lifespan; individual differences; cognition and biopsychology). In the second half of the module you will explore the discipline of biopsychology; through the study of psychological and neuropsychological dysfunction you will learn about key biological debates including human and animal studies, nature nurture debates and biopsychological research methods.

This module introduces Cognitive Psychology in terms of key topics which includes memory, language, attention as well as key approaches such as cognitive neuropsychology, neuroscience, fundamentals of the experimental method, and the use of computerised experiment generation software. As part of this module you will be able to engage in a variety of cognitive experiments to facilitate your understanding of key topics and experimental approaches.

You will receive an introduction to the nature of undergraduate study, and specifically undergraduate sociological study. During scheduled and independent/virtual learning sessions the course will address issues such as: using the internet as an effective research tool; taking effective notes during lectures; how to guard against plagiarism; and successful literature reviewing.

This module is designed to give you a positive view of the impact that the social sciences have had, and will continue to have, on modern societies, polities, cultures and economies. A broad range of classical and contemporary social and sociological theories are presented with the aim of showcasing the power, promise and potential of a sociological imagination for anyone wishing to understand the world around them and their place within it.

This module forms part of the BPS core curriculum and will develop your critical understanding of two of the core areas of Psychology i.e. Social and Developmental Psychology. Social Psychology will engage you with the breadth and diversity of social psychology as a discipline, from group processes through to social cognition and social interactions. Lifespan psychology will engage you in a critical approach to the traditional focuses of developmental psychology as a paradigm, and consider psychological research and interventions from pre- and peri- natal development through to older adulthood and the end of life.

In this module students will examine how various forms of quantitative enquiry can be brought to the investigation of a range of psychological phenomena. You will explore several core statistical techniques used to address psychology-specific research and analyse data using statistical software and interpret related output appropriately.

Individual Differences and the Biology of Personality is a multifaceted module that covers the history, cornerstone theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches of personality research, with particular focus on biopsychological etiologies. You will consolidate your learning by utilising psychometric methodology to design and run a quantitative study, present your design and then write up your project giving you experience of the research process and the fundamentals within it such as gaining ethical approval, data collection and analysis to reporting and discussing findings.

You will be introduced to a range of the central yet diverse theoretical approaches to the study of society that have been, and still are being developed within sociology. The module will provide you with a critical and reflexive understanding of the importance (as well as the fallibility of) modern and contemporary social and sociological theories to and for understanding and explaining social life.

The module begins with a very broad definition of identity as something that involves the ways in which people display who they are to each other. It then examines a range of environments in which people do ‘identity work’: everyday conversations, institutional settings, narrative and stories, commodified encounters and various spatial locations from the local and the national, to the ‘online’ and ‘offline’.

This module will consist of five scheduled workshop sessions that will focus upon career skills and pathways. It will also include a work placement, that is designed to give you an opportunity to explore an area of work and develop (or confirm) your career planning.

The module provides an opportunity for you to build upon and apply the key intellectual, transferable and practical skills gained at previous levels to an appropriate research project. Throughout the module, a series of lectures, seminars and talks by guest speakers will further develop your research design and analytic skills in experimental, quasi-experimental and qualitative research methods.

This module will engage you with key philosophical and conceptual debates which have influenced the origins and development of psychology as a discipline. You will consider the influence of major advances in the broader knowledge development for example the Scientific Revolution. Key turning points in the history and development of the discipline such as the cognitive revolution will enable you to understand debates within psychology that concern its standing as a science and the differences in psychological research methodologies that accompany those debates. The module will also engage students with contemporary issues and debates in the discipline.This module forms part of the BPS core curriculum and aligns with A6 Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology.

This module is hands-on, practically-oriented and built around a form of problem based learning. Upon completion of this module, you will know how to make most types of video and poster presentations media, and you will also have developed a portfolio of content that may well assist you in entrepreneurial work in the creative and cultural industries.

You will study aspects of the chronological development of surveillance in Western Europe and North America. The module will offer you a range of teaching and learning contexts in which to build understanding of key sociological (and societal) issues.

