Introduction

These pages give an overview of the BSc Psychology programme at the University of York. We outline the overall structure of the course below, and you can find out more detail on the organisation of different elements of the course by following the links. Note that this guide describes the the course as it currently runs. The core structure of the course is stable but we may change some of the details from one year to the next (for example, the order and content of individual teaching blocks and range of advanced modules may change). These pages and the accompanying Handbook provide key information that you will need throughout the course. Once you are enrolled on a particular module you can find much more information about day-to-day requirements, resources (such as reading lists and lecture recordings) and announcements through the Yorkshare VLE (University login required).

Years 1 and 2

Teaching in the first two years consists of three modules per Semester (six per year). Five of these modules form the core topic modules which give a broad coverage of the main areas of Psychology.

Brain & Behaviour. These modules examine the structure and function of the brain as it affects behaviour. It will focus on how basic neuroscience, the effects of brain injury and the latest neuroimaging techniques can be used to explain the brain processes that underpin behaviour and cognition.
Perception & Cognition. These modules discuss the processes through which our senses gain and interpret information about our world. The strand describes in detail how information from our major senses passes to the brain for further processing. Cognitive psychology concerns the underlying nature of human intellectual abilities such as attention, thinking and memory.
Development & Language. These modules focus on how infants and children learn to perceive and interpret the outside world, how they acquire language and how they learn to reason. It also explores abnormalities of development and how development can be affected by deprivation.
Social Psychology & Individual Differences. These modules cover core themes of the social human being including personal relationships, co-operation, personality and individual differences. The clinical aspect of this strand examines the causes of mental illness, including schizophrenia, anxiety and depression.
Research Methods in Psychology. These modules provides students with the practical skills in experimental design, methods and data analysis needed for the programme. Practical classes linked to the other strands furnish the student with hands-on experience in all aspects of psychology as an experimental science.

Year 3

Advanced modules

In the third year students choose advanced modules from a selection offered each year. The topics offered can change from year to year.

These are the Advanced Modules for the academic year 2024-25. Please click on the links to access the information about each of the modules.

BSc students take two modules each semester, one module from each cluster.

Year 3 MSci students take one module in semester 2, which may come from either cluster.

Year 4 MSci students take two modules in semester 1, one from cluster A and one from cluster B, and one module in semester 2 which may come from either cluster.

SEMESTER 1 2024

Cluster A

Cluster B

Year 3: Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Emma Hayiou-Thomas/Lisa Henderson)

Year 4: Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Emma Hayiou-Thomas/Lisa Henderson)

Year 3: Forensic Psychology in Practice (Karisha George)

Year 4: Forensic Psychology in Practice (Karisha George)

Year 3: Mind and Brain (Philip Quinlan)

Year 4: Mind and Brain (Philip Quinlan)

Year 3: Neuroimaging of Vision (Tim Andrews)

Year 4: Neuroimaging of Vision (Tim Andrews)

Year 3: The Psychology of Number, Developmental Disorders and Mathematics Anxiety (Silke Goebel)

Year 4: The Psychology of Number, Developmental Disorders and Mathematics Anxiety (Silke Goebel)

Year 3: The Neurobiology of Depression (David Pitcher)

Year 4: The Neurobiology of Depression (David Pitcher)

Year 3: Moral & Political Psychology (Thomas Davies)

Year 4: Moral & Political Psychology (Thomas Davies)

Year 3: Human Risk (Rob Jenkins)

Year 4: Human Risk (Rob Jenkins)

Year 3: Body Representations (Catherine Preston)

Year 4: Body Representations (Catherine Preston)

Year 3: The Cognitive Psychology of Sleep (Gareth Gaskell)

Year 4: The Cognitive Psychology of Sleep (Gareth Gaskell)

Year 3: Applications of Forensic Psychology (John Fisher)

Year 4: Applications of Forensic Psychology (John Fisher)

Year 3: Cyberpsychology (Sally Quinn)

Year 4: Cyberpsychology (Sally Quinn)

Year 3: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Adolescent Decision-Making & Social Cognition (Maryann Noonan)

Year 4: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Adolescent Decision-Making & Social Cognition (Maryann Noonan)

Year 3: Developmental Social Neuroscience (Elena Geangu)

Year 4: Developmental Social Neuroscience (Elena Geangu)

BSc only**: Literature Survey

BSc only**: Literature Survey

BSc only**: Advanced Research Methods (Dan Baker)

Year 4 MSci Clinical & Developmental Pathways only

Year 4: Child & Adolescent Mental Health (Melanie Forster)

Year 3: Clinical Psychology and Applications of CBT*

(Sam Rankin & Laura Sweeney)

Year 3: Clinical Psychology and Applications of CBT*

(Sam Rankin & Laura Sweeney)

* Clinical modules are capped at 90 places and have a separate application process. Only students in Year 3 can apply for the Clinical modules.

