Department of Psychology Durham University Professor Madeline Eacott

1. Department of Psychology Durham University Professor Madeline Eacott

2. Why study Psychology?at Durham University? • Psychology is the 4th most popular A level subject (after English, Maths and Biology) and is amongst the most popular degree choices. • Psychology graduates are highly regarded by employers and have a good chance of finding employment. • Psychology is a broad-based discipline.

3. Why study Psychology?at Durham University? • We have excellent teaching & learning facilities but also high calibre research-active teaching staff. • In the last national research assessment, 95% of our research was recognised as of international quality, 65% as world-leading. • Our degrees are research-led and all of our research feeds into our teaching.

4. Why study Psychology?at Durham University? • We have research strengths in: • Applied, Clinical and Health Psychology • Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience • Developmental Psychology • Social, Emotional and Evolutionary Psychology • Neuroscience of Learning and Memory

5. Why study Psychology?at Durham University? • Routinely amongst the top UK Universities for Entry Standards, Research Quality, Graduate Prospects and Student Satisfaction. • 5th out of 102 Departments in 2012 Good University Guide • 5th from 102 Departments in UK in Graduate Prospects (i.e. measure of first destination of graduates into employment).

6. How to Study Psychology at Durham University We have two single honours courses: Psychology: C800 Psychology: (Applied) C817 • We also have joint/combined Honours courses: • Philosophy and Psychology (CV85) • Education Studies/Psychology (X1C8) • Natural Sciences (CFG0) • Combined Honours in Arts (QR10) • Combined Honours in Social Science (LMV0)

7. Psychology (C800) and Psychology(Applied) (C817) • Both degrees are organized around three broad approaches to the subject: • 1. Cognitive: internal mental processes • How do we remember events? How might emotion affect memory for that event? How can we best help witnesses to crimes give full and accurate witness reports?

8. Psychology (C800) and Psychology(Applied) (C817) • Both degrees are organized around three broad approaches to the subject: • 2. Biological: the biological mechanisms that underlie their behaviour. • How are memory processes organised in the brain? How are some types of memory processes more affected after a brain injury than others? Can this information be used in rehabilitation?

9. Psychology (C800) and Psychology(Applied) (C817) • Both degrees are organized around three broad approaches to the subject: • 3. Social & Developmental: social and developmental context in which they act. • How do memory abilities develop over childhood? Can memories be changed by hearing others’ memories? Are children more vulnerable to suggestion than adults?

10. Psychology (C800) and Psychology(Applied) (C817) • Both degrees are organized around three broad approaches to the subject: • 1. Cognitive: internal mental processes • How do we remember events? How might emotion affect memory for that event? How can we best help witnesses to crimes give full and accurate witness reports? • 2. Biological: the biological mechanisms that underlie their behaviour. • How are memory processes organised in the brain? How are some types of memory processes more affected after a brain injury than others? Can this information be used in rehabilitation? • 3. Social & Developmental: social and developmental context in which they act. • How do memory abilities develop over childhood? Can memories be changed by hearing others’ memories? To what extent should we rely on child witnesses in court? • Students are also instructed in the statistical and methodological techniques that allow them to design and analyse psychological research. 

11. Psychology Psychology (Applied) Should inexperienced drivers be limited in the number of young people they are allowed in the car while driving (Applied Social Psychology)? How is a person’s behaviour influenced by the number, age and status of people with them? (Social Psychology) How can someone with a phobia of travelling in cars following an accident be helped? (Clinical Psychology) Why might people develop and maintain phobias? (Abnormal Psychology) What are the mechanisms of spatial navigation? (Cognitive Psychology) What is the best way to design car navigation systems (SatNav) to support efficient spatial navigation? (Human Factors/ Ergonomics)

12. Psychology Psychology (Applied) What brain processes are involved spatial navigation? (Biological/ Neuropsychology) What methods of rehabilitation/ treatment are most suited to a brain injured patient who has difficulty finding their way? (Clinical Neuroscience) How and when do children learn to represent this object by the word ‘car’? (Developmental Psychology) What are the best methods of encouraging vocabulary acquisition in children? (Educational Psychology) What styles of public health campaign are best suited to the types of people most likely to drink drive? (Health Psychology) Which types of people are most likely to engage in risky behaviour? (Individual Differences)

13. What are the course requirements? • For both courses a minimum of GCSE Mathematics Grade C • C800 Psychology – AAA or equivalents • C817 Psychology (Applied) - ABB or equivalents • Durham University does not include General Studies, Critical Thinking or Extended Projects in this offer. • But Extended Project is nonetheless well regarded.

14. What does the course entail? • All Single / Joint Honours programmes are accredited by the British Psychological Society • N.b. some but not all routes through Natural Science or Combined Honours will be BPS accredited. • Hence, in years 1 and 2 you will study the same core areas on both Psychology and Psychology(Applied) • The final year options make the degrees different…

15. What does the course entail? C800 Psychology Neuropsychology of Memory Developmental Psychology Child Health Psychology Social Psychology The Evolution of Human Behaviour Cognitive Psychology Emotion & Social Cognition The Architecture of Vision Animal Behaviour: Learning, Cognition & Ethology C817 Psychology(Applied) Health Psychology Educational Psychology The Science of Consciousness Applied Developmental Psychology Advanced Research Methods Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience Sex and Gender Psychology Sports Psychology Psychology into Schools Forensic Psychology Psychology third year modules place more emphasis on the theoretical issues relating to the topic. Psychology (Applied) third year modules examine the practical applications of such knowledge.

16. What careers are open to psychology graduates? • The degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) • All students who attain second class degree or higher have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) status with the BPS • GBC status is essential if you want to go on and qualify as a professional psychologist

17. What careers are open to psychology graduates? • Clinical Psychologist • Educational Psychologist • Occupational Psychologist • Forensic Psychologist • Health Psychologist • Sport Psychologist • Neuropsychologist • Academia/ research • Teaching • Caring Professions (medicine/ nursing/ social care) • Media/ marketing/ advertising • Human Resources • Health Promotion • Probation Service

18. What careers are open to psychology graduates? Psychology graduates have many transferable skills: Critical evaluation / analysis Problem solving skills Argument skills Writing and literacy skills Statistical skills (numeracy) Information finding skills Research and measurement skills Computing skills

19. What do Durham Psychology and Psychology(Applied) graduates do? Durham University Psychology is 5th from 102 departments in UK in latest Graduate Prospects (i.e. measure of first destination of graduates into employment).

20. FAQ • Q. Why are the entry grades for Psychology (Applied) lower? • Is it easier?

21. FAQ • Q. What do I look for in a UCAS application? • Academic potential. • This includes predicted grades and previous achievement. • If there are any other factors to be taken into account, please mention them in the reference. • Please be honest in the reference, it is often to the student’s benefit. • An understanding of, and interest in, what studying psychology at university level (and specifically at Durham) involves. • e.g. Durham Psychology does not involve counselling or psychoanalysis, although there are psychology courses that do. • Relevant work experience/shadowing etc. is useful but not necessary. • Reading relevant books is good but they need to be able to do more simply name them.

22. Any other questions?