The aim of this module is to provide you with a general introduction to the study of persuasion, before identifying and discussing the major discursive and rhetorical approaches to the study of persuasion as something attempted by various forms of communication. The module will also include ‘practical data sessions’, in which you will put your analytic skills into practice on real world data.

Entry requirements

Application for this course is via UCAS, although there is no formal requirement for UCAS points to access the course (normally GCSE English or equivalent is desirable). As part of your application you will have the opportunity to speak with a member of BGU Admissions staff to resolve any questions or queries you may have

You will also need GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at grade 4 (previously C) or above (or equivalent).

For International Entry GCSE requirements please contact our Enquiries Team on enquiries@bishopg.ac.uk

Further information

Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources and key policies.

The Foundation Year syllabus does not include any specific element of upskilling in English language and you are not entitled to apply for Accredited Prior Learning, AP(C)L into a Foundation Year.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from international students for Foundation year programmes linked to Psychology courses.

How you will be taught

There is no one-size-fits-all method of teaching at BGU – we shape our methods to suit each subject and each group, combining the best aspects of traditional university teaching with innovative techniques to promote student participation and interactivity.

You will be taught in a variety of ways, from lectures, tutorials and seminars, to practical workshops, coursework and work-based placements. Small group seminars and workshops will provide you with an opportunity to review issues raised in lectures, and you will be expected to carry out independent study.

Placements are a key part of degree study within many courses at BGU. They provide an enriching learning experience for you to apply the skills and knowledge you will gain from your course and, in doing so, give valuable real-world experience to boost your career.

Academic staff

Assessment

During the Foundation Year, you will have opportunities to experience a range of formative and summative assessments. These include short-form writing, annotated bibliographies, presentations, digital technologies, reflective journals, and academic essays. All modules involve early, small, and frequent informal and formal assessments so as to be supportive and build confidence, while ensuring development of the core academic skills required for successful study throughout your degree. Assessment strategies are balanced, diverse, and inclusive, ensuring that you will experience a range of assessments to support comprehensive preparation for undergraduate study. You will also have the opportunity for self-evaluation and personal reflection on your own learning progress and development of skills.

Psychology

Assessments in Psychology take place at the end of each module in order for you to demonstrate your understanding of the objectives covered. A wide range of assessment methods is used to support your learning, including portfolios, presentations, displays and examinations and laboratory projects. The Psychology course includes assessments that are designed to develop and refine specific skills that you may well need to draw on as a psychologist, whether that is as specific as demonstrating your practical counselling skills in the Introduction to Psychological Therapies module, or openly argumentative as in the group debate in the Personality and Individual Differences module! Assessments are also designed to enhance your critical thinking and analysis skills – something that psychologists are well known for.

Sociology

In Sociology, we see assessment as a powerful driver of student learning and a means for demonstrating what students have learnt. We believe it’s a great way to develop the employability skills that employers demand from graduates. As a result, the course incorporates a range of assessment methods which will allow you to demonstrate a wide range of skills whilst providing a selection of post-degree career paths. These assessment methods include coursework, small group work, report writing, oral presentations, multi-modal presentations (posters, videos, print), examinations and individual dissertation projects. Where appropriate, assessment tasks are designed to mimic the type of challenges faced by employees in graduate-level jobs.

Careers & Further study

Psychology

In Psychology we allow you to develop the knowledge and skills which will make you attractive to an employer. Psychology graduates go on to work in a range of sectors including teaching, education or training, local government, health and social work and in areas of industry including human resources management. By the end of this course, you will be ready to apply your knowledge of psychology to the world in which you live, with the necessary workplace skills for a variety of future careers. Future careers for Psychology graduates may include work within Clinical settings, Counselling, Mental Health services, Education and Research.

Sociology

The wide range of graduate-levels employment related opportunities and positions available to BGU Sociology graduates include activism and campaigning, advertising, arts, bankers (e.g. investment bankers, analysts), charity administrators, community and youth workers, curators, entrepreneurs, film makers, financial analysts, journalists, lawyers, lecturers, marketing, police officers, public relations (PR), researchers, school and college teachers and social workers.

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

Fees & Finance

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.

Undergraduate course applicants must apply via UCAS using the relevant UCAS code. For 2024 entry, the application fee is £27, and you can make a maximum of 6 choices.
For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate.