BA (Hons) in Psychology
(PSI Accredited)
Psychology is one of the most exciting and interesting subjects available in third level education. It is the study of human behaviour in all its forms normal and abnormal, natural and learned, productive and destructive. It is a modern and progressive area of study, which with a 150-year history, is currently experiencing unprecedented growth and development in Ireland and internationally.
Professional psychologists work in almost every sphere of contemporary life. They contribute to the design of our classrooms and what takes place in them. They teach industry the best ways to select and motivate employees. They provide crucial insight into the background of social problems such as suicide, addiction and child abuse. They help coaches to train athletes, help the police to investigate crime, help managers to reduce stress in the workplace and help the health services to design effective health promotion campaigns (for example, anti-smoking and safe driving campaigns).
Aims & Objectives The Psychology programme in DBS School of Arts was the first non-University degree to be accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). PSI is the professional body for psychology in Ireland. As such, it seeks to promote the science and profession of psychology in Ireland and beyond. The psychology degree represents the necessary first step to becoming a professional psychologist. Across the programme, all the key areas of psychology are studied, including laboratory and project work. The BA (Hons) in Psychology programme at DBS School of Arts is also unique in that it includes significant content from the field of psychoanalysis, one of the major and most challenging traditions in the history of psychology. Upon successful completion of the degree, depending upon the final grade, graduates will be eligible to apply to enter postgraduate training programmes in their chosen specialisation and ultimately gain employment in their area of expertise. Programme Structure This is a 3 year programme. The degree is divided into three levels and students take the programme in its entirety. In Level 1,students undertake introductory subjects that are designed to developknowledge and understanding of core disciplines to provide a platformfor more advanced study. In Level 2, students take subjects that build on the level 1 foundation and further develop student knowledge and understanding. In Level 3,students take subjects intended to develop understanding of appliedareas and key subjects. Furthermore, students also undertake a researchproject under the guidance of a supervisor. Teaching and Assessment The BA (Hons) in Psychology is taught mainly through lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory classes, with learners taking responsibility for a significant amount of study outside the scheduled class contact times. Continuous assessment will vary in style and purpose from module to module, depending upon the nature of the subject material and the teaching and learning objectives of the module. Sample assessment activities will include essays, multiple-choice questionnaire, short answer in-class exam, oral presentation, group work, poster presentations and formal examinations. The majority of subjects are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination. Further Career & Study Options A postgraduate qualification is normally required if graduates are to find work as professional psychologists. Such courses are normally at the level of Master’s degree or Higher Diploma, and usually are of 1-2 years duration. The full range of specialist areas described above can be studied. Graduates are also eligible to undertake many postgraduate courses and/or research in related areas such as social and cultural studies or health sciences. Clinical Psychology Clinical psychologists work in health settings, engaging in diagnosticand therapeutic work with people with conditions such as schizophreniaand major depression. They often work in teams alongside other healthprofessionals, including social workers, psychiatrists and doctors, inorder to tailor treatment that best serves the needs of the patients.
Counselling Psychology Counselling psychologists work with people who have emotional andpsychological difficulties in their daily lives, seeking to guide,support and advise people through their problems. They can work inhealth settings and in other institutions (such as schools) or they canwork in private practice seeing members of the general public. Educational Psychology Educational psychologists often work with schools under government oflocal authority supervision, assisting students with learning,emotional, behavioural or other difficulties. Some educationalpsychologist work at the highest levels of the education system,designing and reforming the national curriculum to make it moreeffective, fairer and more useful to students and students and society.Others specialise in related areas such as special needs or adulteducation.
Forensic Psychology Forensic psychologists often work in the Prison Service. However,forensic psychologists may also work in the health service (includingrehabilitation units and secure hospitals), the social service(including An Garda Siochana and young offender units) and in universitydepartments or in private consultancy. Forensic psychologists also actas expert witnesses and give evidence in court.
Organisational Psychology Organisational psychologists work primarily in industry, but also ininstitutions such as hospitals, prisons, universities and public serviceagencies. Their expertise lies in the study of people in organisations,personnel practices, human engineering, the assessment of stress,efficiency, motivation and productivity. Some organisationalpsychologists specialise in the behaviour of consumers and so work withmarketing departments, identifying key factors that are crucial in themanagement of industrial production, market research and advertisingcampaigns.
Health Psychology Healthpsychologists work in healthcare and related industries and are expertsin the psychology of physical health and illness. Their duties span thewhole of the healthcare system from health promotion, public health andhealth education to pain management, rehabilitation and patientmaintenance. They also assist in the training of health professionals,including medical and nursing training and conduct research to isolatethe connection between psychological causes and physical disease. Neuropsychology Neuropsychologistswork in areas where an expertise in the biological basis of psychologyis needed. Such knowledge is paramount when dealing with people who havesuffered brain damage as a result of an accident, a drug overdose or astroke. Neuropsychologists help to diagnose the precise nature ofpeople’s symptoms and to recommend suitable rehabilitation techniques.They have expertise in areas such as amnesia, dementia, intellectualdisability, epilepsy and the effects of drugs on the brain. They alsoconduct the most technologically modern research in psychology, into thevery functioning of the human brain itself. Sport (and Exercise) Psychology Sportpsychologists work with sports participants and are interested in twomain areas: (a) helping athletes use psychological principals to achieveoptimal mental health and to improve performance (performanceenhancement), and (b) understanding how participation in sport,exercise, and physical activity affects an individual’s psychologicaldevelopment, health and well-being throughout their life span. Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy Witha significant representation of psychoanalytic topics in the coremodules of the BA (Hons) Psychology, graduates may be eligible to applyfor the MA in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, a rigorous two-yearplacement based program which can initiate training as apsychotherapist. Psychotherapy is increasingly being recognised ashaving a crucial role to play in mental health and social services aswell as in society generally. Inaddition, graduates of psychology often enter research-based careers incolleges and universities or work in a huge range of related areas,including forensic psychology, sport psychology, community development,social work, childcare, the media and the arts. Psychology is clearlywide-ranging and this variety is fully represented in the degreeprogramme. Students take modules in theoretical and applied aspects ofpsychology, as well as modules in the history of psychology, currenttrends in psychology and research skills. The programme is delivered bymembers of the DBS School of Arts Psychology Department, one of fivesuch departments in third level education in the Republic of Ireland.The Department is well known and respected in its field, with anexperienced and varied team of full-time lecturers who are active inresearch and professional practice. PSI Accredited The BA (Hons) in Psychology is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the professional body for psychology in Ireland. As such, it seeks to promote the science and profession of psychology in Ireland and beyond. PSI membership now stands at over 2000 members, and includes practitioners, educators and researchers, professionals and postgraduate students, as well as undergraduate subscribers. Programme Content
Year 1
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- Introduction to Psychology/History and Schools in Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Introduction to Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious
- Data Analysis and Computing 1
- Social Psychology
- Psychology Learning Lab
| Year 2
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- Carrying out Research in Psychology
- Data Analysis and Computing 2
- Cognitive Psychology 1/Cognitive Psychology 2
- Biopsychology
- Psychoanalysis as a Clinical Practice
| Year 3
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- Behavioural Science
- Final year Project
- Psychology of Physical and Mental Health
- Personality Theory, Intelligence and Individual Differences
- The Psychology of Organisations and Work/Advanced Topics in Psychology
| Learner protection for this programme is provided in accordance with Section 43 of the Qualifications (Education and Training ) Act 1999.
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