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Teaching

Students are taught through a combination of different learning and teaching methods. Lectures allow for the presentation and introduction of key topics, including both traditional and contemporary sources, which allow students to begin their learning. This is then supported by seminars that enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures. Subject specific skills are the focus of practical classes and workshops (for example, understanding statistical data analysis or political discourse analysis).

The course also has a keen focus on experiential learning, as there is good evidence that this can greatly enhance the student learning experience. Therefore, such methods will be used such as problem-based learning, whereby students will apply theory and content from psychology and politics to address real world, global issues (e.g. the role of AI in the workplace, tackling climate change, understanding Brexit, the rise of populist politics and global pandemics). Such global issues will be themes that run through the course, and as such will be covered elsewhere in other learning and teaching.

Furthermore, the role of research in the learning and teaching methods of this course will be central to all areas. Such research-informed teaching and learning will include practical research classes where students put into practice research methods they have learnt as well as focusing on research in directed study, group activities, assessments and problem-based learning.

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip them for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement.  A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the Personal Academic Tutoring system enables students to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help them to flourish and be successful.

In addition, meetings with Personal Academic Tutors (PAT) are scheduled on at least four occasions in the first year. This will include two group sessions as part of modules, and individual meetings. Students are scheduled to meet their PAT’s on three occasions in each of the other years of a course.

Contact time

In a typical week, students will have around 10-12 contact hours of teaching.  The precise contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected and in the final year there is normally slightly less contact time in order to do more independent study. 

Typically class contact time will be structured around:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Tutorials
• Use of course Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard) for online activities

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, students are expected to undertake around 24 hours of personal self-study per week.  Typically, this will involve completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and online, and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources. 

Duration

• 3 years full-time
• 4-6 years part-time

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some classes can be scheduled in the evenings.

Teaching staff

Students will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes Politics and Psychology staff, the latter being from a range of psychology backgrounds including Counselling Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Occupational Psychology and with research specialisms such as emotions, evolutionary approaches to behaviour, positive psychology and individual differences.

Teaching is informed by research and consultancy, and the majority of lecturers on the course have (or are currently working towards) a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. 

You can learn more about Psychology with Politics staff by visiting our Psychology staff profiles and Politics staff profiles.

Assessment

A range of assessment methods are used to enable students to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes. Literacy and critical thinking around psychology and politics is developed and assessed through assignments such as essays, literature reviews, critical reviews of journal papers, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, report writing, political discourse analysis, etc. Indeed, assessments aim to develop skills such as problem solving, research, organisation, planning, and effective communication. Effective and fluent written, oral and visual communication is enhanced further through assessments that use posters and PowerPoint presentations, video and webpage design, whilst the use of group work for assessment enables better team working and the development of leadership skills. Lastly, a number of modules use weblogs, e-portfolios and case studies to develop and assess a range of skills including reflection and independent learning.  

Furthermore the course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments.  Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.  

Assessment methods include; Essay, Exam, Practical Report File, Reflective Log, Personal Development Plan, Discussion paper, Public Communication, Research Funding Bid, Literature Review, Research Proposal, Presentation (group and individual), Research Project, Poster Presentation, Case Study, Portfolio, Policy Briefing, Extended Essay, Workbook, Political Discourse Analysis.

The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional modules taken, but a typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:

Year 1

• 2 Essays
• 1 Multiple Choice Exam
• 2 Practical Report Files
• 2 Reflective Logs
• 1 Personal Development Plan
• 1 Discussion paper

Year 2

• 1 Public Communication
• 1 Research Funding Bid
• 1 Essay
• 1 Literature Review
• 1 Practical Report File
• 1 Research Proposal
• 1 Report
• 1 Political Discourse Analysis

Year 3

• 1 Research Project
• 1 Poster Presentation
• 1 Case Study
• 1 Essay
• 1 Political Discourse Analysis
• 1 Policy Briefing
• 1 Extended Essay

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment,