BSc (Hons) Psychology and Marketing

Level One

Research Skills 1

An appreciation of research methods is critical for an understanding of psychology. This module introduces students to some of the basic concepts underlying research and provides a practical introduction to conducting research in psychology.

Mind & Brain

This module offers an introduction to the biological substrates of mind. It introduces the philosophical issues that arise in relating mental to biological activity. It orientates the student to the basic structure of the brain and nervous system before moving on to study the building blocks of the brain – the neuron, its structure and functioning. It elaborates on how networks of neurons could plausibly produce behaviour that we can recognise as cognition e.g. recognition and memory

Development in Cultural Context

This module examines the influence of culture on human development, taking a lifespan approach. The aims of the module are to introduce the study of developmental psychology in cultural context, including an introduction to developmental theories that incorporate social and cultural variables. The module will focus on specific topics at key points in the lifespan such as childhood, adolescence, middle and older adulthood.

Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

This module introduces students to the terminology, methodology and central issues in the study of core aspects of human cognition such as perception, memory, problem solving and language. The module also provides a foundation for the more widespread and detailed discussion of each area in other modules in years two and three.

Social & Individual Psychology

This module provides an introduction to social psychology and individual differences and to different approaches to the study of social phenomena and personality. Some consideration of the history of these various approaches and to the different analytical methods will be presented. Problems of disentangling the effects of genetic, environmental and social worlds will be explored along with consideration of the influence of cognitive functioning on social behaviour.

Principles of Marketing

This module is designed to provide an introduction to the theory and practice of marketing. We aim to familiarise students with the key concepts and issues of marketing, giving them a thorough grasp of the sort of marketing decisions there are to be made and what factors affect them. To start with, learning will be fairly directive - e.g. compulsory reading, and tutor led seminar discussion. Progressively students will be required to become more independent in their work by making their own reading selections and actively presenting during seminars. Students will also experience two different assessment types: individual essay writing and a group presentation. In addition to the course contents, this training will help students become better prepared for some of the other modules they take in the future.

Introduction to Advertising

This module is designed to provide an introduction to the theory and practice of communication and, more specifically, advertising.

The more we understand about how people communicate, the better position we shall be in to manage our organisation’s messages. When quality and price are fairly evenly matched within a sector, the advertising campaign might be the very thing that differentiates your product or brand from the competitor’s. This module encourages students to understand a range of core communication models and theories, in order that they will be able to analyse the likely impact of media messages on target audiences.

The module examines the theories of advertising and introduces the student to the various conceptual frameworks which attempt to explain how advertising works. It provides an introduction to the different media. Emphasis is placed on the advertising agency, its relationship with their clients and the media selection and buying process. Issues such as how the advertising industry manages and regulates good practice are explored.

The crucial aspect of this module is the discussion of advertising within the broader marketing environment. For instance, how advertising aids brand objectives and marketing management are discussed. How advertising is perceived within the cultural environment and how the impact of new technology will affect advertising will also be considered. The role of planning within the advertising function stressed.

Level Two

Research Skills 2

The content of this module builds on the skills taught at level 1 in the module Research Skills I. Students will be introduced to ethical issues in research, followed by an introduction to uni-variate statistical procedures for analysis of complex experimental designs. In semester B, students will be introduced to methods and procedures for collecting and analysing survey and qualitative data. In parallel with the lecture program, practical research skills are taught in workshops, and students will be required to carry out a small group practical project under supervision of a member of staff in both semesters.

Social Psychology

This module builds upon the social psychology material covered in the Year 1 module Social & Individual Psychology. It explores some of the central issues of social psychology, including how people deal with social information, such as the causes of behaviour and social categories, and how groups function and interact

Developmental Psychology

This module examines concepts, theories, research methods and influencing factors in child development relevant to the period from birth to pre-adolescence. The syllabus is organised into four main blocks: foundations of development, development of cognition, development of representation, social and emotional development. General theories of nature and nurture will be discussed in the context of specific topics. Also, applications of developmental research and theories will be discussed relevant to specific topics.

Investigating the Individual

This module builds upon some of the individual difference material covered in the Year 1 module Social & Individual Psychology 1. It will explore concepts, techniques of measurement and theories that aim to produce a psychological understanding of what differentiates people (and groups) from one another. Drawing on theories of personality, differential psychology and psychopathology, the module will consider these sources of variation by looking at how and why people (and groups) are psychologically different.

Cognition

This module continues the investigation into cognitive processes begun in the first year in Introduction to Cognitive Psychology. It expands the range of cognitive functions considered by exploring current issues in areas such as Attention (in particular visual spatial attention) and Memory, Thinking and Language. Students will be introduced to competing theories/approaches and evaluations with the aim of providing students with an appreciation of the role of empirical evidence in guiding the formation of and assessment of the adequacy of different psychological theories.

Marketing in Practice

This module considers the key influences on marketing, helping students to understand the issues involved in making marketing mix decisions, the relevance of competition to marketing decisions, the implementation of marketing in the organisation and selected applications of marketing.

