Psychology

  • Board: WJEC
  • Syllabus: AS – 2331: A2 – 3331
Modules
  1. AS Approaches in Psychology - The aim is to give all candidates an introduction to the four major psychological approaches: biological, behaviourist, psychodynamic and cognitive. This grounding provides the basis for all future study.
  2. Psychology: Core studies and Applied Research Methods - The theme of this unit is the study of psychological research through existing and new research.
  3. A2 Psychology: Research Methods and Issues in Research - This unit builds on the work done in the second AS module. Candidates develop their ability to analyse and evaluate psychological research in an evidenced and reasoned way.
  4. Psychology: Controversies, Topics and Applications - A fascinating unit looking at the current state of psychology as well as looking at its contributions to such topics as intelligence, adolescence and adulthood, and forensics.
Method of Assessment

AS PY1 - 1 hour 15 minutes (20%) PY2 - 1 hour 45 minutes (30%) A2 PY3 - 1 hour 30 minutes (20%) PY4 - 2 hours 30 minutes (30%)

Further information

This course will provide you with the skills to understand both the foundations of Psychology and the applications at an individual and societal level. This is achieved through studying the approaches to Psychology alongside a significant enquiry into the basis of these approaches. This then allows you to evaluate the role of Psychology in such areas as healthcare, education, sport or crime. The exams at AS consist of short-answer questions whereas at A2 there are data response, short-answer and essay style questions. You do not need to have studied any particular subject at GCSE level for this course but some of the work done in Biology, Physical Education and Mathematics will be useful. It is a subject that has relevance in many different disciplines across the science and social science spectrum and would be a valuable addition to any university application in these areas. It is a course designed to give you a flavour of what university education will be like and will therefore provide you with the appropriate skills to take on this challenge. It also has relevance in a vast array of industries including Medicine,nBusiness Management, Sport Psychology and Government.