Applied and Clinical Psychology BSc (Hons)

Psychology is a very broad topic encompassing many sub-disciplines and while this course has a focus on clinical and applied areas, all BPS-accredited degrees share a common core syllabus, ensuring that all graduates have a shared foundation to support the wide range of specialisms that you may go on to pursue. Specialist areas include Forensic, Health, Neuro, Clinical, Educational Academia, Research and Teaching and Counselling. You can find out more on the BPS website: https://careers.bps.org.uk/

Our personal tutor approach ensures that you have regular contact with a tutor who can provide academic guidance to build your confidence as you progress. You’ll be led through the course with regular communication and support to guide your study and give you feedback and encouragement on your progress. You’ll use interactive learning materials that will help you to grasp the key concepts and give instant feedback, and receive written feedback on your coursework to develop the academic and professional skills that you will need.

Our distance learning course is designed to provide emphasis on practical and applied work. This means you will learn how to conduct research, set up experiments and questionnaires online, collect and analyse data, and write reports to a professional standard. Through our research participation system, you will have the opportunity to act as both a participant in a diverse range of studies, and researcher in your own right.

All BPS-accredited degrees culminate in a final empirical research project which gives you the opportunity to investigate a question that interests you, with the help of an expert supervisor. This project will give you valuable, CV-enhancing skills and experience, as you will be required to make an application to a human research ethics panel, as well as designing and implementing empirical research, and analysing and reporting data.

Modules

Due to the structure of this course, there will be instances where you will study two modules simultaneously during a trimester. You will be supported by your tutors to help manage your workload and assessment deadlines.

Please contact one of our advisers to discuss the pacing of this course and the options available to match your circumstances.

Becoming a Researcher

All psychologists require basic skills in understanding, designing, reporting and communicating research and this module will provide a grounding in these areas. As a science, psychology is driven by the empirical analysis of human behaviour. In this module you’ll start with a question of interest and formulate hypotheses to test, design, and implement a study to collect data to be analysed. You will then go on to develop an understanding of how to apply statistical analyses to data in order to draw valid and reliable inferences as to how and why people think and behave in a certain way.

The Psychology of Everyday Life

This module provides specialists and non-specialists with a psychological perspective on various issues of everyday life. We look at topical issues in order to demonstrate how psychology can provide insight into people's behaviour, and how we benefit from a scientific psychological approach.

Clinical and Health Psychology

This module provides an introduction to clinical and health psychology and the application of psychological knowledge to an understanding of health and illness, as well as interventions which can be used to improve health or relieve the symptoms of illness. You will also examine how we define and classify mental ill-health, and the different models that psychologists have used to understand the causes of mental ill-health. You’ll study specific health problems, both physical and mental, including eating disorders, stress, trauma, and sexual disorders, and review the different methods that can be used by clinical and health psychologists to enhance people's physical and mental health, on individual, family and population levels. This module will be of real interest to those who would like to pursue a career in clinical or health psychology, or related areas, such as forensic psychology.

Self and Society

Here you will be introduced to social psychology, developmental psychology and individual differences. You’ll explore topics such as social cognition, attribution and group processes, the foundations that make up social psychology and also how language and cognitive and emotional development affect developmental psychology. You will discover how to apply your learning to the real world, allowing you to observe how social groups form and function, as well as applying psychological theories to real issues and global challenges.

Mind and Behaviour

Here you will gain an overview of the theoretical, philosophical and historical foundations that underpin the discipline of psychology. You will then learn and analyse the current model used to understand mind and behaviour, specifically cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.

Research in Action: Statistical Thinking

This module develops your statistical thinking, enabling you to approach research questions with skill and understanding. You’ll develop a critical understanding of the principles of data collection and analysis in Psychology, and consider the theoretical bases, merits and limitations of various quantitative methods. You will focus on theoretical and conceptual ideas underpinning statistics and research design with an emphasis here on understanding the logic behind the techniques covered, and behind choices that researchers make. You will gain experience with practical and computer-based examples before applying your skills by conducting a formal piece of research.

Social Psychology, Development and Difference

Building on your knowledge from "Self and Society" you will explore the deeper content of this subject, looking at how certain behaviours are shaped through our individual development and through different social contexts. This will challenge you to combine your knowledge across different subject areas and will present a coherent view of a person, where our social and developmental changes are related to the actual, imagined or implied presence of others. You will learn by focusing on an issue (e.g. attraction, relationships) and consider each topic issue from an individual, social and developmental view.

Brain, Body and Mind

Brain, Body and Mind draws heavily on psychology, neuroscience, individual differences, and evolutionary approaches to provide a critical understanding of mind and behaviour. You’ll explore a range of topics that are critical to understanding the biological and evolutionary theory which supports human and animal behaviour before examining cognitive and individual difference models of the mind and behaviour.

