PSYCHOLOGY

Post 16

AS & A2 Level Psychology

AQA Specification A

Psychology is a varied and exciting subject which uses many skills developed during a student’s mainstream GCSE education. The successful student will need to possess the ability to write essays and to comprehend text, along with a sound mathematical understanding which in turn can be used to develop analytical skills.

It will be assumed for the purpose of teaching that most students undertaking the one year AS level Psychology course will have no previous experience in the subject.

The initial AS course will be divided into three units/topics which are:-

  1. Cognitive and Developmental Psychology

  2. Physiological Psychology and Individual Differences

  3. Social Psychology and Research Methods

these will lead to an Advanced Subsidiary Award in Psychology.

In order to obtain an Advanced Level Award, students would undertake a further three units/topics which are:-  

  1. Social Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Individual Differences and Comparative Psychology

  2. Perspectives, Debates and Methods

  3. Coursework

    4.

Entry requirements:

GCSE A* - B in Mathematics plus four GCSE subjects at grade C or above to include English and a Science.

Assessment:

85% Examination                15% Coursework

Progression:

A knowledge of Psychology is becoming increasingly important in the fields of education and employment.
The Schools Curriculum & Assessment Authority is aiming to have a core component of Psychology integrated into every degree course within the next ten years.
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the professional areas of applied Psychology have increased dramatically and incorporate: Clinical, Educational, Health and Environmental Psychology.
Other applications of Psychology also include: Sports Psychology, Forensic Psychology as well as the broader field of legal psychology – Criminology, etc.

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