Core modules
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 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 seven 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.
Year One
Psychology in Context
This module introduces you to the history of psychology and core topics in 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.
Read more about the Psychology in Context moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Research and 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. 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.
Read more about the Research and Statistical Methods in Psychology moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Becoming a Psychologist
You will gain the 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.
Read more about the Becoming a Psychologist moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
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.
Read more about the Linguistics: Understanding Language moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Year Two
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.
Read more about the Individual Differences moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
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 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.
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 undertaking a 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. This will also help prepare you for your final year projects.
Read more about the Further methods in Psychology moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
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.
Read more about the Language and Cognition moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
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.
Read more about the Developmental Psychology moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Psychobiology
You'll deepen the basic psychobiological knowledge you acquired in year one 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.
Read more about the Psychobiology moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
This module expands on concepts introduced during ET118: Linguistics: Understanding Language in order to provide core knowledge and skills for students in phonetics and phonology as essential fields of language study. It aims to:
- Familiarise students with the phonetic and phonological systems of the world’s languages
- Introduce methodologies from a range of linguistic disciplines to document, study, and analyse language data
- Engage students in linguistic analysis within a language and cross-linguistically, both synchronically and diachronically
- Introduce research about and approaches to subfields of linguistics
Read more about the Phonetics and Phonology moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
What structures do the world’s languages have in common and how are they different? How can we classify languages? Why do languages change? This module expands on concepts introduced during Linguistics: Understanding Language in order to provide core knowledge and skills for students in the core linguistic domains of morphology and syntax. You’ll learn about more advanced morpho-syntactic features of a wide range of the world’s languages and how these features interact with semantics. You’ll explore methodologies to document, study, and analyse real-world language data. You’ll also be introduced to research in subfields of linguistics such as typology and language change.
Read more about the Morphology and Syntax moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
You will defer the core module, Social Psychology, to your third year.
Year Three
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.
Read more about the Social Psychology moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Optional core modules:
Students must take two of these modules:
- Sociolinguistics
- Multilingualism and Culture
- Intercultural Pragmatics
- Language, Society and Power
- Third-year optional Psychology modules
- A third-year optional Centre for Applied Linguistics module (one max)
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- 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