Research in Action: Qualitative Methods and Psychology in Practice

This module will include the teaching of qualitative methods in psychology. It will examine the design, collection and analysis of qualitative data. The module will also outline key aspects of a qualitative approach such as reflexivity and epistemology. There will be specific sessions dedicated to particular approaches in qualitative methods including thematic analysis, grounded theory and discourse analysis. As part of this module, you will analyse qualitative data and utilise your findings to formulate research questions. Through this you will develop an awareness of the ethical and practical implications of conducting professional research, including the application of professional codes of conduct and ethics in research and practice.

Lifespan Development

This module aims to give students an overview of human development across the lifespan, including how childhood experiences affect later development. Different approaches to human development will be discussed and compared, and students will be encouraged to apply theories of development to particular case studies. Some of the different approaches to human development to be studied may include attachment theory, Erikson’s psychosocial theory, theories of aging, and biopsychosocial approaches.

Diagnosis and Formulation in Mental Health

Here you’ll be introduced to diagnosis and formulation in mental health as well as a variety of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. You’ll focus on developing your knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for mental health problems, looking at the diagnostic classification systems, and also establishing an understanding of the current view of mental health problems through formulation.

Atypical Development

We will introduce a variety of developmental conditions including Downs' Syndrome, Williams' Syndrome, dyslexia and autism, and analyse the biological, cognitive and social profiles of each. You will gain an insight in to the main symptoms of each clinical condition and the prognosis for those diagnosed. We will do this by discussing published literature and studying symptoms of children and adults with these disorders in video demonstrations. We will also cover the effects of early brain injury, and problems in the assessment and diagnosis of developmental disorders. You will also consider ethical issues and working with clinical populations. This module will be particularly useful for you if you are considering a career related to development, educational or clinical psychology or a career working with typically developing children or children with special needs.

Psychological Therapies

This module provides an introduction to some of the main methods of psychological interventions used by clinical, counselling and health psychologists in therapeutically treating people. These interventions are used to assist people in strengthening their coping capacities and help work through emotional difficulties. The module will cover some of the core theoretical principles and techniques used in various psychological interventions, when working with individuals (both children and adults) as well as with families and groups.

Clinical Psychology

You'll learn what it takes to work in the profession of Clinical Psychology, including an understanding of the historical context, as well as the current political and cultural context of the practice of clinical psychology. Over the course of the module, you will be introduced to the core skills (Assessment, Formulation, Intervention, Evaluation, Communication, Research and Reflection) used by clinical psychologists, and encouraged to critically evaluate their application across a range of settings and with a variety of client groups.

Emotion

Emotions are arguably of central importance to all aspects of human life. Behaviours such as caring for young, pursuing goals, avoiding danger, defending resources, and maintaining relationships are unimaginable (in humans at least) without the mediating and motivating effects of emotions. Even rationality and reasoning may depend on emotion according to some researchers. The study of emotion has advanced considerably since early theoretical investigations in the beginning of the 20th century until developments in the last decade in many psychology areas. You will discover these exciting developments in theory and practice.

Psychology Project

Your major project gives you the opportunity to develop your own research project, from initial planning through to conducting and collecting your data and then analysing the results. You will evaluate your research, carry out an in-depth literature review of that area, formulate hypotheses based on that review and design a study to test these, whilst at all times ensuring you maintain an ethical approach. This project also gives you the opportunity to explore a topic that is of interest of you at a much deeper level.

Cyberpsychology

The Internet is an essential part of 21st century living. This module will look at psychological explanations of being online and will approach questions such as do we behave differently online? And how is the Internet used to initiate and maintain relationships? This will include theoretical explanations of how people communicate online, including research that looks at positive attributes of Internet use (e.g. developing relationships) and negative outcomes of Internet use (e.g. 'addiction' or ‘trolling’). This module will explore the role of social network sites in our everyday lives, with particular reference to self, identity, social influence, relationships and group dynamics.

Assessment

Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to help you and your tutors measure your progress. These will include exams, essays, reports and presentations. You’ll write a dissertation in your final year to demonstrate your learning and show us you’ve developed the knowledge and skills to complete the course.

Our Applied and Clinical Psychology BSc (Hons) degree is studied 100% online.

You’ll study through Canvas, our world-class online Learning Management System (LMS), which can be accessed from your phone, pc or tablet at home or on the move. Canvas provides instant access to study materials, forums, and support from tutors and classmates, as well as enabling easy submission of your assignments.

On successful completion of your studies, you’ll be invited to attend a graduation ceremony on campus. If attending the ceremony in person is not possible then we’ll arrange to have your certificate sent to you.

To help you land your dream job, our Employability Service will work with you throughout your time at ARU and after you graduate.