** MSci students take a compulsory version of this module in Semester 1 of Year 3

SEMESTER 2 2025

Cluster A

Cluster B

Year 3: Animal Cognition and Communication (Katie Slocombe)

Year 4: Animal Cognition & Communication (Katie Slocombe)

Year 3: The Transition to Parenthood (Liz Meins)

Year 4: The Transition to Parenthood (Liz Meins)

Year 3: Social Cognitive Development (Harriet Over)

Year 4: Social Cognitive Development (Harriet Over)

Year 3: Bilingualism & Cognition (Angela de Bruin)

Year 4: Bilingualism & Cognition (Angela de Bruin)

Year 3: Drug Addiction (Gavin Phillips)

Year 4: Drug Addiction (Gavin Phillips)

Year 3: Perception of Actions and Human Behaviour (Nick Barraclough)

Year 4: Perception of Actions and Human Behaviour (Nick Barraclough)

Year 3: Fear and Survival (Cade McCall)

Year 4: Fear and Survival (Cade McCall)

Year 3: Microanalysis of Communication (Maurice Waddle)

Year 4: Microanalysis of Communication (Maurice Waddle)

Year 3: Applications of Forensic Psychology (John Fisher)

Year 4: Applications of Forensic Psychology (John Fisher)

Year 3: The Neurobiology of Depression (David Pitcher)

Year 4: The Neurobiology of Depression (David Pitcher)

Year 3: The Psychology of Consciousness & Free Will (Alex Reid)

Year 4: The Psychology of Consciousness & Free Will (Alex Reid)

Year 3: Psychology of Health (Karla Evans)

Year 4: Psychology of Health (Karla Evans)

Year 3: Memory and the Brain (Aidan Horner)

Year 4: Memory and the Brain (Aidan Horner)

Year 3: Adult Mental Health: Schizophrenia & Psychoses (Clara Humpston)

Year 4: Adult Mental Health: Schizophrenia & Psychoses (Clara Humpston)

Year 3: Understanding Mental Health and its Disorders: A transdiagnostic approach (Scott Cairney/Dan Denis)

Year 4:Understanding Mental Health and its Disorders: A transdiagnostic approach (Scott Cairney/Dan Denis)

Year 3: Identity & Prejudice (Lucy Grigoryan)

Year 4: Identity & Prejudice (Lucy Grigoryan)

Year 3: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention (Karla Evans)

Year 4: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention (Karla Evans)

Year 3: Face Perception (Mike Burton)

Year 4: Face Perception (Mike Burton)

Year 3 Students only: Cognitive Anomalies, Decision-Making & Democracy (Philosophy)

Please note you will need to apply for this module as an elective: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/manage/programmes/elective-modules/

Year 3 Students Only: Experimental Philosophy: The Psychology of Philosophy (Philosophy)

Please note you will need to apply for this module as an elective: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/manage/programmes/elective-modules/

Year 3: Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology*

(Sam Rankin & Laura Sweeney)

Year 3: Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology*

(Sam Rankin & Laura Sweeney)

* Clinical modules are capped at 90 places and have a separate application process. Only students in Year 3 can apply for the Clinical modules.

Project

The final year research project is the single most important component of the degree and requires students to conduct and write up an original piece of research, working closely under the supervision of a member of staff. Students have access to all the sophisticated research facilities of the Department. Recent projects have investigated a wide range of topics, for example:

‘Boredom eating’ as a possible cause of obesity
The neural basis of face perception
fMRI assessment of simulated visual loss seen in glaucoma
The relationship between social class and expressive language in primary school children
The effects of albinism on social behaviour in a captive population of wallabies
English and Mandarin speakers’ perception of time.

Each year several of the best undergraduate projects are published in mainstream scientific journals, and many of our projects have won prestigious national prizes. For example, York project students have won the national EPS/BAAS prize a record 5 times.

Guidance on Third Year Modules

From the end of the second year onwards, students will receive detailed guidance on procedures governing the literature survey, project and other 3rd year modules from the Director of Teaching & Learning (Prof. Paul Bishop) - this information is currently provided via the Student Documentation wiki and through special teaching sessions. You can view the key written guidance given to current advanced module, project, and literature survey students. However, you should note that this guidance (including deadlines, availability of particular modules, supervisors etc.) may change from one year to the next.

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