About the programme

The BA (Hons) Psychology Studies with Counselling Studies programme helps you understand how counselling fits within the overall discipline of psychology. So, as well as finding out more about behaviour and mental processes, you’ll learn about approaches to theoretical aspects of counselling.
Counselling is an exciting branch of psychology that helps people by enabling choice or change, or reducing their confusion. The knowledge you’ll gain studying counselling will increase your interpersonal abilities and self-awareness – vital skills in many fields.
Many graduates find success in careers which aren’t psychology-related, but where their training is useful. Career opportunities include jobs within social welfare, sport and leisure or education. But the qualification can also open doors to areas such as advertising, media and market research. Alternatively, if you want to pursue a professional qualification in Psychology or Counselling, this course will provide an excellent introduction to further study in these fascinating areas. It’s also very useful if you want to train as a teacher.

Programme modules:

Level 1

• Skills for Learning and Psychology
• Introduction to Psychology 1
• Introduction to Counselling Psychology
• Introduction to Psychology 2
• Research Methods and Statistics 1
• Interpersonal Skills 1

Level 2

• Cognitive Psychology and Psychobiology
• Research Methods and Statistics 2
• Interpersonal Skills 2
• Personality and Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Psychology of Mental Health

Level 3

• Professional Development and Advanced Issues
• Professional Psychological Studies (Research Project)
• Clinical Psychology
• Advanced Issues in Counselling Theory
• Health Psychology
• Psychology of Relationships

Learning materials

Learning materials This programme is offered on a distance-learning basis allowing you to select your learning environment – be it at home, office or a public library. Learning materials are presented in the format of textbooks with specially written Study Guides containing interactive activities; feedback is provided to enable you to monitor your own progress.
Student / student discussion and student / tutor discussion opportunities are available via our Online Student Community Website. Additional learning resources include access to ATHENS and UK Libraries Plus system.

Assessment and examinations

There are two opportunities each calendar year at which to take exams or submit final assessments. There is an expectation that students require this first year to "learn how to learn". This means that the degree award only draws on marks in level II and III for the final classification.
For Single and Major Pathways a Project module is compulsory at level III. This allows students the opportunity to put into practice what they have learnt on their programme.

Duration

Each module requires 200 study hours (approximately six months) but you can study more than one module at a time.

Award

BA (Hons) Psychology with Counselling Studies on successful completion of the full programme. You can also study individual modules, or gain an Ordinary BA degree, a Diploma of Higher Education, a Certificate of Higher Education, a University Undergraduate Certificate or a University Undergraduate Associate Certificate depending on the number of modules completed.