We offer:

• careers advice, including one-to-one online and telephone appointments with our experienced advisers
• help with your CV, job searches, applications and interview preparation
• an online portal packed with useful careers resources
• our Employability Programme, which helps you hone the skills employers say they want in graduates.

Fees

The full tuition fee for this course is £14,100.

The tuition fees you pay each year for the Applied and Clinical Psychology BSc (Hons) will be:

Year 1 – £2,350

Year 2 – £2,350

Year 3 – £3,525

Year 4 – £2,937.50

Year 5 – £2,937.50

Accredited Prior Learning may reduce the tuition fees. This will be confirmed once your application has been submitted.

Funding

Government-backed part time student loans are available to cover the cost of studying this course. These are subject to eligibility and terms and conditions.

We offer payment by instalments, so you can spread the cost of studying with us.

For military students: You can use your ELCs towards this course. ARU is a recognised ELCAS provider (number 1007). Please contact your Learning Centre for details of ELC, eligibility and how to apply.

For more information on how you fund your studies please see our funding page.

In its simplest form, psychology is the study of the human psyche. It offers valuable insight into our identities and explores the scientific reasoning behind our innermost thoughts and feelings.

But beyond this, the study of psychology is crucial to understanding not just the individual, but their impact on society and vice versa – it explores how we interact with one another, how our structures and organisations operate, and how group environments influence us.

Therefore, a degree in psychology is not simply a study of the human mind – it is a path to tackling the societal challenges of the future.

In the 21st century, the subject is more relevant – and more necessary – than ever. With a rising awareness of mental health and increasing demand for support, psychologists are at the forefront in dealing with some of the most pressing issues of our time and understanding how our current circumstances influence these, from major events such as the COVID-19 crisis to changing societal factors, such as the ubiquity of social media and its impact on our daily lives.

Our Applied & Clinical Psychology BSc will give you a broad understanding of the complexities of human behaviour, mental health and wellbeing, and social psychology amongst other topics, as well as research methodology and data analysis, helping you build a strong foundation for further study and future specialisation.

Our undergraduate degree gives you the core knowledge required to specialise in the future. Armed with a thorough understanding of theory, as well as the research and analytical skills this degree will teach you, you’ll be well equipped to pursue specialisms of your choosing and flourish in any number of psychology-based careers.

An Applied & Clinical Psychology MSc can lead to a wide range of career opportunities. These include but are not limited to therapy and counselling roles, health and sport psychology, industrial and organisational positions and forensic psychology, amongst others.

Although these are amongst the most common fields for psychology graduates, this degree is highly appealing to employers across industries as it equips you with a number of universally applicable skills, including insight and analytical abilities, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication.

For this reason, it’s a versatile qualification with rich career potential, and with a distance learning degree from ARU, you’ll also master several additional soft skills which are highly useful in the workplace – these include organisation, time management, the ability to work independently and a high level of IT literacy thanks to our online learning platforms.

Whilst studying, you’ll undertake an in-depth exploration of research methods and data analysis, a subject you’ll engage with first-hand throughout your learning. You’ll learn how to formulate hypothesis and devise research methods to test these, collecting and analysing data to find answers. You’ll also explore the potential ethical issues that sometimes face researchers and have the opportunity to make your own application to a human research ethics panel whilst conducting research of your own.

As part of the course, you’ll also have the opportunity to pursue topics of your own choosing and conduct research on subjects of interest, as well as gaining a wider understanding of psychology which will enable you to specialise in the future.

Our course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) – a must for those looking to pursue psychology careers. With our Applied & Clinical Psychology MSc, you’ll have the chance to study this fascinating subject from a range of different perspectives, using an interdisciplinary approach to delve beyond the surface of the subject to ask questions and discover answers.

At every step of your distance learning journey with ARU, you’ll receive outstanding support from your course tutor, with frequent communication whenever you need it and written feedback on all assignments. You’ll study via Canvas, an online Learning Management System which gives you access to learning resources and allows you to communicate with staff and other students.

This course is designed to be completely flexible, meaning no matter what your schedule looks like, your studies fit around your life, not the other way round, so you can learn at a pace that suits you.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in psychology, this degree is the stepping stone that will bring you closer to your ambitions, and our standard entry requirements for this course are listed above. 

But there are other qualities we look for in a psychology student, and if you have an interest in human behaviour, what makes us who we are and what factors influence our behaviour, this course is ideal for you. 

Equally, if you have a curious nature, you’ll fit right in – this course highly encourages inquisitive students to ask challenging questions and find answers through research and analysis.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to study Applied & Clinical Psychology with us, apply today. 

Find out more about this course and more on our blog: 

• 10 Reasons To Study Psychology With Us
• How Does Distance Learning Work?
• Want To Steer Your Career In Tough Times? Try Distance Learning