Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Full Time)

2012

Course overview

The Graduate Diploma provides a route into careers in psychology for students whose first degree is not in the subject or does not have sufficient psychology content for membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

You will graduate with a qualification that is equivalent to an honours degree in psychology and is recognised for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS. This is required for postgraduate training and is the first step in becoming a chartered psychologist working in one of the many areas of professional psychology, including clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, occupational, health and sport psychology.

In this course, you will consider theory and experimental evidence, explore the ‘real world’ applications of psychological theory and research, and develop advanced academic and transferable skills to ensure that you graduate with good career prospects.

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Industrial focus

Offering wide-ranging expertise in a variety of subject areas, our research-active tutors present their work at international conferences and have widely published articles and books. Their experience ensures that teaching is always at the cutting-edge of psychological debate.

Research interests at Solent include:

• Autism
• Attachment and parent-child relationships 
• Behavioural neuroscience 
• Drug use in adolescents and young adults 
•  Ethnic identity 
• Factors affecting health-related behaviour 
• Forensic psychology 
• Institutional research 
• Intimate relationships 
•  Mental representation of objects 
• Psychological well-being 
• Psychopharmacology 
• Representation of graphical information 
• Spirituality 
• Visual short-term memory 
• Visual perception.

Course content

Semester 1

• Social and Developmental Psychology
  This unit will give students an overview of social and developmental psychology. The focus will be on understanding how evidence from each area can be translated into real-world applications, such as cyberbulling, the effects of childcare on psychological development, and reducing antisocial behaviour.
• Mind and Brain 
  This unit gives students an overview of how biology and cognition help us to understand human behaviour, such as perception and problem solving. Students will learn about cognitive neuroscience and how it allows psychologists to understand brain disorders, such as amnesia and aphasia. Throughout the unit students will be encouraged to consider the applications of their knowledge, e.g. brain rehabilitation.
• Understanding Psychological Research
  This unit will develop students’ understanding of theoretical and practical issues around conducting research in psychology. It will enable students to consider issues such as design, analysis and ethical considerations in relation to both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Students will be given opportunities to learn about a variety of methods and also conduct, analyse and write up a scientific research report in accordance with professional guidelines.

Semester 2

• Empirical Project
  Students will independently conduct and write up a piece of psychological research that will allow them to demonstrate their research and time-management skills.
• Psychological Methods and Analysis
  On this unit, students will further develop their understanding of a range of issues and methods (both quantitative and qualitative) used in conducting psychological research. The unit will equip students with the knowledge and skills of applying various data analytic techniques to psychological data and interpret findings.
• The Person in Psychology
  On this unit, students will explore the various conceptual and historical approaches to understanding the person and individual differences.

Assessment
You will be assessed by a wide range of methods. These include coursework essays, practical group-based written reports, individual presentations, assignments, examinations and a major project.

Solent's special features

• Guest speakers
  You will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of chartered psychologists and professionals working in fields closely related to psychology, such as health promotion. We also invite speakers who will help you to understand the perspective of people directly affected by the issues covered on the course.
• Volunteer research assistant scheme
  In an increasingly competitive job market, gaining experience while studying can make your CV stand out from the rest. This scheme provides the opportunity to work closely with experienced researchers and expand your knowledge of psychological theories and methodologies.
• Journal Club and departmental seminars
  At Journal Club staff and students engage in a lively discussion of peer-reviewed papers in psychology and departmental seminars offer a chance to hear about the research activities at Solent.
• Laboratories
  An extensive range of video, audio, computer, and psychological laboratory equipment is available for conducting research in all major branches of the discipline. Facilities include: an observation laboratory with two-way mirror; laboratories for cognitive, psychophysiology and final-year project work and a dedicated computer laboratory.
• Software
  Major psychological teaching/research software includes MEL LAB, SuperLab and apparatus for psychophysiological work. You will also have access to psychology e-resources such as PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and other databases.
• Field trips
  Students have presented at conferences in Washington DC and Ireland, as well as at regional conferences such as Winchester.