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Psychology with Linguistics BSc (C802)

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Discover more about our Psychology with Linguistics degree at Warwick

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C802

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Bachelor of Science (BSc)

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3 years full-time or 4 years full-time (with intercalated year)

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26 September 2022

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Department of Psychology

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University of Warwick

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This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

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This degree combines a broad grounding in Psychology with the study of how people communicate through language.

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

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You will be taught by academics who are shaping the field internationally within both Psychology and Linguistics, and those working at the intersection of both subjects.

You will gain a critical awareness of psychological research and theory; the ability to analyse the structure of language and patterns of language; plus communication, research, presentation and collaboration skills.

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The focus of the course is psychology, allowing students to cover the critical elements of the BSc Psychology programme whilst covering specialist Linguistics modules. This allows you to achieve a BPS accredited degree with a language and linguistics skew.

The Linguistics modules not only introduce you to the structure of language, but also emphasise psycholinguistics (how adults learn a second language and how children learn the first language) and language use in real world contexts (how people get their message across in different social settings). Topics covered reflect Warwick’s unique research expertise in areas such as bilingualism, nonverbal behaviour, and cross cultural communication.

In Year One you will study six core modules: five that build the foundations of Psychology at Warwick as well as ’Linguistics: Understanding Language’.

In Year Two you will study eight modules. You will cover the core areas of Psychology and contemporary research with the opportunity to delve deeper into the areas that interest you. You will also develop further knowledge and understanding of Linguistics. All relate to contemporary research.

In Year Three you will conduct an individual project showcasing the full range of intellectual and practical skills you have developed throughout your degree.

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You will have a combination of lectures, seminars and practical classes. Lectures will introduce you to a particular topic.

During weekly seminars you will build on the knowledge theories and ideas from the lecture and readings, sharing your views about the topic and debating the issues. Seminars give you access to the tutor as well as the opportunity to voice your views in a smaller group.

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Lecture size will naturally vary. For the first and second year core modules you will be joined by all the students in your year. For lectures this can be the whole year group, with around 200 students.

Seminar groups and practical classes will be smaller, with typically 30-50 students in the first year.

For Applied Linguistics and optional modules across all years, class sizes vary between 10 and 100 students per module.

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You will typically have between 7 to 8 hours of lectures, and 4 to 8 hours of seminars or practical sessions.

You will also have:

• Academic support and feedback opportunities
• Guest seminars
• Tutorials
• Year group meetings

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We typically assess modules through a mix of exams and essays, as well as online quizzes, group presentations, and research reports.

Your final award will be based on:

• Second year modules (40%)
• Third year modules (60%, with 25% accounted for by your third-year individual project)

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Study abroad

In an interconnected world, employers greatly value an international perspective. Studying abroad provides you with a first-hand opportunity to explore how culture influences psychological processes and develop a range of valuable skills that give you a competitive advantage in the graduate market.

Our Department is part of the University’s large global network of exchange partners, with long-standing agreements with prestigious universities around the world. A particularly popular Warwick option is with Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, acknowledged as one of the world’s top universities.

Our students have previously undertaken study abroad opportunities in Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and the USA. Typically, when students choose to study abroad, they apply in their second year for a third year of study at a partner institution. Students then return to Warwick for their final year.

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Placements and work experience

Psychology students at Warwick can apply for a one-year or part-year intercalated work placement in the UK or abroad. This is to be taken between their second and final years. We provide our students with support and guidance to identify and apply for placements. Our students have undertaken work placements in organisations like Virgin Media, BMW, Microsoft, and other employers.

Our students can also take up a variety of work experience opportunities alongside their studies or during holidays. These have included, for example, mental health work placements abroad, Nightline counselling posts, and involvement in the Psychology student magazine Cognoscenti.

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A level typical offer

AAB.

A level additional information

You will also need grade B or 6 in GCSE Mathematics or Statistics.

Applicants with no natural science subject at A level are normally expected to have a grade B or 6 in two science subjects or double science at GCSE.

A level contextual offer

We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is ABB including a Natural Science if you do not have two science subjects or double science at GCSE. See if you're eligible.

General GCSE requirements

Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

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IB typical offer

36 plus 5 in Higher Level Mathematics or 6 in Standard Level Mathematics.