It is both theoretical and applied in nature, requiring students to use relevant concepts, models and frameworks both in the analysis of case material and when developing their own product concept. The module is broad-based covering many marketing topics and providing for the steady progression of students from certificate level through to the more demanding and strategic subject material of higher level marketing.

Organisations rarely exist in a non-competitive vacuum therefore a key theme of the unit is the understanding and relevance of the concept of competitive advantage. This theme is developed throughout the unit by highlighting how marketing decisions at an operational level have a crucial part to play in delivering a unique and sustainable position for a company versus its competition. A second theme is the European flavour of the program which is developed throughout.

Level Three

Independent Study

This module requires students to carry out empirical research in an area of their own choosing, culminating in the production of a dissertation of, at the maximum 8,000 words. The Independent Study tests a student’s ability to identify an appropriate research question and their ability to design and implement an appropriate study. The role of the supervisor is to guide them through these processes.

Cognitive Neuroscience

This module offers an in-depth review of current literature on cognitive neuroscience, a scientific study of neural mechanisms underlying cognition, with a specific focus on the interactions of brain structures and mental processes and their behavioural manifestations. The course covers a range of topics (i.e. vision, attention, face and object recognition, memory and emotion) to illustrate how the concepts and modern methodologies are applied to the problems and issues which constitute the subject of cognitive neuroscience.

Conceptual Psychology

This module places the discipline and the subject matter of psychology under scrutiny. By this we mean to locate psychology in a historical context, to consider philosophical concepts that have shaped psychology and to reflect on some of the consequences (moral, political, exploitative, oppressive and/or liberating) that emanate from the practices of psychology. The module therefore includes three areas of focus in psychology – contextual (history of psychology), conceptual (philosophy of science, alternative paradigms, and key psychological concepts) and consequential (critical psychology).

Marketing Communications

Marketing Communications is one of the most noticeable and widely discussed instruments of the marketing mix and has an enormous impact on both society and the business world. Every private consumer is exposed to advertising and takes advantage of sales promotions, buys famous brands and visits stores, which try every trick in the book to influence the buying behaviour of customers. Likewise, organisations are equally motivated to communicate effectively with their business customers and suppliers.

Marketing executives face the challenges of integrating the strengths of the various promotional tools to build successful brands and to achieve competitive advantage. In a business environment where the price and quality of goods or service may be equally matched within a sector, what we say, how we say it and to whom – can make all the difference. Marketing Communications is of interest to everyone.

The module places marketing communications in the context of business and marketing strategies and the development of marketing communications objectives based on this context. Theories of information processing and buyer behaviour, both at individual and organisational level, are explored and applied in the development of communication plans. Particular emphasis is placed on the discussion of the elements of the communications mix, the media selection and the evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of communications.

The issues of Integrated Marketing Communications are discussed in terms of advantages and disadvantages of integration and also in terms of applying the concepts in the development of communications strategies.

Global Marketing Strategy

The main aim of this unit is to assist the student in becoming equipped with a range of skills which will enable them to think strategically in the context of this globalised business world. This unit considers the strategic marketing implications for companies operating in a rapidly changing and dynamic global business environment. For many organisations, the importance of a global perspective and strategy is vital to long-term success. Competitive marketing strategy, examined in a global context, is a market oriented approach that establishes a profitable and sustainable position for the firm against all the forces that determine industry and ultimately international conditions of trading. This unit is about how organisations create and maintain a viable position in today’s complex business world. It seeks to examine the kind of thinking that can underpin successful marketing strategies and their practice. Successful marketing organisations are the ones which now and in the future, will be ones which have the skills to manage multiple strategic processes.

The BSc Honours Psychology and Marketing programme aims to produce graduates who are critical thinkers and independent researchers. This means that graduating students would be able to tackle problems and issues as independent researchers taking a critical and analytical approach. The programme also aims to engender in students an ability to reflect on the nature of human behaviour in an informed and systematic manner.

The programme aims to equip graduates for postgraduate study and professional training in any area of psychology. However, it is especially suited to those considering a career in the area of Business and Management. A programme of ‘Careers in Psychology’ seminars is run throughout the final year of the psychology courses.

It is if you are looking for a course that provides the basis for professional accreditation, while at the same time providing an opportunity to gain an understanding of the key issues in Marketing.

Basic Maths and English, and some experience of project work involving the collection and analysis of data.

An accredited degree in psychology providing a strong foundation of knowledge and expertise within the subject, and a sound understanding of Marketing techniques and processes. You will also gain a high level of competence in a wide range of general and transferable skills, including time-management skills, team working skills, and problem solving analytic skills.

300 points from the UCAS tariff from a minimum of 3 x 6 unit awards, one of these to be science or science related they will be exclude key skills and General Studies, students must also have five GCSE's at grade C or above to include English language and Maths at grade B GCSE.