Applied Psychology

This course has four units that will be studied over two years. 

Year 12:

Unit 1 – Psychological Approaches & Applications – externally assessed via a 90 minute exam.

You will study the assumptions, some key concepts and research from:

• Social approach
• Cognitive approach
• Biological approach
• Learning approach

You will also apply these approaches to explain:

• Aggression
• Gender
• Consumer behaviour

Unit 2 – Conducting Psychological Research – internally assessed via written assessment tasks

You will develop an understanding of the whole research process and will also learn about research methods and need to be able to describe and evaluate:

• Quantitative methods of collecting data
• Qualitative methods of collecting data

You will develop an understanding of:

• How to gather samples
• How to conduct ethical research

You will learn how to analyse data:

As part of your internal assessment you will be required to design, conduct and write up your own piece of Psychological Research.

Year 13

Unit 3 – Health Psychology – externally assessed via a 2 hour exam.

You will study:

• Stress
• Behavioural addiction (gambling & shopping)
• Physiological addiction (alcohol & smoking)
• Theories of persuasion
• Treatment and management of stress and addiction

Unit 4 – Criminal and Forensic Psychology – internally assessed via written assessment tasks.

You will learn about different explanations for criminal behaviour including:

• Biological
• Individual differences
• Socio-psychological
• Dealing with crime
• Offending profiling

Overall – External assessment = 58% internal assessment = 42%

The qualification carries UCAS points and is recognised by higher education providers as contributing to admission requirements to many relevant applied psychology courses.

When combined with other qualifications within a two-year study programme, you can progress to higher education to qualifications such as:

• A BSc in Forensic and Criminal Psychology
• BSc (Hons) in Occupational Health
• A BSc in Education and Child Psychology
• BSc (Hons) in Sport Psychology

Over 60% of our students progress onto HE - the most common subject is Psychology and related courses e.g. counselling followed by Law and Criminology.

(You should always check the entry requirements for degree programmes at specific higher education providers.) 

Pearson

BTEC Extended Certificate, this is equivalent to 1 A-Level.

At least five 4s at GCSE, including at least a grade 4 in English Language and Maths at GCSE.

We have a Psychology Society, day trips/visits to places such as Think Forensic, Chester Zoo, and a range of Universities. We also have visiting guest speakers, for example Sports Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist as well as an addiction workshop. We also have residential trips including a trip to London (3 days) & Vienna (3 days).

Subjects such as Criminology, BTEC Applied Law, Sociology and Health & Social Care all complement this subjects.