Business Psychology - BSc (Hons)

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

Business Psychology is a three-year programme.

Teaching and assessment

Modules are taught by weekly lectures, workshops, small group seminars and project supervision. The Psychology Statistics and Practical modules include laboratory practical sessions, statistics classes, computing classes and lectures in statistics and methodology.

Most modules are assessed by examination and coursework in equal measure. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks count towards your final degree result. Our assessment methods are varied and will include, but are not limited to, examinations, written assignments and essays, group work and oral presentations

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The  programme aims to:

• provide a programme that will attract and meet the needs of both those contemplating a career in business psychology and those motivated primarily by an intellectual interest in psychology.
  
• contribute to widening participation in higher education by offering a wide variety of entry routes.
• provide a sound knowledge and systematic understanding of principal approaches and perspectives in psychology, with emphasis on improving working life.
• develop a critical awareness and appraisal of the different approaches to psychology and related disciplines, and to introduce students to a range of different theoretical and methodological perspectives.
• offer a range of modules covering foundations of psychology, as well as specialised modules in business psychology.
• provide teaching which is informed by current research and practice, and which requires students to engage with aspects of work at the frontiers of knowledge.
• enable students to manage their own learning and to carry out independent research, including research into areas of psychology they have not previously studied.
• develop general critical, analytical and problem solving skills which are applicable in a wide range of different applied and non-applied psychological and extra-psychological settings.
• provide opportunities for the development of personal, communication, research and other key skills appropriate for graduate employment both in the psychology professions and other fields.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:

• psychology statistics, practical experimentation and research from a theoretical and practical application.
• how interpersonal and group behaviour affects individuals.
• how cognition and biological processes play a role in human behaviour and experience.
• personality and individual differences, and the impact they have on individuals and groups.
• the historical, philosophical and theoretical issues in psychology.
• the relationship between psychology and allied disciplines.
• the different frameworks in psychology, and an ability to demonstrate different levels of description and explanation.
• theory and practice of Business Psychology as applied to individuals, groups, and organisations.

Intellectual skills

You will develop intellectual abilities in the following:

• be able to undertake critical reflection on particular issues in the field of psychology
• communicate ideas and research findings effectively and fluently by oral discussion including in groups
• demonstrate findings by means of written analysis and interpretation
• be able to make critical evaluation and exposition of ideas
• demonstrate development of writing and reading skills
• use effective personal planning and project management skills
• demonstrate self-reflection and development from feedback from different sources (e.g., staff and peers, information technology)
• demonstrate clarity in thinking, critical thinking and problem identification.

Subject-specific skills

You will gain subject-specific skills in the following:

• completion of an empirical study in an area of business psychology, under supervision
• demonstrate expertise in the design and conduct of empirical research
• evaluating and selecting appropriate frameworks and methodologies for exploring issues in business psychology
• awareness of ethical principles and approval procedures and being able to apply these to work undertaken by business psychologists
• use of the major analytic techniques employed by business psychologists
• demonstrate competence in use of inferential method of science (deductive methods, single case methods, semiotics)
• reason statistically, and use a range of statistical methods with confidence
• demonstrate competence in the use of psychology-oriented software applications (e.g., database programmes, experiment generators, statistical packages)
• an ability to disseminate psychological information to appropriate bodies, and use of psychological knowledge to enhance this process.

Transferable skills

You will gain transferable skills in the following:

• Communication: organise information clearly; respond to written sources; present information orally; adapt style for different audiences; use of images as a communication tool
• Numeracy: make sense of statistical materials; integrate numerical and non-numerical information; understand the limits and potentialities of arguments based on quantitative information
• Information Technology: produce written documents; undertake online research; communicate using e-mail; process information using databases
• Working with others: define and review the work of others; work co-operatively on group tasks, assignments, and projects; understand how groups function; show leadership and followership
• Improving own learning: explore personal strengths and weaknesses; time management; develop resilience; review working environment (especially student-staff relationship); develop specialist learning skills (e.g. foreign languages); develop autonomy in learning
• Problem solving: identify and define problems; show entrepreneurship; explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them.

Careers

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have gone on to work in:

• government administration
• social welfare
• the Home Office
• the probation service
• teaching
• special needs work
• NHS and health charities
• social work
• public relations
• marketing
• publishing.

Many continue their studies at postgraduate level to qualify as a:

• clinical psychologist
• educational psychologist
• forensic psychologist
• neuropsychologist
• occupational psychologist.

Help finding a job

The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:

• apply for jobs
• write a good CV
• perform well in interviews.

Work experience

The School of Psychology has valuable links with educational establishments, hospitals and prisons in the area, offering you the possibility of both visits and work placements. We also offer a Research Experience Scheme that gives you a taste of working within a research environment.

Career-enhancing skills

Studying for a degree is not just about mastering your subject area. Employers also look for a range of key transferable skills, which you develop as part of your degree.

These include:

• computing skills
• writing and presentation skills
• analytical and problem-solving skills
• the ability to respond to challenges.

You can also gain extra skills by signing up for our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.