Psychology, University Certificate
Course code: UC8AH (required to complete application form)
Successfully completing this course will mean that you can access our MSc Psychology course even if you haven't previously studied psychology at degree level. It's the perfect choice if you have recently decided that you have an interest in psychology and wish to pursue it as a career option.
Completing this course will give you 60 credits of psychology which means you can then access conversion courses in psychology, such as our MSc Psychology which is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). You'll gain an introduction to fundamental elements of psychology including cognitive, developmental, social and biological psychology. We'll also introduce you to research methods, a crucial skill you'll need to develop and advance psychological thought.
In addition to introducing you to some ofthe core areas of psychology, studying the University Certificate in Psychology will also allow you to gain the basic concepts and skills you need to successfully study psychology online. Throughout the course, you'll be part of an online community learning and networking with each other through discussion groups and email.
Course Length:
1 year - 18 months
Start Dates:
September, January and May
Entry Requirements:
You will need at least a 2:2 degree or higher.
Fees:
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start Dates | |
| UK/EU | £600 | 3 | £1,800* | Sept/Jan/May |
| Overseas | £840 | 3 | £2,520* | Sept/Jan/May |
* NB: Prices correct for 2012/2013. Subject to annual increase in September 2013.
New flexible payment plans available
Choose from three options:
- Pay only for the modules you are studying
- Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases
- Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
Funding options for undergraduate UK students
Depending on where you are from in the UK, you may be eligible for a part time student loan towards the cost of your undergraduate degree. Find out more about the options available to you.
Career Information:
This course is a first step into a career within psychology and a gateway to our MSc Psychology conversion course which has been devised to confer Graduate basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Course Leader:
Modules Summary:
To successfully complete the University Certificate in Psychology you must pass 60 credits, by completing 3 x 20 credit modules.
Additionally, you will complete our Freshers' module which does not carry any credits but is a valuable addition to the other optional modules that make up the certificate. This skills module will give you an introduction to the psychology department, university systems, online learning and studying psychology in higher education. Please note that there is no charge for the Freshers' Module.
To achieve 60 credits, you will complete three of the 20 credit optional modules from the list below. If your first degree did not include any research methods training, you will be encouraged to select the Research Methods in Psychology module as one of your options.
The order of the modules you can select follows a study pattern which is determined by your start date (i.e. whether you start in September, January or May). Advice and counselling on module choices is available from the programme leader at application and enrolment stages.
Student Profile:
Career Information
This course is a first step into a career within psychology and a gateway to our MSc Psychology conversion course which has been devised to confer Graduate basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Modules
To successfully complete the University Certificate in Psychology you must pass 60 credits, by completing 3 x 20 credit modules.
Additionally, you will complete our Freshers' module which does not carry any credits but is a valuable addition to the other optional modules that make up the certificate. This skills module will give you an introduction to the psychology department, university systems, online learning and studying psychology in higher education. Please note that there is no charge for the Freshers' Module.
To achieve 60 credits, you will complete three of the 20 credit optional modules from the list below. If your first degree did not include any research methods training, you will be encouraged to select the Research Methods in Psychology module as one of your options.
The order of the modules you can select follows a study pattern which is determined by your start date (i.e. whether you start in September, January or May). Advice and counselling on module choices is available from the programme leader at application and enrolment stages.
Core Modules
Core Module
This module has been designed to provide you with an introduction to studying online and the Psychology department within the University of Derby. It will provide you with an online environment in which you can become proficient in the skills required for online study. This is a core, no credit, free of charge, stand alone module to enhance your student experience.
On completion of this module you will be able to:
- understand the requirements to successfully engage with online educational materials
- demonstrate knowledge of, and ability to use discussion boards and other communication tools to support learning
- demonstrate competency in accessing resources to support your learning outside of the written course materials.
Topics covered include:
- Studying online at the University of Derby - introduction to the online environment, time management, navigation of the site, submitting assignments and plagiarism
- Skills for online learning - using online communication tools, online collaborative learning, using interactive learning tools
- Accessing resources - using ATHENS (database), searching for online resources and assessing for academic integrity, using digital resources, Infocus, accessing e-journals, joining SCONUL.
How will I be assessed?
It's 100% coursework.
Credits: 0
Optional Modules
Optional Module
The module aims to develop students’ critical understanding of psychological concepts, theories, and methods relevant to the study of child development. You will be introduced to methods, debates and theories of development. These themes will be related to topics in cognitive and social development. The module will provide you with an understanding of the range of research conducted in developmental psychology.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of concepts, theories and methods in developmental psychology
- demonstrate an ability to describe and discuss key issues in developmental psychology.
Topics covered include:
- Understanding of concepts and theories in developmental psychology
- Understanding of the key issues in developmental psychology
- Understanding of research methods related to developmental psychology
How will I be assessed?
It's 100% coursework.
