Your Learning and Teaching

What will first year look like?

The individual elements of your degree course are known as "modules" (or courses).

Each module is worth an amount of 'CATS' (normally 15 or 30 CATS per module) and each year your modules will total 120 CATS. It is possible to 'overCAT' which is when you take modules that add up to greater than 120 CATS, but you should speak to your personal tutor before attempting to do so.

1st-year degree structure:

For Psychology (single honours), Psychology & Linguistics, and Psychology & Education students:

• PS117 Becoming a Psychologist (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)
• PS121 Brain and Behaviour (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)
• PS120 Neuropsychology & Psychopathology (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)
• PS122 Psychology in Context (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)
• PS125 Research & Statistical Methods for Psychology Students (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)
  
  

Also for Psychology (single honours) students:

• PS123 Psychology in the Real World 1 (optional module for Psychology students - can be replaced with an outside option)
• PS124 Psychology in the Real World 2 (optional module for Psychology students - can be replaced with an outside option)
  
  

Also for Psychology & Linguistics students:

• ET118 Linguistics: Understanding Language (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)
  
  

Also for Psychology & Education students:

• EQ109 Theories of Learning (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)
• EQ113 Sociologies of Education (core required module - must be taken and passed to progress)

Choosing an Outside option

An 'outside' module is any module which you take from 'outside' of your home department. For instance if you are doing single honours Psychology, and you chose to take a Liberal Arts module, that module would be an 'outside' option.

If you are interested in taking an outside module, you can find information about a Departments' module on their website. Some modules are open to all students, and some are not open to those from a different degree – it is always a good idea to have a talk with the module convener to check that the module is what you are looking for and is open. You will get more information in your first week and won't be expected to register for optional modules until you have received this. We advise you to attend introductory lectures in Week 1, and during the first few weeks, for any outside option you are interested in. Most departments are happy for you to go along to more modules to ‘try out’ the module. Module registration is open for a few weeks, but you must select your option before week 3.

Options information for other degree combinations:

Tutorials

Tutorials are designed to:

• help you to get the most out of lectures, seminars, practical sessions and the library
• help you organise and write essays and practical reports
• explain the various assessment procedures
• generally to discuss all aspects of the course in an informal setting

Your personal tutor is also there to help you with any problems which may arise throughout your time at Warwick, and in addition to meeting in tutorials, you should feel free to arrange to talk to your personal at any time.

Reading lists

Outlines for first-year modules are available at Psychology Module information (warwick.ac.uk). These will include information on any set of texts and other reading.

There is no need to buy books until you get here.

Basic reading for first-year modules can be from general textbooks, with additional reading coming from more specialised texts and journal articles. Any of the four general textbooks below, and the statistics text, would be suitable basic reading in the first year. They will be available in the university bookshop and as multiple copies in the university library. Earlier editions may be suitable and second-hand copies may be available.

• Gleitman, H., Gross, J., & Reisberg, D.(2010). Psychology (8th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

or

• Kowalski, R., & Westen, D. (2011). Psychology (6th ed.). Hoboken, N. J., USA: Wiley.

or

• Martin, N. G., Carlson, N.R., & Buskist, W. (2013). Psychology (5th ed.). Allyn & Bacon.

or

• Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Fredrickson, B. L., Loftus, G. R., & Wagenaar, W. A. (2009). Atkinson & Hilgard's introduction to psychology (15th ed.). London: Wadsworth.

and

• Howell, D. C. (2008). Fundamental statistics for the behavioral sciences (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.