1. Programme Aims
The overarching aim of the BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology programme is to provide a comprehensive and coherent understanding of key and cutting-edge aspects of psychological science through five integrated but distinct undergraduate pathways.
Within this general aim, curriculum content reflects the need to meet the programme standards for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and:
- equip students with intellectual, practical and transferable skills for careers in which psychology provides a relevant foundation with an emphasis on sport and exercise content;
- develop a range of research skills for investigating experience and behaviour within sport and exercise context, culminating in the deployment of these skills in the conduct and reporting of an independent piece of research;
- foster a constructive, critical approach to the evaluation of psychological theory and research, and to relations between psychology and its cognate disciplines in both academic and applied settings;
- foster a constructive, critical approach to the evaluation of psychology theory and research, and to apply this perspective to real world settings, including sport and exercise contexts; and
- promote and provide a multi-disciplinary educational experience.
2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:
- British Psychological Society GBC curriculum
- Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
- The subject benchmark statement for Psychology
- The subject benchmark statement for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism
3. Programme Learning Outcomes
3.1 Knowledge and Understanding
On successful completion of these programmes, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following areas.
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K1
|
Social psychology: e.g. social cognition, attribution, attitudes, group processes and intergroup relations, close relationships and social constructionism.
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K2
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Cognitive psychology: e.g. perception, learning, memory, thinking, language, consciousness and cognitive neuropsychology.
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K3
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Individual differences and personality: e.g. abnormal and normal personality, psychological testing, intelligence, cognitive style, emotion, motivation and mood.
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K4
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Developmental psychology: e.g. childhood, adolescence and life-span development, development of attachment, social relations, cognitive and language development, social and cultural contexts of development.
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K5
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Biological psychology: e.g. biological bases of behaviour, hormones and behaviour, behavioural genetics, neuropsychology, socio-biology and evolutionary psychology.
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K6
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Conceptual and historical issues in psychology: e.g. the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline, its historical origins, development and limitations.
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K7
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Research design, including qualitative and quantitative methods, the nature and appropriate statistical analysis of data, psychometrics and measurement techniques, an empirical project.
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K8
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Methods, theories and empirical findings related to the study of participants (e.g. athletes, coaches, parents, support staff) and their behaviour in sport and exercise contexts; and how such study informs the performance and well-being of stakeholders in such contexts.
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K9
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The role of cognate areas of sport science in influencing the professional work of the practitioner, including the development of relationships in sport and exercise settings.
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3.2 Skills and other attributes
a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:
On successful completion of these programmes, students should be able to:
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C1
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Demonstrate evidence-based scientific reasoning, and make critical judgements about arguments and primary source material in psychology.
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C2
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Apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues, recognising that psychology involves a range of research methods, theories, evidence and applications.
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C3
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Search for similarities and general principles in order to detect and evaluate meaningful patterns in behaviour, psychological functioning, and experience.
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C4
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Recognise the continuous significance and importance for psychology of contextual, interpersonal and cultural influences, and appreciate the complexities their recognition raises.
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C5
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Examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues associated with the use of different methods, paradigms, analytic techniques and applications in psychology.
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C6
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Critically analyse methods and theory in psychology and demonstrate the relationship between theory and evidence.
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C7
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Apply knowledge of social psychological, organisational, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic approaches to an understanding of human behaviour in sport and exercise contexts.
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C8
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Recognise and identify the role of cognate disciplines of sport and exercise science in informing and formulating practical work with sport and exercise participants.
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b. Subject-specific practical skills:
On successful completion of these programmes, students should be able to:
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P1
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Observe, record and give a systematic account of human behaviour in a range of settings.
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P2
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Make effective use of a variety of methods of data collection, including experiments, observation, psychometric tests, questionnaires, interviews and field studies.
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P3
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Analyse data using both quantitative and qualitative psychological methods.
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P4
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Present and evaluate psychological research findings.
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P5
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Use a variety of specialist software packages, laboratory and psychometric instruments, and digital data gathering platforms.
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P6
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Deploy effective listening skills and communicate psychological concepts, methods, and findings effectively in speech and writing.
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P7
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Apply ethical considerations to psychological research and professional practice.
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P8
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Conduct and report an empirically-based research project under appropriate supervision, demonstrating appropriate levels of personal planning and project management.
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P9
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Collect and interpret interview, survey and/or observational data when studying participants in various sport and exercise contexts.
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P10
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Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills when working with sport and exercise clients.
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c. Key transferable skills:
On successful completion of these programmes, students should be able to:
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T1
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Generate, organise, analyse and interpret qualitative, numerical, statistical and other forms of data effectively.
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T2
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Demonstrate computer literacy with respect to relevant and widely used word-processing, database and analytic software packages and resources.
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T3
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Use electronic and other resources to search for, identify and organise information in library books, journals, and appropriate online sources.
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T4
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Work independently and in groups to solve problems, find alternative solutions, reach common goals and evaluate outcomes.
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T5
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Deploy critical judgements and evaluations to arrive at supported conclusions.
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T6
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Communicate effectively to a range of audiences using a range of media.
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T7
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Learn independently and pragmatically and take responsibility for their own learning and skill development.
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T8
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Identify contextual, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that shape behaviour and social interaction in sport and exercise settings
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T9
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Utilise a variety of psychological principles to contribute to the performance and wellbeing of others in non-sport and exercise domains.
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4. Programme structure
Candidates must take a total modular weight of 120 credits in each Part with a minimum modular weight of 50 in each semester, taking into account both compulsory and optional modules. Individual modules taught and assessed over both semesters with a modular weight of 10 may count against either semester 1 or semester 2, depending on the balance of other modular weights between semesters. Where the modular weight of a module taught and assessed over both semesters is 20 or 40, this shall be split equally between semesters.
4.1 Part A – Compulsory Introductory Modules:
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Code
|
Module Title
|
Modular Weight
|
Semester
|
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PSA500
|
Foundations in Developmental Psychology |
10 |
1 |
| PSA510 |
Foundations in Qualitative Research Methods |
10 |
1 |
| PSA503 |
Foundations in Quantitative Research Methods |
10 |
1 |
| PSA508 |
Foundations in Social Psychology |
10 |
1 |
| PSA507 |
Academic & Professional Skills for Sport and Exercise Psychology |
20 |
1 |
| PSA501 |
Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology |
10 |
2 |
| PSA509 |
Foundations in Cognitive Psychology |
10 |
2 |
| PSA511 |
Psychology Practicals A |
10 |
2 |
| PSA502 |
Foundations in Biological Psychology |
10 |
2 |
| PSA026 |
Foundations in Sport and Exercise Psychology |
20 |
2 |
4.2a Part B – Compulsory Degree Modules:
|
Code
|
Module Title
|
Modular Weight
|
Semester
|
|
PSB510
|
Personality and Individual Differences |
10 |
1 |
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PSB507
|
Social Psychology
|
10 |
1 |
| PSB513 |
Human Cognition |
10 |
1 |
| PSB508 |
Developmental Psychology |
10 |
1 |
| PSB031 |
Psychological Issues and Strategies in Sport |
10 |
1 |
| PSB514 |
Brain and Behaviour I |
10 |
2 |
| PSB511 |
Quantitative Research Methods |
10 |
2 |
| PSB509 |
Qualitative Research Methods |
10 |
2 |
| PSB512 |
Psychology Practicals B |
10 |
2 |
| PSB026 |
Group and Interpersonal Processes in Competitive Sport |
10 |
2 |
| PSB033 |
Principles of Exercise Psychology |
10 |
2 |
4.2b Part B – Optional Degree Modules subject to confirmation, availability and having taken appropriate pre-requisite modules.
10 credits from optional modules listed in the table below:
|
Code
|
Module Title
|
Modular Weight
|
Semester
|
|
BSB711
|
Psychological Approaches to Human Resource Management |
10 |
1 |
|
SSB128
|
Political Psychology
|
10 |
1 |
4.3 Part I (4-year/8-semester programme only)
Candidates pursue ONE of the following streams:
(i) Placement Stream (DPS)
Candidates will undertake an appropriate psychology-related placement.
(ii) Study Abroad Stream (DIntS) where applicable
Candidates will study at an approved academic institution overseas.
4.4a Part C – Compulsory Degree Modules:
|
Code
|
Module Title
|
Modular Weight
|
Semester
|
|
PSC300
|
Project
|
40
|
1&2
|
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PSC033
|
Psychology of Coaching and Physical Education
|
10
|
1
|
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PSC035
|
Performance Psychology for Sporting Excellence
|
10
|
1
|
| PSC034 |
Sport and Psychology in Action |
10 |
2 |
| PSC036 |
Applied Exercise Psychology |
10 |
2 |
4.4b Part C - Optional Degree Modules all subject to confirmation, availability and having taken appropriate pre-requisite modules.
40 credits from optional modules listed in the table below:
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Code
|
Module Title
|
Modular Weight
|
Semester
|
|
PSC301
|
Advanced Experimental and Qualitative Design & Analysis
|
20
|
1
|
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PSC319
|
Psychology of Eating Behaviour
|
20
|
1
|
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PSC321
|
Psychology of Workplace Health
|
20
|
1
|
| SSC130 |
Social Psychology of Everyday Life |
20 |
1 |
| BSC720 |
Behavioural Decision Science |
10 |
2 |
| BSC722 |
Consumer Behaviour |
10 |
2 |
| PSC311 |
Clinical Psychology |
20 |
2 |
| PSC315 |
Psychology and Health |
20 |
2 |
| PSC320 |
Parenting and Socialisation |
20 |
2 |
| PSC322 |
Brain and Behaviour II |
20 |
2 |
5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award
In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to Part C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.
6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification
Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40: Part C 60 to determine the final percentage mark.
