Course content and structure
The Advanced Level Foundation programme is highly flexible, and able to adapt to the needs and academic aspirations of each student. It does this through a combination of core modules and a series of elective modules which can be combined in different ways to create main subject streams.
The Advanced Level Foundation Psychology module includes content from Year 1 and Year 2 Psychology A – level taught over 3 terms. Advanced Level Psychology is linear, with September and January student cohorts taught separately.
An overview of the syllabus content is shown below.
Term 1
- Social influence - conformity, obedience, resistance to obedience, minority influence and social change
- Memory – different features of memory, types of memory, models of memory, explanations for forgetting, factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony
- Research methods 1 - research methods and designs, scientific processes and techniques
Term 2
- Research methods 2 - research methods and designs, scientific processes and techniques, data handling and analysis and inferential testing
- Approaches in Psychology 1 - Origins of psychology, Behaviourist Approach, Cognitive, Social Learning Theory, Biological psychology.
- Assignment – Psychological practical research investigation and report write up.
- Synoptic - Issues and debates – nature/nurture, free will/determinism, cultural and gender bias, scientific status, ethical issues.
Term 3
- Psychopathology - Definitions of abnormality, the behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias. The cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression. The biological approach to explaining and treating OCD.
- Biopsychology - The divisions of the nervous system, The structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurons. The process of synaptic transmission, The function of the endocrine system: glands and hormones, The fight or flight response including the role of adrenaline.
- Synoptic - Issues and debates – nature/nurture, free will/determinism, cultural and gender bias, scientific status, ethical issues.
Sample subject combinations with Psychology
Psychology complements a wide range of science, social science and humanities subjects. In addition, it will be highly beneficial for any career that involves an understanding of others, such as medicine, dentistry, education, marketing, law and forensics.
Common subject combinations include:
- Psychology, Biology and Chemistry
- Psychology, Business Studies, Maths
- Psychology, Politics and History
- Psychology, Economics and Politics
Sample enrichment activities
- History Film Club
- Houses of Parliament visit
- Visit to Hampton Court Palace
- Bletchley Park visit
- Debating Society
- Trinity Arts awards
Sample academic calendar (2023-2024)
Year 1
- 11th: term starts
- Student induction
- 23 – 27th: half term
- Progress tests
- University fairs and talks
- 15th: term ends
- End of term exams
- 15th – 16th: half term
- Progress tests
- University fairs
- End of term exams
- 22nd: term ends
