Psychology and Anthropology BSc

About the Course

Psychology is often defined as the study of behaviour and of the mind. Through their theories and research, psychologists investigate a diverse range of topics including:

• the relationship between the brain, behaviour and subjective experience;
• human development;
• the influence of other people on the individual’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour;
• psychological disorders and their treatment;
• the impact of culture on the individual’s behaviour and subjective experience;
• differences between people in terms of their personality and intelligence;
• people’s ability to acquire, organise, remember and use knowledge to guide their behaviour.

Anthropology at Brunel is an outward-looking and cosmopolitan social sciences, its subject being the documentation and explanation of cultural diversity. You will apply the ideas of anthropology to practical issues and will gain a solid grounding in the social sciences (sociology, psychology and media and communications). Special emphasis is placed on cross-cultural studies.

About Social Sciences at Brunel

Psychology, sociology, anthropology and communications together constitute the Social Sciences at Brunel, and we offer a wide range of BSc courses across these subject areas.

The focus of study is upon all aspects of human behaviour: its personal, social and cultural dimensions. We have a strong research reputation that enhances all our undergraduate teaching, with particular expertise in areas such as: neuropsychology; psychoanalysis; developmental psychology; social psychology; contemporary social structure and social change; the role of science and the media; ethnicity and kinship; and power, inequality and prejudice in modern societies.

We provide a stimulating introduction to the social sciences by teaching a broad base of cross-disciplinary modules in the first year. Thereafter, you specialise increasingly in your particular disciplines.
Our courses will help you to develop specific skills in the practical methods associated with your discipline, including ethnographic fieldwork. A full range of laboratory and technical facilities is used in the teaching of experimental psychology, including video production, psychophysics and information technology.

We provide a stimulating introduction to the social sciences by teaching a broad base of cross-disciplinary modules in the first year. Thereafter, you specialise increasingly in your particular disciplines.

Our courses will help you to develop specific skills in the practical methods associated with your discipline, including ethnographic fieldwork.

Aims

This degree ensures that you gain an understanding of the breadth and diversity of Psychology. Combining this with Anthropology, this course is particularly suited to students who are curious about their own and other societies and who are interested in understanding social processes and meanings in the world around them.

Rigorous training is provided in a range of methodologies and research skills appropriate to psychology and anthropology.

Enquiries

Dr Gustav Kuhn
Admissions Tutor

Helen Stevenson
Admissions and Marketing Administrator
School of Social Sciences
Tel: +44 (0)1895 265952
Email: helen.stevenson@brunel.ac.uk

Special Features

Psychology

• The degree provides graduate basis for registration and membership with the British Psychological Society (assuming a 2.2 or above is achieved). This can be important as an entry qualification for postgraduate professional training in psychology.
  
  
• A full range of laboratory and technical facilities is used in the teaching of experimental psychology, including brain imaging facilities (fMRI, EEG), psychophysics, eye tracking and the use of information technology.
  
  
• We enjoy greater funding than many other comparable academic schools and departments in Britain.

Anthropology

• Students can carry out fieldwork placements overseas. Roughly half of our students spend their second work placement abroad, engaged in research in countries such as: South Africa, Botswana, India and Nepal.
  
  
• This course differs from anthropology courses at other universities because of the broad social science perspective from which it is taught.
  
  
• You are encouraged to seize the valuable opportunity offered by our membership of the European Union’s SOCRATES scheme to study at one of 15 continental European universities.
  
  
• Research has an international reputation, with particular expertise in child-focused anthropological research, medical anthropology, psychological and psychiatric anthropology and the anthropology of education and learning.

Facts and Figures

School of Social Sciences

Psychology, Sociology, Social Anthropology and Communications together constitute the Social Sciences at Brunel, and we offer a wide range of BSc courses across these subject areas.

The focus of study is upon all aspects of human behaviour and its personal, social and cultural dimensions. We have a strong research reputation that enhances all our undergraduate teaching, with particular expertise in areas such as: neuropsychology; psychoanalysis; developmental psychology; social psychology; contemporary social structure and social change; the role of science and the media; ethnicity and kinship; and power, inequality and prejudice in modern societies.

All of our academic staff are actively engaged in research and many have international reputations in their field. We provide a stimulating introduction to the social sciences by teaching a broad base of cross-disciplinary modules in the first year. Thereafter, you specialise increasingly in your particular disciplines.

Our courses will help you to develop specific skills in the practical methods associated with your discipline, including ethnographic fieldwork. We take particular pride in both the quality of our teaching and the extensive pastoral care of our students.