IB additional information

A natural science subject at Higher Level is preferred, otherwise at least 5 in a natural science subject at Standard Level will be considered.

IB contextual offer

We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is 34. If you do not have GCSE Mathematics you will need grade 5 at Higher Level in Mathematics or 6 in Standard Level Mathematics. If you do not have GCSE Science or it is not offered at Higher Level, you will need a grade 5 in Standard Level Science. Applicants with Higher Level Mathematics (and no Science) will be considered. See if you're eligible.

General GCSE requirements

Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

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We welcome applications from students studying BTEC qualifications alongside two A levels. Applicants studying a BTEC Extended Diploma on its own may also be considered.

Overlapping subjects at BTEC and A level will not be considered (for example, A level in PE alongside a BTEC in Sport and Exercise Science).

You will also need to have grade B or 6 in GCSE Mathematics or Statistics.

Applicants with no natural science subject at A level are normally expected to have a grade B or 6 in two science subjects or double science at GCSE.

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Year One

Brain and Behaviour

In this module you'll learn about the structure and function of the nervous system, how we detect and respond to stimulation and how behaviour changes with experience. After exploring memory, language, emotion and goal-directed action, you'll study contemporary and historical approaches to psychological disorders. This will give you a critical appreciation of psychology as a science.

Psychology in Context

This module introduces you to the history of psychology and core topics in social, developmental and cognitive psychology. You'll be able to discuss some of the classic studies, critically appreciate the main concepts and take a historical perspective on psychology as a science.

Statistical Methods in Psychology

This module will introduce you to the skills and knowledge needed to conduct investigations and statistical analysis of research data, covering both the principles of the techniques taught and their practical application. By the end, you will be expected to have a sound understanding of the properties and application of qualitative and quantitative data, measures of tendency, variability, probability and correlation, the principles of parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing, regression, and the use of chi-square tests. Aiming to stand you in good stead for second- and third-year projects, this course will also see you designing and implementing factorial experiments, and analysing and presenting your findings with due regard to ethical considerations.

Research Methods in Psychology

You will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to understand the nature of empirical work in psychology, and to design, implement, analyse and report on your own investigations. In addition to preparing for second- and third-year projects, you will gain a solid grounding in research methods, including the properties and application of quantitative and qualitative data, measures of tendency, variability, probability and correlation, the principles of parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing, regression, and the use of chi-square tests. You will compare observational and questionnaire methods and associated ethical considerations, and also gain valuable practical experience in using SPSS software for computing descriptive and inferential statistics.

Academic Skills for Psychologists

You will gain the basic study skills needed to succeed on a psychology degree course, covering both theoretical considerations, such as the nature of evidence, and practical applications in terms of conducting field and desk research. With an emphasis on developing a coherent skill set based on critical, logical thinking and a deeper understanding of empirical psychological science, you will also gain an appreciation of the nature of assessment in higher education, and learn to organise your study time. We will also cover the efficient use of the university’s study resources, and soft skills such as communication and engagement that are essential to academic success.

Linguistics: Understanding Language

What is language? What is it made of? What rules do we follow when we put sounds together to create words and when we combine words to create sentences? How many languages are spoken in the world today, and in which ways are they similar or different? These are some of the questions that you will explore on this module. Using examples from different languages, you will analyse real-life language data in order to develop the practical skills required for linguistic analysis.

Year Two

Further methods in Psychology

You will cover both conceptual issues, such as knowing when and why to apply a particular research technique, and practical applications, such as conducting analysis using SPSS software. You will be encouraged to read academic articles with a critical eye as to the validity of their claims, and apply what you have learned in preparation for your second- and third-year projects. You will be expected to demonstrate that you can systematically test hypotheses using ANOVA, evaluate assumptions, pay due regard to ethical and methodological considerations, and present your results clearly and concisely in speech and in writing.

Language and Cognition

In this module, you'll investigate cognitive processes that underlie language, decision making and problem solving, in the context of investigating the evolution, biological mechanisms, and cognitive processes of language and communication. You'll master key findings and methods in psycholinguistics and cognitive science, and be able to critically evaluate theories of language and cognition.

