BSc (Hons) Psychology and Youth Studies

Overview

What we think and do when we are young matters. Who we become as adults is forged in the interactive processes of the mind, behaviour, self, and the social life we take part in as young people. Studying psychology and youth studies allows you to explore important questions about who we are and the social, policy, and cultural context in which young people live.

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.

Youth Studies at UCS offers a multidisciplinary approach to the contemporary understanding of young people, with an emphasis on the critical tradition in the social sciences. The course draws on sociology, social policy, childhood studies, and cultural studies. You will examine the social construction of young people in historical, national, international and comparative contexts. Key themes to be explored include the study of young people in relation to education, youth work, social services, criminal justice, the labour market, the transition to adult life, and youth culture.

 

 

Psychology and Youth Studies at UCS offers:

• A thorough grounding in the major fields within psychology
• An emphasis upon research methods
• 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 national and international focus
• An emphasis on transferable research skills

 

Employers value the qualities and skills of psychology and youth studies graduates, and most students find suitable work within a short time of graduation. Typical employers include local and central government, industry, commerce, the NHS, education authorities, further and higher education institutions, and paid roles within charitable, counselling and voluntary organisations. A number of students also go on to study post graduate qualifications such as an MA, MSc, PGCE, or a Doctorate.

 

Content and Modules

First year modules

• Social Science Research Skills (Core)
• Foundations of Biological and Cognitive Psychology
• Foundations of Social and Developmental Psychology
• Introduction to Youth Studies
• Understanding Social Change
• Sociology and the Modern World

Second year modules

• Quantitative Data in Social Science (Core)
• Qualitative Data in Social Science (Core)
• Biological and Cognitive Psychology
• Social and Developmental Psychology
• Youth Culture and Identity

With a choice of 1 module from:

• Youth Justice
• Child Law
• Young People and Social Policy 
  

Third year modules

• Research Dissertation
• Applied Studies

With a choice of 1 or 2 modules from

• Personality and Intelligence
• CognitionPsychology and Technology
• Contemporary Issues in Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Comparative Youth Studies
• Youth and Development: Selected Issues

All modules are assessed using structured essays, reports, case studies, critiques, reviews and formal examinations.

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 Youth 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 Youth Studies graduates are well equipped with the advanced skills and confidence to thrive in a variety of occupations.
• Psychology and Youth Studies graduates 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 and professionals are directly involved in a number of taught and additional sessions over course of the degree.

        o Strong links with organizations such as Catch 22 and Dost (work with
           young refugees).’

        o Important links to careers in psychology are made for level 5 and 6 
           students

• Quite a number of our graduates also go on to pursue further qualifications at masters and doctoral levels. An MA in Childhood and Youth Studies is available at UCS within the same school.
• 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|