Credits: 20
Optional Module
In this module, you will be introduced to some of the key concepts included in the study of Social Psychology. You will explore a range of basic social psychological theories that have been developed to explain our engagement with others such as how attitudes develop; how aggressive or altruistic behaviour can be explained; and how our identities influence the ways we view, and are viewed by others. You will be required to apply these conceptual issues to examples taken from everyday life.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of a range of social psychological theories
- demonstrate an understanding of the methodologies and methods used in social psychology.
Topics covered include:
- Introduction to Social Psychology
- Research methods in Social Psychology
- People in groups
- Social Psychology and Cognition
- Pro-social behaviour
- Cultural context of Social Psychology.
How will I be assessed?
It's 100% coursework.
Credits: 20
Optional Module
This module aims to develop your academic understanding of the discipline of psychology from a historical perspective in order to instil an appreciation of the development of psychological traditions that underpin modern psychology training and practice. It will provide you with a structured opportunity to develop the range of skills you need to successfully engage in your programme of study.
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the development of psychology as a discipline
- demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a group to communicate psychological knowledge
- demonstrate competences in a range of study skills and learning strategies appropriate to the discipline of psychology.
Topics covered include:
- Origins of psychology and the historical development of the discipline
- Different perspectives within psychology and their links to theoretical positions and methodological approaches
- Distinctions between academic and professional areas of psychology
- General and discipline specific study skills
- Locating, reading and reviewing psychological literature
- Planning and managing academic work
- Individual and group approaches to learning
- Discipline specific academic writing styles
- Alternative dissemination strategies, including oral presentations.
How will I be assessed?
It's 100% coursework.
Credits: 20
Optional Module
This module will introduce you to the key principles underlying research methods in psychology. You will be taught the need of systematic research methods and will explore the relationship between theory and data in both quantitative and qualitative research. You will learn key principles in research design and will engage in the practical aspects of generating quantitative and qualitative data and how to report the findings of simple psychological studies in a standardised format. In addition, you will engage with Personal Development Planning (PDP) to identify your personal development needs and opportunities for addressing these needs within the module and across your student journey in general.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and principles of psychological research
- demonstrate the ability to design, conduct and report simple psychological studies
- demonstrate the ability to analyse, interpret and report qualitative and quantitative data
- identify and access appropriate opportunities to meet the students own established personal developmental needs.
Topics covered include:
- Research design
- Measurement
- Descriptive statistics
- Inferential testing
- Conducting qualitative research
- Presenting research and research findings.
How will I be assessed?
It's 100% coursework.
Credits: 20
Optional Module
Following a comprehensive introduction to the brain, neural structures and neurons, we will investigate the history of biological psychology and consider key questions, such as whether parts of our brains serve specialised functions and if there are individual differences in brain structure, associated with handedness for example. We will also investigate how our understanding of brain function informs our understanding of selected areas of cognition and behaviour.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between physiological systems and behaviour
- Demonstrate an awareness of the underlying principles of biological psychology/neuroscience.
Topics covered include:
- What is biological psychology?
- The nervous system, neurons and neuronal conduction
- Neurotransmission
- Neurotransmitters and behaviour
- Neuropsychology
- Recording neural activity
- Conceptual and historical issues in biological psychology
- Biological Psychology and everyday life.
How will I be assessed?
It's 100% coursework. You will be given a choice of short topics from which you will be required to answer four short-answer questions.
Credits: 20
Optional Module
You will be introduced to cognitive psychology as a science, providing you with a sound understanding of research into human cognition including areas such as perception, attention, language, memory and thinking. You will also explore everyday applications of cognitive research and develop an understanding of debates in cognitive psychology.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of theory and research into human cognition;
- demonstrate the ability to communicate an academic argument in a clear and concise manner
- show an understanding of the debates surrounding key research areas in cognitive psychology.
Topics covered include:
- What makes cognitive psychology a science?
- Theories, research methods and debates relating to core topics of human cognition
- Topic areas which are considered include: perception, attention, memory, thinking, language, applications of Cognitive Psychology.
How will I be assessed?
It's 100% coursework.
Credits: 20
You will need at least a 2:2 degree or higher.
Apply Now
Applications for Online courses are made through the main University of Derby website.
By clicking on "Apply now" below you will be redirected to the University of Derby website to continue your application process.
Fees
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start Dates | |
| UK/EU | £600 | 3 | £1,800* | Sept/Jan/May |
| Overseas | £840 | 3 | £2,520* | Sept/Jan/May |
* NB: Prices correct for 2012/2013. Subject to annual increase in September 2013.
New flexible payment plans available
Choose from three options:
- Pay only for the modules you are studying
- Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases
- Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
Funding options for undergraduate UK students
Depending on where you are from in the UK, you may be eligible for a part time student loan towards the cost of your undergraduate degree. Find out more about the options available to you.
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