Psychology Course Card

Qualifications  AS Level Psychology  Five hours of guided learning per week for one year.  A Level Psychology  Five hours of guided learning per week for two years.

Psychology

Level 3 AS & A Level in Psychology

Entry requirements To be able to access the course content, it is recommended that you should have at least grade C or higher in GCSE English Language, GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Science or Level 2 BTEC Applied Science. A reference and interview are also required.

AS and A Level Psychology are rigorous academic qualifications; you will have the opportunity to gain specific knowledge, understanding and skills that are relevant to future work and study. The course is assessed through end of course exams; 2 exams for the AS Level and 4 exams for the full A Level in Psychology. There is no coursework to complete.

What will I learn on this course?

Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. This course is like a combination of English, Mathematics, Science & History, as you need to be able to: read and write about psychological studies; analyse data collected from psychological studies; think critically and understand the scientific method of enquiry; and remember important names and key information.

The AS Level in Psychology consists of two units:  Unit 1  Cognitive Psychology This topic focuses on theories of memory, eye witness testimony and how to improve your memory.  Developmental Psychology This topic looks at theories of attachment and types of attachment, as well as the effects of privation and disruption of attachment.  Research Methods This key aspect of the course is taught alongside the other topics. It focuses on how psychological studies are designed and carried out, how to analyse data and evaluate studies. You also learn about the ethics of studying and manipulating humans for research.  Unit 2  Biopsychology This topic is all about stress. You will learn about how the body responds to stress, how we measure stress and what causes stress. Stress management techniques are also studied.  Individual Differences You will learn about how we define abnormality and use the biological and psychological approaches

to study how abnormality is diagnosed and treated.  Social Psychology This topic looks at conformity and obedience. You will learn about the different theories about why people conform (act like the rest of the group) or instigate social change. You will also learn about Milgram’s (1963) famous study into obedience where 65% of the participants were willing to give a fatal electric shock to a stranger if a man in a white lab coat told them to.

The A Level in Psychology consists of four units, the two detailed above plus:  Unit 3  Relationships – why we form, maintain and cease romantic relationships.  Sex & Gender – looking at the ways in which we differ due to sex and gender.  Eating Behaviour – the different theories of eating behaviour, as well as looking at dieting and eating disorders.  Unit 4  Phobias – how to diagnose and treat phobias.  Media Psychology – how the Media can influence pro- and anti-social behaviour, as well as the psychology of celebrity, fandom and stalking.  Research Methods – this builds on the research methods from the AS units but involves more complicated statistical analysis.

What kinds of students are well-suited to this course?

This course is suitable for motivated, well-rounded students who enjoy learning about people. You will need to be able to remember facts about different theories and studies and be able to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. You will need to be well organised and able to work independently and enthusiastically. Lastly, you need to enjoy reading and writing, learning new terminology and analysing data. This is an academic course assessed only through examinations.

What could I go on to do at the end of my course?

An AS/ A Level in Psychology can lead into a wide variety of careers, such as teaching, educational psychology, market research, product design, sports psychology, public relations and many more. Some of these careers will require further study at university.

Which subjects work well with Psychology?

Psychology combines well with many subjects. There are obvious links with the Level 3 BTEC in Health & Social Care course that features a topic on Health Psychology. Level 3 BTEC Applied Science is relevant as both options involve the use of the scientific method, scientific terminology and data analysis. Level 3 BTEC Creative Media Publication would be a suitable combination for careers in marketing and product development. Level 3 BTEC Sport would be an excellent choice for a career in sports psychology.

Why study Psychology at Ashton?

With small class sizes, a supportive environment and great resources, Ashton is the perfect environment for helping you achieve your potential. At level three, Psychology will give you a good understanding of the core topics and approaches in Psychology and will teach you critical thinking skills, which are useful in both academic study and real life.