The 20-credit yearlong Unilang modules (stages 1 – 5 depending on language) aim to encourage a positive attitude to language learning and to develop and practise the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing introducing the basic/increasingly complex grammatical structures and vocabulary of the spoken and written language (depending on stage) and developing your ability to respond appropriately in spoken and written form in simple and increasingly complex everyday situations.

These modules also introduce you to the country and the culture of the country. In doing this, Unilang modules are intended to encourage and support international mobility; to enhance employability at home and abroad; to improve communication skills in the foreign language and in English as well as cultural awareness.

The Study Abroad Year module is a full year 120 credit module which is available on degree courses which include a study abroad year which is taken as an additional year of study between levels 5 and 6. You will undertake a year of study abroad at a European University under the ERASMUS+ exchange scheme or at an approved partner University elsewhere. This gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. The course of study abroad will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria). Your study abroad year will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, if you pass, it is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Study Abroad Module and on your degree certificate in the following format – e.g. “BSc (Hon) Psychology (with Study Abroad Year)”.

On this module you will examine the importance of working memory in a number of clinical and atypical developmental contexts. Based upon the theoretical work of Baddeley, Logie, Cowan, Engle, Cornoldi and Vecchi etc., the module aims to look at how researchers have employed working memory constructs within a variety of applied contexts. The sessions will cover research findings in atypical development with areas such Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, ADHD, Fragile X, etc. being covered. The sessions will also cover a number areas of mental health, e.g. Unipolar Depression, Bipolar Depression, etc. You will have the opportunity to learn how psychology practitioner researchers make use of findings and theory in working memory in order to underpin their research rationales and methodologies. You will also have the opportunity to develop skills in research critique and evaluation.

On this module you will learn about the impact of the Internet and other technologies on individuals, relationships and wider society. The focus of the module will be on the application of psychological research and theory to the context of online behaviour. Through the course of the module, you will explore how social and other psychological processes shape online behaviour. You will also investigate the ways in which websites are designed to capitalise on such influences. The module will cover key theories associated with communication online and will demonstrate the positive influence the Internet has had on domains such as health and purchasing as well as examining the negative side of the Internet in terms of for example deception and addiction.

On this module you will explore the biological and psychological processes of sleep and circadian rhythms across the lifespan; and critically reviews the various theories that have been posited to explain sleep and circadian rhythms. You will discuss and evaluate methods of assessment of sleep, including subjective (questionnaires, sleep diaries, clinical interviews) and objective measures (such as actigraphy and polysomnography), as well as the methods of assessment, diagnosis and treatment (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological) of sleep disorders. You will consider the epidemiology of sleep as well as factors underlying inter-individual differences in sleep and circadian rhythms. You will discuss the effects of sleep deprivation in terms of physical, neurological, psychological, and social outcomes and explore the relationships between sleep and physical and psychological health. You will also be introduced to research protocols designed to examine the effects of experimentally induced sleepiness and you will explore the concept of sleep as a health behaviour, and consider how it impacts on quality of life, and how public policy aims to address this. Key studies in relation to sleep and wakefulness which have directed theory, research and clinical practice will be presented and you will discuss these.

n this module you will learn about the human psychopharmacology of plant derived chemicals – their effects and mechanisms of action with regards human brain function, and other health parameters. As such the module feeds into the ‘health’ pathway within the psychology programme.
In terms of content, the module will describe the psychopharmacology of the three main groups of secondary metabolites: the alkaloids, which provide us with caffeine, a host of poisons, a handful of hallucinogens, and most drugs of abuse (e.g. morphine, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD, and nicotine); the phenolics, including polyphenols, which constitute a significant and beneficial part of our natural diet in terms of their modulation of a range of health parameters; and the terpenes, a group of multifunctional compounds which provide us with the active components of cannabis and a multitude of herbal extracts such as sage, ginseng, ginkgo and valerian, all of which are purported to improve health and brain function.
The module will be unique in that you will also learn ‘why’ these plant- and fungus-derived chemicals have their effects on the human brain. In other words, what causes plants to synthesise chemicals that can have profound effects on the human brain? The answer to this question resides in the intersecting genetic heritage of mammals, plants, and insects and the surprising biological similarities between the three taxa, and the many ecological roles that these 'secondary metabolite' plant chemicals are trying to play for the plant. How these factors inter-relate with the human psychopharmacology of each of the main groups of plant chemicals will be discussed.

