BSc (Hons) Psychology and Early Childhood Studies

Overview

Contemporary Psychology is a scientific discipline dealing with human behaviour, cognition and action. In psychology at UCS you will explore and examine the interaction between mind and behaviour, the nature of the unconscious, the functioning of memory, individual behaviour in social situations, prejudice and altruism. Psychology at UCS equips students with a thorough grounding in each of the major fields: social psychology, developmental psychology, biological psychology, and cognitive psychology. The focus of the teaching and learning of psychology at UCS is on allowing students to explore fundamental questions about human behaviour, while learning about the importance of research, evidence collection and adherence to ethical codes.

Early Childhood Studies takes a multi-disciplinary approach and offers a fascinating and stimulating course of academic study. This means it includes educational, health, welfare, psychological, sociological, legal, philosophical, political and economic perspectives. The primary focus is children from birth to eight years but it also covers conception through to when a child is approximately eleven years of age (the natural completion of the primary education stage). A holistic philosophy permeates the programme.

All students are strongly encouraged to have a UCS student Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Certificate and to work in a voluntary capacity or paid employment with young children (principally 0-8 years) whilst undertaking the course if they wish to pursue a career within this area..

 

 

Psychology and Early Childhood Studies at UCS offers:

 

• A thorough grounding in the major fields within psychology
• Specialist modules to explore contemporary developments in psychology
• Study within the innovative School of Applied Social Sciences with a strong research tradition in childhood and youth studies
• A carefully coordinated and timetabled course which develops strong social science skills

It enables students on graduating in Psychology and Early Childhood Studies go into a range of careers as well as completing post graduate qualifications, in order to work in the education, health and social care fields. Careers including Primary Teacher Training, Family Support and Social Work, Nursing and related disciplines, Early Year’s settings, Post-graduate study and research are all possible. Typical employers include local and central government industry, commerce, the NHS, the prison service, the probation service, education authorities, further and higher education institutions, and charitable, counselling and voluntary organisations.

Employers value the qualities and skills of Psychology and Early Childhood Studies graduates, and most students find suitable work within a short time of graduation.

 

Content and Modules

First year modules

• Social Science Research Skills (Core)
• Foundations of Biological - Cognitive Psychology
• Foundations of Social - Developmental Psychology

With 1 module from:

• Perspectives of Childhood
• Development and Learning

And 1 module from:

• Children and Social Policy
  Children and Health

Second year modules

• Research Methods in Early Childhood
• Quantitative Data in Social Science (Core)
• Qualitative Data in Social Science (Core)
• Biological-Cognitive Psychology
• Social and Developmental Psychology
• Safeguarding Children (Mandatory) 
  

With a choice of 1 module from:

• Social Psychology and Children
• Children’s Health and Wellbeing
• Play and Learning
• Children’s Geographies
  

Third year modules

• Research Dissertation (Core)
• Applied Studies (Core)

With a choice of 1 or 2 modules from:

• Personality and Intelligence
• Cognition
• Psychology and Technology
• Contemporary Issues in Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Forensic Psychology

With a choice of 1 or 2 modules from:

• International Perspectives on Health and Education
• Early Childhood Intervention
• Communication and Creativity
• Management in Early Year Contexts
• The Politics of Childhood

Read the full Programme Specification for this course here:
Programme Specification|

Further Information

Careers

• The most recent figures available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reveal that 85% of Psychology and Early Childhood Studies graduates in 2011/12 found employment within six months of graduation.
• Around 60% of graduate jobs are open to graduates of any discipline and Psychology and Early Childhood Studies graduates are well equipped with the advanced skills and confidence to thrive in a variety of occupations.
• Psychology and Early Childhood Studies are good at problem solving, have good analytical and research skills, and have excellent information and data management skills
• Employability is taken very seriously at UCS and employers are directly involved in a number of taught and additional sessions over the 3 years. Psychology and Early Childhood studies students have the chance to explore career options and engage with potential roles and jobs through their degree course
• Quite a number of our graduates also go on to pursue further qualifications at masters and doctoral levels
• Online and face to face resources and advice are available from the UCS Careers and Employability Service for all UCS students

For more information on careers for graduates please see:

http://www.prospects.ac.uk|

http://courses-careers.com/|

These are also excellent places to go to if you are unsure which career paths are opened up by particular degree courses.

For this course all modules are assessed and a range of assessment methods are used, including essays, reports, case studies, critiques, reviews and formal examinations.

Timetable

We try to keep the timetable for a full time student to be spread over 4 days throughout the degree course.

Find out more about:

The School of Applied Social Sciences|

UCS Ipswich|