Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Full Time)

The Graduate Diploma provides a route into careers in psychology for students whose first degree is not in the subject or does not have sufficient psychology content for membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

You will graduate with a qualification that is equivalent to an honours degree in psychology and is recognised for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS. This is required for postgraduate training and is the first step in becoming a chartered psychologist, working in one of the many areas of professional psychology, including clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, occupational, health and sport psychology.

On this course, you will consider theory and experimental evidence, explore the ‘real-world’ applications of psychological theory and research, and develop advanced academic and transferable skills to ensure that you graduate with good career prospects.

Industrial focus

Offering wide-ranging expertise in a variety of subject areas, our research-active tutors present their work at international conferences and have published articles and books. Their experience ensures that teaching is always at the cutting-edge of psychological debate. Research interests at Solent include:

• autism
• attachment and parent–child relationships
• behavioural neuroscience
• drug use in adolescents and young adults
• ethnic identity
• factors affecting health-related behaviour
• forensic psychology
• institutional research
• intimate relationships
• mental representation of objects
• psychological well-being
• psychopharmacology
• representation of graphical information
• spirituality
• visual short-term memory
• visual perception.

Course content

Semester 1

Contemporary Issues in Social and Developmental Psychology: This unit will introduce you to the fields of social and developmental psychology. You will develop an understanding of how evidence from each area can be applied to real-world issues, such as cyber-bullying, the effects of childcare on psychological development, and reducing anti-social behaviour.

Personality and Individual Differences: This unit will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the many differences between and within individuals (for example, personality, intelligence) that have been investigated using different psychological theories and methodologies.

Understanding Psychological Research: This unit will develop your understanding of theoretical and practical issues around conducting research in psychology. You will consider design, analysis and ethical considerations in relation to both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Further, you will learn about how to conduct, analyse and write up a scientific research report in accordance with professional guidelines.

Semester 2

Brain and Behaviour: This unit will introduce you to the fields of psychobiology and cognitive psychology. You will develop an understanding of how evidence drawn from biology, cognition and cognitive neuroscience is used to understand human behaviour (for example, perception, problem solving) and brain disorders (for example, amnesia and aphasia). Further, you will consider the applications of knowledge from these fields (for example, brain rehabilitation).

Psychological Methods and Analysis: In this unit, you will further develop your understanding of a range of issues and methods (both quantitative and qualitative) in conducting psychological research. The unit will equip you with the knowledge and skills of applying various data analytic techniques to psychological data and interpreting findings.

Psychology Project: For this unit, you will conduct and write up an independent research study on a psychological topic. You will enhance your research and time-management skills, as well as having the opportunity to explore a specific area of psychology in some depth.

Assessment

You will be assessed by a wide range of methods. These include coursework essays, practical group-based written reports, individual presentations, assignments, time-limited assignments and a major project.

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Why Solent is special

• Guest speakers: You will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of chartered psychologists and professionals working in fields closely related to psychology, such as health promotion. We also invite speakers who will help you to understand the perspective of people directly affected by the issues covered on the course.
• Volunteer research assistant scheme: In an increasingly competitive job market, gaining experience while studying can make your CV stand out from the rest. This scheme provides the opportunity to work closely with experienced researchers and expand your knowledge of psychological theories and methodologies.
• Journal Club and departmental seminars: At Journal Club, staff and students engage in a lively discussion of peer-reviewed journal articles, and departmental seminars offer a chance to hear about the research activities at Solent.
• Laboratories: An extensive range of video, audio, computer and psychological laboratory equipment is available for conducting research in all major branches of the discipline. Facilities include: an observation laboratory with a two-way mirror, laboratories for cognitive, psychophysiology and final-year project work, and a dedicated computer laboratory.
• Software: Major psychological teaching/research software includes MEL LAB, SuperLab and apparatus for psychophysiological work. You will also have access to psychology e-resources such as PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and other databases.
• Field trips: Students have presented at conferences in Washington DC and Ireland, as well as at regional conferences such as Winchester.