Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 360 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
Psychology pervades just about every aspect of our personal and professional lives. The frequent query, ‘What do you have in mind?’ quite literally captures much of what psychology – the science of human behaviour – is all about. Studying our BSc (Honours) Psychology degree course (accredited by the British Psychological Society) gives you a window into the workings of the mind – why we do the things we do and how we interact with others. On this fascinating journey you’ll gain knowledge and understanding of the different areas of psychology; develop valuable analytical and communication skills; and enhance your ability to work both independently and collaboratively, all of which will put you very much in the frame when it comes to employment opportunities. You’ll also explore how psychologists use evidence derived from research to contribute to debates on matters such as ageing, crime, education, employment, forensic science, mental health, relationships and much more.
Planning your studies
Whether or not you’re new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start with a module at Level 1. This Level 1 work will provide you with a firm foundation for the remainder of your degree. We particularly recommend Investigating psychology 1 (DE100).
Normally, you should have completed and passed Investigating psychology 2 (DE200) (or the discontinued module DSE212) before you study DE300.
Please note that:
- if you have been unable to complete DSE212 and one of the project modules (DXR222/DZX222) before these modules ended you may complete your degree studies by following the requirements of an alternative route which features new modules – see Route D below.
Time limit: the modules listed below can count towards this degree after we have stopped presenting them for a maximum of twenty years for Level 1 modules and ten years for Level 2 and 3 modules. However, please note that this qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 120 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you (with the exception of an undergraduate-level qualification of less than 120 credits). If you have graduated with an OU BSc degree without honours and are continuing your studies on to honours, this minimum requirement is reduced to 60 credits. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications on the way to your OU honours degree, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your degree.
Career relevance and employability
Psychology graduates gain an impressive breadth of knowledge and skills that make them highly employable across a wide range of careers. These include:
- advertising
- marketing
- career counselling
- education
- the health professions
- human resources
- management
- police and social services
Our psychology degree is designed to deliver the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and has been accredited by the BPS for over 20 years. Careers as a professional psychologist in the applied areas of psychology will require further study, training and/or work experience – for which this degree course provides ideal preparation.
Graduates achieving a 2:2 or better are eligible for GBC conferred by BPS – see the BPS website for further information on how to apply for GBC.
As well as the specific knowledge gained from studying an OU degree, you'll develop many transferable and work-related skills that are highly valued by employers. These include skills in:
- communication
- numeracy
- effective team-working
- independent and critical thinking
- IT and data handling
- analysing and evaluating diverse sources of information, including qualitative and quantitative data
- designing and carrying out research projects, and presenting their findings
- problem-solving and reasoning
- application of learning to real world problems and situations
- independent learning.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
Route A – This route expired 31 December 2013
Route B – If you plan to count DSE212 and a project module (DXR222 or DZX222) towards your degree for this 360-credit honours degree you require:
255 credits from the following compulsory modules:
Level 2 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- The discontinued 60-credit module DSE212
|
60 |
|
- The discontinued 15-credit module DXR222 or the online version DZX222
|
15 |
|
- Psychology of childhood and youth (E219)
|
60 |
|
Level 3 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Investigating psychology 3 (DE300)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 |
- Advancing social psychology (DD317)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 2 the discontinued module ED209, and at Level 3 the discontinued modules D317, DD303, DD307
And a maximum of 105 credits of free choice from any OU Level 1, 2 or 3 modules to bring your total number of credits to 360. You must ensure that you include no more than 30 credits within the total from Openings modules or the discontinued Short module S154.
Route C – this route has been withdrawn. Any students previously following this route may now complete their degree via Route B. Route B has been extended to 31 December 2017 to enable students to complete their degree without the Level 1 study requirement.
Please note: You will still need to obtain 360 credits to claim your degree, but you can now make this up with modules of ‘free choice’ rather than returning to Level 1 study, if you have not already completed a Level 1 module. Your free choice can include Level 1 study.
This relaxation to the Level 1 requirement does not apply to Route D of B07.
Route D – If you have not completed DSE212 and a project module (DXR222/DZX222) before these modules cease to be presented you will need to follow this alternative route which features a new compulsory Level 2 module DE200:
60 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Introducing the social sciences (DD102)
|
60 |
|
- Investigating psychology 1 (DE100)
|
60 |
|
Subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules DD100, DD101, DD121, DD122, DD131, DD132, DSE141, SDK125
240 credits from the following compulsory modules:
Level 2 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Investigating psychology 2 (DE200)
|
60 |
|
- Psychology of childhood and youth (E219)
|
60 |
|
Level 3 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Investigating psychology 3 (DE300)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 |
- Advancing social psychology (DD317)
|
60 |
Oct 2024 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 2 the discontinued module ED209 and at Level 3 the discontinued modules D317 (until 31 December 2016), DD303, DD307
And a maximum of 60 credits of free choice from any OU Level 1, 2 or 3 modules to bring your total number of credits to 360. You must ensure that you include no more than 30 credits within the total from Openings modules or the discontinued Short module S154.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of modules so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required number and type of modules you will be awarded a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Psychology degree. Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours.
You will have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification