Education Studies - Psychology - BA (Hons)

Durham University

Education Studies is a broad multidisciplinary degree, designed for the intellectually and practically curious. If you are particularly fascinated by the psychological aspects of education, this is the course for you.,Are you interested in why people think and learn in different ways? Would you like to know more about the workings of the mind and how that may impact a person’s potential to learn? The BA Education Studies – Psychology is an ideal qualification if you are fascinated by the psychological aspects of the learning process and want to keep your career options open. You will also be eligible to receive professional accreditation from the British Psychological Society. From the philosophical foundations of schooling to the political implications of policy, education is a vast field that has multiple avenues to approach a seemingly straightforward subject. Our degree goes far beyond any classroom and considers education, people and their relationship to the ever-changing world. This BA will prepare you for a career in many different areas, both in the education sector and further afield. It can provide the first step towards a career as a teacher or researcher, and supports roles in publishing, policy making, the voluntary and public sectors, as well as many more. The curriculum draws on research carried out in the Department to keep the course content relevant and up to date. The breadth of modules allows you to create your own pathway through the course. As well as the psychology pathway, we offer pathways in sociology and geography, or you can choose to focus purely on education studies.Course structureYear 1 modulesCore modules:Introduction to Psychological Research begins to look at the key research methods and statistical techniques used in psychology, from the design of psychological study to data collection and analysis.Contemporary Issues and Evidence in Education introduces you to a range of contemporary issues in education and the nature and scope of the supporting evidence. With a range of guest speakers from across the Department you will gain a grounding in a variety of issues at stake.Foundations of Psychology in Education serves as a basis for a scientific understanding of psychological principles, processes and theories in education.Introduction to Psychological Research You will also study an Introduction to Psychological Research focusing on a particular area of psychology. You can choose between two areas, either Cognitive and Biological or Developmental and Social.Optional modules:In recent years, optional modules have included: Disability and Educational Needs: What’s so ‘Special’ about SEND?Historical and Philosophical Ideas of EducationInternational and Comparative EducationYear 2 modulesCore modules:Educational Research Methods will help you understand the purposes and implications of educational research. You will develop a critical appreciation of the different ways in which research can be carried out in education, and how to assess the quality of educational research.Social and Developmental Psychology develops a broad knowledge and understanding of research and theory in some of the key areas of developmental psychology such as language, play and friendships. It also covers key areas of social psychology, such as studies of groups, group processes and intergroup relations.Cognitive and Biological Psychology explores different approaches to cognitive and biological psychology, with particular emphasis on visual neuroscience and visual cognition. It covers areas such as memory, decision-making and attention as well as perception of colour, form, motion and depth.Advanced Psychological Research develops your experimental design and statistics knowledge to fulfil the requirements for a BPS-recognised degree in Psychology. In this module you will discuss psychological research in a tutorial contex