You will explore the causes, effects of and treatments for alcohol abuse and dependence. The genetic, environmental and personality variables associated with alcoholism will be discussed and evaluated. You will learn how alcohol dependence does not exclusively affect the individual with the condition, but impinges on a wide range of close family members psychologically, and society at large in a psycho-social manner. Cross generational effects of alcohol dependence such as foetal alcohol syndrome will be considered closely. Specific attention will be drawn to the effects of alcohol dependence throughout the life course, and a focus on gender differences in causes/effects/outcomes will be made. Discussions will examine the contribution made by research to the causes, treatment and prevention of alcoholism in tandem with theoretical models, and cultural beliefs/practices.

On this module you will learn about the role of the neuroendocrine system in relation to behaviour and cognition in animals and humans. You will focus on the application of behavioural endocrinology and theory to the study of behaviour. Through the course of the module, you will explore how the endocrine system influences both physiology and behaviour in cognitive, social and clinical contexts.

On this module you will develop an understanding of the application of psychology to organisations/workplaces. By drawing on psychological models, theory, research and evidence you will enhance your knowledge and understanding of behaviour in organisation. You will explore theory, concepts and application focusing on three levels: the individual employee, groups/teams and the organisational level. Topics covered include well-being in the workplace, recruitment and selection, and team working for example.

In this module you will examine a number of factors known to influence individual and group behaviour in sport and exercise. You will explore the scope and methods typically used in this discipline and critically evaluate approaches and theories which have had an impact on the direction of research and applications. You will consider the effects of social processes, the presence of audiences, and performing at ‘away’ venues, as well as whether individual differences can predict sports performance. You will debate cognitive and emotional effects of exercise, and you will evaluate methods for improving performance such as relaxation training, systematic desensitisation, imagery and self-talk.

On this module you will learn about contemporary issues in Health Psychology. You will gain an insight into current research in Health Psychology and its applications. You will also gain an insight into the origins of Health Psychology and the ways in which these origins have influenced the discipline, as well as methods that are typically used in Health Psychology research. The module will also explore i) how personality and individual differences can influence physical health, ii) health promotion and techniques to modify health behaviours, iii) the interplay between stress and health, iv) health disparities and the physical health consequences of social deprivation, and v) the psychological causes and consequences of chronic physical illness.

On this module you will be introduced to the SAS analysis environment in which you will learn how to carry out more advanced quantitative methods, and to be able to compare these methods with those that you are familiar with in SPSS. You will start with an introduction to the SAS environment and its scripting language including basic data handling, data manipulation, descriptive statistical analysis and graphing. Then you will learn how to carry out analyses such as ANOVA and regression, with which you should already be familiar from your second year experience with SPSS. Finally, new and advanced analysis methods will be introduced and you will learn how to conduct, interpret and report these using the SAS environment.

You will learn how to communicate the results in the conventional manner and with due regard for the audience, and draw appropriate conclusions. You will also learn how to reflect critically on the use of such methods by yourselves and others.

On this module you will gain experience and knowledge of working in a psychology-related placement, for a minimum of 70 hours. You will develop transferable skills, such as knowledge of confidentiality, data protection, communication, problem-solving, group work, time-management, self-management, and record keeping. You will work within a team whilst maintaining boundaries and building professional relationships.
In addition to these transferable skills, you will develop your psychological literacy; this is your understanding of how psychological knowledge can be applied to real-world problems

In this module you will learn how research in forensic psychology has been applied in practice. Can we take eye witness testimony at face value? What sort of interviewing techniques provide the most reliable evidence? How can offenders be profiled? Is psychological profiling of benefit to the police? Are the personal dispositions and pre-delectations of criminals exposed through involuntary responses in a way that can be detected using polygraphy? These questions will be approached from an applied perspective with a focus on published research and its impact professional practice. Discussions will examine the contribution made by forensic psychology research to the criminal justice system and cultural beliefs/practices.

