Psychology A Level
Course Overview
We are all amateur psychologists in that we constantly try to understand the behaviour of people around us. In seeking to understand human behaviour, psychologists use scientific research to look at a range of influences from early childhood experiences and socialisation to biological factors such as genes, hormones and brain structure. These approaches will have different implications and issues which you will seek to understand as a student of psychology, in addition to a range of fascinating topics and research methods.
In Year 1 you will explore social influences, including conformity, obedience and authority, models of memory and how eyewitness testimony goes wrong, the way children develop attachments to their parents and their impact on later life, and mental illnesses including issues with diagnosis and their treatment. You will study the various approaches to explaining behaviour, how psychology has developed as a science and explore how a range of research techniques are used within the topics, developing your expertise through practical experience.
In Year 2 you will explore four key topic areas: biopsychology, including the brain, nervous system and how sleep works, how schizophrenia is caused and treated, the development of gender identity and forensic psychology, which studies the causes of criminal behaviour and rehabilitation. You will discuss a number of debates within psychology, including the implications of the nature vs nurture debate, research bias and the ethics of psychological research. You will also develop your understanding of research methodology further, adding statistical analysis to your skill-set.
While you may not yet know whether you want a career in Psychology, the skills you develop in science, research and writing as part of the course are attractive to any employer, making Psychology a great foundation for a wide range of careers.
Year 1 Modules
- Introductory Topics in Psychology
- Psychology in Context
Year 2 Modules
- Psychology in Context
- Issues and Options in Psychology
Key Info
Minimum Entry Requirements
- Five GCSEs at Grade 5 including:
- Grade 5 in GCSE English Language
- Grade 5 in GCSE Maths
- Grade 5 in GCSE Double Science or GCSE Biology
Assessment
- 100% Exam
- Exam Board: AQA
406
Total students
19
Average class size
Why choose this course?
You will enjoy this course if:
- You have an enquiring mind and find yourself often wondering what causes things to happen in life.
- You are interested in looking at a range of points of view and like to deal with complex issues.
- You also appreciate the scientific method and research process.
We run Subject Plus sessions which offer weekly coaching on the most challenging skills and topics.
Trips connected to the course content include visits to London Zoo (phobias) and Auschwitz (Social Influence). Trips also visit common feeder Universities such as ARU and Lincoln to learn about the next steps in Psychology. Visiting speakers include career interest areas, such as a Clinical Psychologist and an Academic Researcher.
Skills you'll gain
- Writing skills: precise expression, the ability to structure complex arguments and debates, the use of evidence to justify a point of view.
- Scientific awareness: understanding of scientific methods, issues that affect and improve the validity of research processes.
- Research skills: an extensive understanding of research methodology across a range of disciplines.
- Data analysis: the use of descriptive and inferential statistics and visual displays.
After Long Road
Many students studying Psychology at A Level go on to complete a related degree, because of the subject interest and the versatile skills it develops.
While students may not know whether they want a specific career in Psychology, skills in Science and research are applicable in many other domains and the writing skills developed are attractive to any employer. This makes Psychology a useful foundation for a wide range of careers.
Anglia Ruskin University remains our most popular destination, and many students opt for the financial benefits of studying from or nearer to home. Other destinations range across a wide range of institutions, including those in the Russell Group.
I came to Long Road because the staff are friendly, the subjects are interesting and the college as a whole has a good working environment. I find looking at case studies and analysing them fascinating. The way in which an idea is explained engages me, and I want to learn more. Different areas of Psychology are looked at in depth. Right from the start I found that I had absorbed a lot of information.