Course Content

Anthropology

This degree will introduce you to the history, theory and main contemporary issues within the discipline. You will also apply the ideas of anthropology to practical issues in the field of medical anthropology, in the anthropology of childhood and youth, and in the analysis of cultural diversity in Britain, Europe, Africa, parts of Asia, the Pacific and Latin America.

The course addresses contemporary issues such as war, nationalist movements, racial prejudice, inter-ethnic conflicts, and gender inequalities. Popular modules include: British Ethnic Minorities; Kinship and New Directions in Anthropology; Themes in Psychological and Psychiatric Anthropology; Anthropology and International Development; and Medical Anthropology in Clinical and Community Settings.

Psychology

The Psychology courses at Brunel emphasise the everyday and real-life significance of psychology by encouraging you to explore the relationship between the practical and theoretical aspects of the subject, both through your academic study and your work placements.

Typical Modules

Level 1

• Foundations of Psychology I: Learning and Social Psychology
• Foundations of Psychology III: Brain and Cognition
• Statistics and Research Methods I
• Statistics and Research Methods II
• Introduction to Anthropology: Themes
• Introduction to Anthropology: Beliefs and Institutions
  

Level 2

• Advanced Research Methods
• Advanced Data Analysis
• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Biological Psychology
• The History and Theory of Social Anthropology
• Issues in Social Anthropology
  

Level 3 Core

• Dissertation (individual supervision on a topic of your choosing)
  

Level 3 Options

Students take four optional modules, at least three of which should be from the following list:

• Inter-Group Relations                        
• Therapeutic Approaches in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health
• Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder   
• Evolutionary Psychology                
• The Psychology of Consciousness
• Drugs, Hormones and the Brain                              
• Health Psychology
  

The fourth option may be an approved non-Psychology module within the School of Social Sciences.

Dissertation/Project

A major part of the final year is the writing of a joint psychology and anthropology project which is normally based on research carried out during the second work placement. This may include a combination of an ethnographic study and quantitative or qualitative research methods from Psychology to investigate a specific topic of interest.

Teaching and Learning

Our approach

We pursue excellence in both teaching and research. Our aim is to produce degree programmes which combine innovative and classical teaching methods with leading-edge research, and which recognise the value of practical work experience in the learning process. We take great pride in both the quality of teaching and the extensive pastoral care of our students.

Practical skills

This course will help you to develop specific skills in the practical methods associated with psychology. A full range of laboratory and technical facilities is used in the teaching of experimental psychology, psychophysics and the use of information technology.

Staff expertise

All members of the academic staff are actively engaged in research and many have international reputations in their field. Their innovative findings feed into your courses to ensure that teaching is up-to-date.

Hours

Each module will involve two to three hours of contact time per week. Students will also spend a great deal of their time in private study and preparing assignments.

How will I be taught?

Teaching methods include tutorials, seminars, laboratory classes and integrated or formal lectures.

Assessment

Students are assessed using a range of methods, including coursework assignments, poster presentations, oral presentations and seen and unseen examinations.

Employability

Emphasis is on ‘learning by doing’. The course offers a rounded educational package, including the development of transferable skills.  

Students will gain a grounding in new information and communications technologies – these are valuable skills, no matter which career you hope to pursue.

Careers

This degree forms the basis for a wide variety of careers, including development work, social research and journalism. Psychology and Anthropology degrees are valued by business and other employers.

With a good degree in psychology you may go on to train as a clinical, educational or occupational psychologist. Other careers include work with adults or children with disabilities, counselling, personnel management, market research and advertising, and prison and probation work.

Placements

Anthropology degrees at Brunel are virtually unique because they offer both a conventional three-year degree and a ‘thin-sandwich’, four-year degree, which allows you two 15 or 22 week work/field placements during your studies.

Professional work placements are integral to the four-year sandwich course, and allow you to develop invaluable skills. Students on the four-year programme also benefit from our excellent links with prominent external organisations.

Fees for 2012/13 entry

Home/EU students: £9,000 full-time, £6,750 part-time

International students: £11,330 full-time

Brunel is introducing over 1000 new scholarships for 2012, meaning that one in three applicants who join Brunel next year will receive financial support from the University. See our fees and funding page for full details

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2012 Entry

• GCE A-level BBB (General Studies not accepted).
• Irish Leaving Certificate ABBBB.
• Scottish Advanced Highers BBB.
• Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma Grade B in Society, Health and Development plus a B at A-level for Additional and Specialist Learning.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDD in a related subject.
• IBDP 32 points.
• Access Pass, including at least 50% of units with Merit or Distinction.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C to include Science, English and Maths  (please note that these must have been gained by the time you submit your UCAS application).

Entry Requirements for 2011 Entry (click to expand)

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.