On this module you will examine the behaviour of consumers from a scientific perspective and analyse the various strategies utilised by advertisers and marketing and retail outlets to increase sales of consumer goods. The focus of the module will be on the application of psychological research and theory to the context of consumer behaviour. Through the course of the module, you will explore how cognitive, social and other psychological processes shape consumer behaviour. You will also investigate the ways in which marketing strategies are designed to capitalise on such influences.

On this module you will gain experience and knowledge of working as a psychological research intern, for a minimum of 70 hours. You will develop transferable skills, such as knowledge of confidentiality, data protection, communication, problem-solving, group work, time-management, self-management, and record keeping.

In addition to these transferable skills, you will develop your psychological literacy; this is your understanding of how psychological knowledge learned elsewhere on the course can be applied to real-world problems

The module is designed to introduce you to theory and empirical research into the study of neuropsychology and advanced cognitive science.

You will learn how traditional behavioural methods and neuroscience methodologies can be used in tandem to explore key issues and concepts . You will learn to consider and evaluate theory and develop an understanding of the strength and weaknesses of a variety of methodologies. Importantly, you will explore and develop knowledge related to the application of neuropsychological and cognitive research to a range of psychological processes.

For the neuropsychology component the module will sample from the following topics: neuroimaging, face and object recognition, emotion processing, hemispheric lateralisation, attention deficits, language disorders and developmental neuropsychology. For the cognitive component the module will sample from the following topics: methods of studying cognition, language learning andcomprehension, social cognition, concepts and categorisation, reasoning, decision making, cognitive modelling and musical cognition.

On this module you will develop a critical understanding of the theoretical underpinning, research base and effectiveness of a range of mental health and psychological difficulties along with associated treatment and therapeutic approaches. In addition you will learn about, discuss and evaluate the diagnostic factors, aetiology, prognosis and factors influencing the outcome of several mental health difficulties, including anxiety, personality, mood and thought disorders. You will explore the conceptual and historical issues surrounding the topic of mental health and how the field has changed over time, and learn how to discuss and evaluate studies that have had a particular impact on the direction of theory, research and therapeutic applications.

On this module you will individually conceptualise, plan and execute an original piece of research. You will, through reading, understanding and critically appraising relevant psychological literature, formulate and operationalise a research question, and select and implement research methodologies and statistical techniques appropriate for answering your research question. You will also have the opportunity to disseminate your research findings via presentation at an undergraduate conference. You will, as part of applying for ethical approval for your proposed research, consider relevant ethical issues associated with your research, and you will highlight ways of addressing these issues. The module will allow you to develop a range of generic skills such as effective use of computers (i.e., for data entry, analysis and word processing), effective oral and written communication skills, evidence based reasoning and problem solving, self management and time keeping, as well as liaising and engaging in dialogue with other people related to your research (e.g., your supervisor and, where necessary, outside organisations).

On this module you will learn about a broad range of research perspectives on the processes and psychological factors involved in the study of love, sex and sexuality. The initiation, process and dissolution of intimate relationships are introduced and models of ‘normal’, ‘flourishing’ and ‘dysfunctional’ relationship behaviour will be reviewed. The module introduces a life span perspective on sex and sexuality, considers gender and expression of sexuality, psychosexual dysfunction and treatment and reproductive psychology. The module incorporates theoretical perspectives from individual differences, biopsychophysiological, psychoanalytic, evolutionary, social and clinical psychological perspectives.

On this module, you will examine the association of mental health problems with criminal behaviour. As part of this module, you will be introduced to a diverse range to topics within the field of mental health and crime. You will explore research assessing the association of mental health problems with criminal behaviour. You will also discuss the role of mental health problems within the criminal justice system. As part of this module, you will be introduced to key debates within this field. Moreover, this will be discussed from a clinical and forensic perspective. Therefore, this module will incorporate elements of both clinical and forensic psychology.