Second Year Project

You will develop your research skills further through the opportunity to work as part of a small team on a medium-scale project in an area of psychological enquiry of interest to you. You will apply and consolidate the research methods and analytical skills acquired in your first year to real data obtained by the study. You will demonstrate that you can plan and carry out research (including an appreciation of ethical considerations), analyse data, draw appropriate conclusions, and present a poster and formal report on your findings to a professional standard. You will also foster the essential soft skills of independent learning, communication, time management and collaboration with your peers.

Social Psychology

How do we attach meaning to the behaviour of others? When does a child gain a sense of themselves as an entity? Why does modesty differ between cultures? Does objectifying women lead to their mistreatment? Social psychology engages with these and other questions of human behaviour scientifically by examining how we are influenced by our social context. You'll become acquainted with central concepts, theories and research in social psychology and grow your understanding of the individual, the social context of behaviour and the relationship between the two. You'll gain a good grounding in research methods and look specifically at verbal/non-verbal communication, aggression, social judgement, attribution and inference, and behaviour within and between groups.

Linguistics: Acquisition and Use

What do the world’s languages have in common and how are they different? Why do languages change? How is language acquired? Does language influence how we think? Drawing on concepts introduced in ET118 (Linguistics: Understanding Language), you will acquire core knowledge and skills in all fields of language study, including more advanced study of phonetics, and the phonological and morpho-syntactic features of a wide range of the world’s languages and dialects. You’ll explore methodologies from a range of linguistic disciplines to document, study and analyse real-world language data. You’ll also be introduced to research in subfields of linguistics, such as second language acquisition and language change.

You will defer one of these core modules to your third year:

Developmental Psychology

The module builds on the first-year developmental module of Psychology in Context by exploring current research in infancy, childhood and adolescence, linking to examples from atypical development and education and focusing primarily on cognitive and social development in childhood. You'll develop an understanding of how different influences interact in development, and be aware of links between cognitive and social growth, and the development of reasoning and language.

Individual Differences

You'll examine contemporary research and theories in relation to personality, intelligence, and the methods used to study the intriguing and hotly contested area of individual differences. You'll gain insights into how this area of study has evolved, with conflicting and competing theories. By the end of the course, you'll have an appreciation of the psychodynamic, biological, cognitive, humanistic–existential–interpersonal, and social–constructionist theories of personality and individual difference, and be able to evaluate research in these areas. You'll also become familiar with the aims of techniques such as multiple regression, factorial experiments and Q-sort procedures, and able to articulate your view of the major controversies in this field, both in writing and through oral presentation.

Psychobiology

You'll deepen the basic psychobiological knowledge you acquired in the first year to understand the complex functions and interactions of the nervous and endocrine systems. You'll learn to describe the functional architecture of the brain and macro- and microscopic levels, and understand the role of signal processing and the visual system in explaining complex behaviour. You'll also consider how psychobiology influences areas as complex as genetics, neurochemistry, sex differences, memory and homeostasis. We place emphasis on the complexities of contemporary psychobiological research, and its recent advances and limits, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to discuss challenging, up-to-date topics in psychobiology through group work, thereby developing your teamwork and communication skills.

Year Three

Your deferred second-year module

Multilingualism and Culture

Sociolinguistics

Why do we speak differently in different situations? Can you identify the features of a Geordie and a Scouse accent? Do men and women speak differently, and if so, why? These are questions you will explore as we examine the relationship between language use and social context. Building on module ET119 (Language in Society), you will develop a greater understanding of linguistic variation. With the opportunity to conduct your own research study, you can expect to complete your course armed with a set of theories, insights and skills to enable you to address such questions, and to explore your own questions about the role of language in society.

Individual Project

Optional Cores:

• Nonverbal Behaviour
• Words and Reading
• A third-year optional Psychology module
• A third-year optional Centre for Applied Linguistics module (one max)

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• Professional Communication
• Communication Modes
• Global Public Relations
• Perspectives in Clinical and Counselling Psychology
• Developmental Psychopathology
• Sleep and Health
• Issues in Families and Development
• Psychology and the Law
• Behaviour Change
• Psychology Across Cultures

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importantinfo

Important information

We are planning to make some changes to our Psychology with Linguistics BSc degree for 2022 entry. Changes to core and optional modules go through the University's rigorous academic processes. As changes are confirmed, we will update the course information on this webpage. It is therefore very important that you check this webpage for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer. Sign up to receive updates on our new modules.