UOL35 Psychology A Level (Standard or Fast Track)

Psychology A Level

This Psychology A Level course has been designed to provide a broad introduction to the scope and nature of psychology as a science.

Course Description

Psychology A Level

Do you need an A Level within 12 months to get into University?

We offer a range of A Levels where we guarantee to prioritise the marking of your coursework so you are fully ready to take your exams in June of each year.

WE DO NOT CHARGE EXTRA FOR THIS SERVICE.

An Advanced Level in Psychology is a perfect qualification for those wishing to acquire knowledge and understanding of the subject to enable them to study at a higher level at university. It also provides a progression route for further training whilst in employment.

This specification is designed to:

• enable candidates to engage with the subject by introducing new, contemporary topics
• make conceptually demanding areas more accessible by setting them in context
• allow candidates to demonstrate the ability to utilise scientific methodology in the context of psychology
• develop candidates critical thinking skills

On this course you will study four units:

AS Level

Unit 1: PSYA1 Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods
Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Unit 2: PSYA2 Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences
Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

A2 Level

Unit 3: PSYA3 Topics in Psychology
Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Unit 4: PSYA4 Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods
Examination: 2 hours

For further details visit:

http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/science/psychology-a-overview.php

Course Content

AS Level

Unit 1: PSYA1 Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods

Cognitive Psychology

1. Models of memory

2. Memory in everyday life

Developmental Psychology - Early Social Development

3. Attachment

4. Attachment in everyday life

Research Methods

5. Methods and techniques

6. Investigation design

7. Data analysis and presentation

Unit 2: PSYA2 Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences

Biological Psychology Stress

1. Stress as a bodily response

2. Stress in everyday life

Social Psychology - Social Influence

3. Social influence

4. Social influence in everyday life

Individual Differences Psychopathology (Abnormality)

5. Defining and explaining psychological abnormality

6. Treating abnormality

A2 Level

Unit 3: PSYA3 Topics in Psychology

Biological Rhythms and Sleep

1. Biological rhythms

2. Sleep states

3. Disorders of sleep

Aggression

1. Social psychological approaches to explaining aggression

2. Biological explanations of aggression

3. Aggression as an adaptive response

Cognition and Development

1. Development of thinking

2. Development of moral understanding

3. Development of social cognition

Unit 4: PSYA4 Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods

Psychopathology

You are required to study one disorder:

Schizophrenia

Psychology in Action

You are required to study one contemporary application:

Media Psychology

1. Media influences on social behaviour

2. Persuasion, attitude and change

3. The psychology of celebrity

Psychological Research and Scientific Method

1. The application of scientific method in psychology

2. Designing psychological investigations

3. Data analysis and reporting on investigations

Recommended Reading

AQA Psychology A AS: Student's Book, Jane Wilson, 2008, Nelson
Thornes, ISBN-13: 978-0748798230

AQA Psychology A A2: Student's Book, James Bailey, 2009, Nelson Thornes,
ISBN-13: 978-0748798254

AS +A2 = A level in Psychology. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

AQA Specification 6181.

Previous Knowledge Required

Basic English reading and writing skills are required.

Support

• The course comes to you as a proper paper-based pack, not as an electronic password
• You will get full tutor support via email
• You will receive feedback on your assignments from our experienced tutors
• You will be given guidance through the Study Guide on the nuts and bolts of studying and submitting assignments
• Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor
• You must have access to email in order to contact your tutor.

Our A Levels come with tutor support for 18 months.

You will have access to a tutor via our student portal who will mark your work and guide you through the course to help you be ready for your examinations. In addition you will be supplied with a comprehensive Study Guide which will help you through the study and assessment process.

Assessment

The course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. We call these Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs). You need only send the TMAs to your tutor for comment, not the self-assessment exercises which are also part of the course to help you gauge your progress.

Exams are taken at an AQA centre and we can provide an extensive list of centres for you within your course pack.

Modules

• Unit 1: PSYA1 – Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods
• Unit 2: PSYA2 – Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences
• Unit 3: PSYA3 – Topics in Psychology
• Unit 4: PSYA4 – Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods

Awarding Organisation

AQA (The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) has a leading reputation for promoting education for the public benefit and draws on long experience of setting and marking public exams such as GCSEs, A-levels and other qualifications. AQA is the largest of the three English exam boards, awarding 49% of full course GCSEs and 42% of A-levels nationally. In total, students take over 3.5 million exams with them each year.

For more information about Awarding Organisations click here