University of Cumbria

BSc (Hons) in Psychology With Counselling and Psychotherapy

In this degree, you will learn about the key research, knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to work within psychological and therapeutic settings. You will start by building your knowledge and developing your key skills through lectures, workshops, and problem-based learning. You will explore the history of psychology, research methods, and analytical techniques.

You will examine the wider issues around therapeutic diversity whilst gaining work experience within therapeutic settings allowing you to further advance your knowledge, skills, and advanced counseling skills. An independent research project will allow you to explore a topic of your interest with your own research question.

Year One

You will build knowledge in the foundations of psychology, counseling, and psychotherapy as disciplines and develop key skills through lectures, workshops, and problem-based learning. You will build knowledge of the history of psychology, research methods, and analytical techniques as well as start to develop key counseling, academic, and professional skills.

• Psychology in Action

An introduction to a range of theories and models from developmental, cognitive, and biological psychology.

• Introduction to Psychological Research Methods

An introduction to the nature of psychological inquiry and research skills.

• Introduction to Data Analysis

An introduction to the processes involved in the analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data.

• Academic and Professional Skills

Begin working with others in a professional setting including covering issues of equality, diversity, and inclusion.

• Foundational Counselling and Coaching Skills

Develop basic counseling and coaching skills.

• Counselling Skills: Preparation for Practice

Develop a range of basic counseling skills.

Year Two

You will start to develop a more in-depth understanding of research, theory, and practice and develop important research and practical skills. You will build on the foundation of the skills developed in year one begin to understand wider issues around therapeutic diversity and start to gain work experience within a therapeutic setting.

• Research Methods and Statistics

Become familiar with statistical techniques that deal with more than one independent variable at two or more levels, including within, between, and mixed participant designs.

• Development, Brain, and Cognition

Explore the potential impact on human development and behavior of a range of factors.

• Social and Community Psychology

Apply theories of social psychology to understand the experiences and behaviors of people within their community.

• Work Experience

An opportunity to start your supervised counseling practice.

• Intermediate Counselling Skills

Develop a practical and professional understanding of ethical practice and decision-making with attention to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework and relevant legislation.

• Understanding Therapeutic Diversity

Develop a complex understanding of several therapeutic approaches (including the person-centered approach) and critically compare them.

Year Three

You will undertake an independent research project that will allow you to explore a topic of interest and pursue your own research question. You will also be able to further advance your knowledge and skills through further work experience and advanced counseling skills.

• Dissertation: Pursue an investigation on a topic of your own interest.
• Individual Differences: Abilities, Personalities, and measuring differences: An introduction to the nature of individual differences in human behavior across a wide spectrum of human development.
• Critical Psychology: Engage in a critical debate about the ideological basis of psychological knowledge, methods, and applications.
• Advanced Counselling Skills: Develop a critical theoretical awareness and professional understanding of the theories and experiences of psychological and emotional distress.
• Work Experience 2: Another opportunity to start your supervised counseling practice.

How You Will Be Assessed

The assessment throughout the program will include a blend of assessment activities such as written assignments, unseen in-class tests, presentations, and reports, alongside innovative and employability-focused tasks such as case study analysis, problem-based activities, and reflective logs.

These methods are chosen to encourage knowledge development, practitioner skill development, and a range of transferable and professional capabilities such as communication skills, presentation skills, problem-solving, teamwork, numeracy, and IT skills.

On This Course You Will...

• Have the opportunity to explore and apply psychological literature to current issues, contexts, and experiences.
• Develop key knowledge, skills, and abilities to help you prepare to become a counselor or psychotherapist, or develop a career in related psychotherapeutic professions.
• Be able to choose topics and areas that you want to learn more about to tailor your learning experience to your psychology degree.
• Be taught and given high-quality support and guidance by our expert lecturing team, who are active in research and practices.
• Have the opportunity to get involved in a range of extracurricular activities including sessions by experts in the field of psychology and counselling.
• Benefit from our excellent links with regional and national charities, and not-for-profit and penal institutions to gain work experience and enhance your job prospects.