Course description
Psychology and Counselling Studies is an ideal combination of subjects if you’d like to move into a career in the helping professions, or to undertake postgraduate training in applied psychology professions.
You’ll gain understanding of all the core domains of psychology – from how we think and how we see other people, to how people develop, how relationships are formed, and how we can help people in distress. Alongside this, you’ll complete carefully curated counselling modules which link theory, research and skills to the therapeutic context and reflective practice.
This enables you to explore professional and ethical issues in psychology and counselling context – which are applicable to many professional contexts where listening, and understanding are important, such as teaching, nursing and social work. And while the course doesn’t provide professional training as a counsellor, it does mean you’re in an excellent position to apply for training when you graduate.
GBC
This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), such that students gaining at least a Lower Second Class Honours Degree are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS, which means you will have taken your first step towards becoming a professional psychologist.
Want to do something more counselling-based? Or with Forensics, Children or Criminology? Take a look at our other Psychology courses.
**This course is subject to revalidation for September 2024**
Training Course Content
During the first year of study (level 4), students are introduced to psychology and counselling studies as related yet distinct disciplines. During this year of the study, students are introduced to the core domains and applications of psychology and learn a range of study skills and research methods that will form the building blocks for their studies at levels 5 (second year) and 6 (final year ). Alongside this, students are introduced to core counselling theories and the associated skills taking under consideration the professional and ethical issues within psychology and counselling context.
In the second year of this programme (level 5), quantitative and qualitative approaches of scientific inquiry are further explored, providing deeper understanding of research methods for students to engage ethically and effectively in supervised work-based projects. During this year of the study, students will deepen their knowledge and understanding of the core domains within psychology: cognition, biological, social, individual differences, and development, and enhance their understanding of counselling theories and application. One of the most exciting features of level 5 is the work placement module. This module enables student experiential learning and offers the opportunity to consolidate and apply psychology and counselling theory and skills within a work-based context.
In the final year (level 6) options are intended to broaden and deepen critical thinking in psychology and counselling studies, preparing students for employment or further study. Students undertake an empirical dissertation in psychology and counselling studies, and the programme is designed to offer choice and progression whilst also addressing issues of critical evaluation and competing perspectives in psychology and counselling studies. An important feature of level 6 modules is the availability of optional modules focusing on areas of applied psychology and topics embedded within counselling studies where students can choose to specialise in areas of particular interest to them.
Course delivery details
- This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
- Students on the Psychology and Counselling Studies programme gain knowledge, understanding and skills in all the core domains of psychology, whilst also studying key areas of counselling theory, ethics, and their applications.
- Due to the wide range of generic skills, and the rigour with which they are taught, training in psychology and counselling is an excellent foundation that supports entry into a broad range of careers.
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