Psychology (Sport, Health and Exercise) BSc

Compulsory

• Brain & Cognition

  This module offers an introduction to the biological foundations of cognition, examining how the structure and function of the brain give rise to mental processes. Topics include the anatomy of the nervous system, neuronal communication, and methods used to study the brain.

  Students will explore cognitive functions such as attention, memory, action, language, and emotion, as well as their disruption in neurological conditions. The module also addresses neural plasticity, genetics, and the role of development and evolution in shaping cognition.

• SP1613 - Introduction to Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing

  This module introduces students to selected theoretical, conceptual and methodological approaches to promoting, delivering and measuring physical activity for health and wellbeing. You will also develop your problem-solving skills as you consider approaches for improving health and wellbeing through physical activity.

• Introduction to the Psychology of Sport and Exercise

  This module provides an overview of key concepts and theories in sport and exercise psychology. Students will explore topics such as motivation, performance, and the psychological benefits of physical activity.

  The module introduces core principles of psychological assessment and intervention in sport contexts and helps students evaluate research evidence. Through discussion and analysis, students will learn to build and defend arguments about psychological processes in athletic and exercise settings.

• Learning & Perception

  This module examines the psychological processes involved in learning and perception, providing students with an introduction to how organisms acquire and interpret information from their environment.

  Topics include the sensory systems involved in vision, audition, touch, taste, and smell, as well as classical and operant conditioning and observational learning. Students will also learn about the methods used to investigate perceptual and learning processes in both humans and animals, and how these processes relate to everyday experience.

• Research Design, Analysis and Academic Skills

  This module introduces students to the fundamentals of research, data analysis, and academic skills development. Students will explore key methodological concepts including the scientific method, ethical considerations, survey research, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, and basic statistical procedures such as t-tests and one-way ANOVA.

  The module also develops core academic skills including digital literacy, literature searching, APA referencing, academic integrity, and reflective writing. Students will gain experience in interpreting data, evaluating online sources, and summarising academic texts, laying the foundation for future research and academic success.

• Research Design, Analysis and Employability Skills

  This module provides a foundation in research design, data analysis, and the academic and transferable skills essential for a career in psychology. It covers key topics such as ethical issues in research, experimental designs, and basic statistics including t-tests and ANOVA alongside data acquisition and analysis.

  In addition, students will develop core employability and academic skills, including how to critically evaluate sources, conduct literature searches, avoid academic misconduct, and use APA referencing. The module also introduces reflective writing and digital scholarship, preparing students for both academic progression and employment.

• Social & Community Psychology

  This module provides an overview of key theories, concepts, and research in social and community psychology. It explores how individuals relate to others and function within broader social systems with a focus on both interpersonal and societal processes.

  The module also covers how psychology can be used to build community and to advocate for policy change on topics that students are passionate about. This foundation prepares students for more advanced study in social psychology and applied community settings, and introduces students to a skill set that would support public-facing careers following a degree in psychology.

Compulsory

• Cognitive Neuroscience

  This module examines human cognition and behaviour by integrating findings from biological psychology, cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and neuroimaging techniques.

  Students will learn about different mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, language and emotion and explore how different brain regions support these cognitive processes. The module introduces key research tools including EEG, MEG, and fMRI, and considers how these methods contribute to our understanding of both typical and atypical brain function.

• Developmental Psychology

  This module explores the psychological development of individuals across the lifespan from infancy through to older adulthood. Students will examine key theoretical frameworks, methods of studying development, and the progression of cognitive, perceptual, motor, social, and emotional functions.

  Topics include language acquisition, theory of mind, self and gender identity, and the role of individual differences. By the end of the module, students will have a broad understanding of how psychological processes unfold and vary throughout life.

• Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Lifecourse

  This module examines how physical activity contributes to health and wellbeing across different stages of life. Students will explore theoretical frameworks and methods used to promote and measure physical activity, and will consider the social and environmental contexts in which it is delivered.

  The module also addresses barriers to physical activity and strategies for behaviour change. It encourages students to critically evaluate interventions aimed at improving public health through active lifestyles.

• Qualitative Research Methods

  This module introduces students to the principles and practices of qualitative research in psychology. It covers the historical and theoretical foundations of qualitative inquiry, ethical considerations specific to this approach, and the design of qualitative research studies.

  Students will explore various methods of data collection such as interviews and focus groups as well as approaches to data analysis including thematic analysis and grounded theory. Emphasis is also placed on effectively writing up and communicating qualitative research findings.

• Quantitative Research Methods, Data Analysis & Academic Skills

  This module develops students’ abilities to design and conduct quantitative research in psychology. It covers experimental and questionnaire design, multivariate methods, and the use of between-groups, repeated-measures, and mixed designs.

  Students will also learn how to use research software, analyse data, and present results clearly and effectively. In parallel, the module strengthens academic skills such as scientific writing, critical reading, and delivering presentations, providing a strong foundation for future research work.

• The Psychology of Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity: Theory and Application

  This module builds on foundational knowledge to develop students’ research and critical thinking skills in sport and exercise psychology. Students will design and carry out a group research project involving primary data collection, and will learn to evaluate empirical literature and propose novel research questions.

  Topics include psychological interventions, performance enhancement, and mental health in sport. The module provides practical experience in applying psychological theory to real-world challenges in physical activity settings.

Compulsory

• Advanced Social Psychology and Individual Differences

  This module explores key theories and research in social psychology and individual differences, following the British Psychological Society (BPS) curriculum. Topics include social perception, group processes, social influence, and close relationships, as well as emotion, motivation, the self, and personality development.

  Students will examine how genetic, environmental, and cultural factors shape individual differences, the stability of traits over time, and how personality influences behaviour.

  The module also covers the history and methods of intelligence testing, contemporary views on intelligence, and their relevance to education and policy.

• Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology

  This module offers students the opportunity to apply sport and exercise psychology theory in real or simulated settings and critically assess intervention strategies for different client groups.

  Students will develop skills in evaluating psychological approaches to enhance performance and wellbeing, analyse the effectiveness of interventions, and produce case study reports grounded in theory.

  Topics include music and positive psychology in sport, cognitive-behavioural interventions, exercise psychology in clinical populations, technological innovations in rehabilitation, psychological skills training, and career transitions in sport.

• Issues in Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing

  This module promotes critical analysis and application of interdisciplinary knowledge to understand physical activity and sedentary behaviour in relation to health and wellbeing.

  Students will evaluate competing perspectives, apply theory to real-world issues, and develop problem-solving skills across numerical and written contexts.

  Topics include physical activity in clinical populations, behaviour change interventions, and research methodologies with a focus on current, research-led content.

• Final Year Project

  This module prepares students for their final year project by developing their understanding of research paradigms, methodologies, and data analysis techniques. Students will learn to frame viable research questions, select appropriate methods, and consider ethical issues in research design.

  The module also enhances students’ quantitative skills, critical evaluation of research, and ability to work independently. Topics include research paradigms, project planning, ethics, and personal development in relation to final year project choices.

Optional

• Animal Behaviour

  This module examines behaviour from an evolutionary perspective using principles of natural selection to understand how animals—including humans—solve adaptive problems. Topics include proximate and ultimate causes of behaviour, development, mate choice, parental investment, communication, foraging, and anti-predator strategies.

  Students will learn how behaviours are shaped by ecological and evolutionary pressures and will be introduced to key theories such as optimality models and sexual selection. The module provides a comparative approach to understanding behaviour across species.

• Cross-Cultural Psychology

  This module explores how psychological processes are influenced by culture, and how research methods can be adapted to study cultural differences. Students will learn about the history of cross-cultural psychology, definitions of culture, and key theoretical frameworks such as universalism and relativism.

  Topics include cultural dimensions, values and beliefs, and how culture shapes cognition, emotion, motivation, identity, and social behaviour.

  The module also covers methodological considerations such as sampling and translation, preparing students to critically assess cross-cultural research.

• Disorders of Perception and Movement Control

  This module focuses on how damage to the brain can affect perception and motor control. Students will learn about conditions such as visual neglect, agnosia, Parkinson’s disease, and developmental motor disorders, exploring how these impairments inform our understanding of normal brain function.

  The module integrates evidence from experimental research, neuroimaging, and clinical case studies, and considers treatment approaches. Emphasis is placed on linking brain structures to specific perceptual and motor functions.

• Drugs, Hormones and the Brain

  This module investigates how drugs and hormones influence the brain and behaviour. It covers basic neurophysiology including action potentials and neurotransmitter systems, before exploring the effects of recreational drugs, the neurobiology of psychological disorders, and pharmacological treatments.

  Students will also be introduced to animal models of psychopathology and behavioural endocrinology including how hormones shape behaviour and regulate biological rhythms. The module links biochemical mechanisms to psychological functions and dysfunctions.

• Human Sexual Diversity

  This module introduces students to the psychological and biological study of sexual and gender diversity. Topics include sexual orientation, biological sex variation, intersexuality, trans identities, paraphilias, and gendered patterns in emotion and behaviour.

  The module draws on multiple perspectives—biological, psychological, and sociocultural—to explore the origins and variations of sexual and gender diversity. Students are encouraged to reflect critically on controversial issues and to engage with diverse experiences sensitively and respectfully.

• Mindfulness - Neuroscience and Clinical Applications

  This module offers students both a conceptual and experiential introduction to mindfulness and its psychological effects. Students will participate in a structured six-week mindfulness course and examine the theoretical foundations of mindfulness-based interventions such as MBSR and MBCT.

  The module explores the neuroscience of mindfulness including its impact on emotion regulation, empathy, and brain function as well as its clinical applications across a range of psychological conditions. Emphasis is placed on the integration of scientific evidence with personal experience.

• Personality and Close Relationships

  This module explores how personality and social factors influence the development and maintenance of close relationships. Students will be introduced to key theoretical perspectives, including interdependence theory and attachment theory, and will learn how these frameworks explain patterns of intimacy, conflict, and relationship satisfaction.

  The module also considers the rise of relationship science as a field and how personality traits affect relational dynamics. Emphasis is placed on understanding both individual differences and dyadic processes.

• Psychology of Religion

  This module investigates the psychological foundations and effects of religious belief and practice. Students will explore the cognitive, social, and evolutionary bases of religion as well as the psychological differences between belief systems.

  Topics include ritual behaviour, group identity, cooperation and conflict, and the role of religion in societal development.

  The module also examines secularism and atheism, and debates surrounding the psychological significance of religion in contemporary life.

• Psychology of Social Media

  This module explores the psychological impact of social media on individual and group behaviour. Topics include identity formation, emotional and political polarisation, mental health effects, online misinformation, and group dynamics in digital spaces.

  Students will critically evaluate claims about the dangers and benefits of social media and will explore how engagement is shaped by cultural and psychological factors. The module applies psychological theories to understand how humans interact with digital technologies in contemporary society.

• Evolutionary Psychology

  This module explores how evolutionary theory can be used to understand human behaviour and cognition. It introduces key concepts from evolutionary biology, and explains how the mind can be seen as a bundle of adaptations for mating, parenting, cooperation, aggression, and many other key behaviours.

  Students will also learn about how the human mind evolved to solve a wide variety of adaptive problems (that is,  problems related to survival and reproduction) for our evolutionary ancestors.

  This module also addresses controversies in the field, and the potential for evolutionary psychology to provide a unified framework for the study of the mind.