| Code | CA |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year |
| Teaching Mode | Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info. |
| Qualifications | Cert |
| NFQ Level | Level 6 |
| NFQ Award Title | Special Purpose |
| Fees | €800 See Fees and Costs for full details. |
| Closing Date | 31 May 2024 |
| Next Intake | September 2024 |
| Venue | Online |
| Start Date | September 2024 |
Course Outline
This Certificate will be of interest both to those who wish to pursue careers in psychology, and to those who are motivated by an interest in the area. It provides prerequisites for all modules of year 1 of the Higher Diploma in Psychology (although completion of the Certificate course does not guarantee entry to the H Dip). The course will provide students with a general introduction to the discipline of psychology. Students will be introduced to key domains of academic psychology, along with having exposure to research and analytic techniques. Students completing the Certificate course should have a good basic understanding of the fundamentals of academic psychology.
This Certificate is suited to anyone who is interested in the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to all of the key topics within the discipline of psychology. Students will be introduced to key domains of academic psychology, along with having exposure to research and analytic techniques. Students will develop a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the field psychology and the work of professional psychologists.
The areas addressed include
- Social Psychology: How the presence of others influences our thoughts and behaviours, and how we interact socially. Prejudice, discrimination, helping behaviour, obedience etc.
- Developmental Psychology: Particularly child development. How we develop from dependent infants through the various social and intellectual stages to becoming an adult.
- Biological Psychology: The physiological underpinnings of experience and behaviour. Describing the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and endocrine systems (e.g. the brain, neurons, neurotransmitters), and how they influence behaviours such as sleep, eating, and stress.
- Cognitive Psychology: How we think, perceive, learn, and remember. Understanding the structure and function of brain regions and how they relate to sensation, perception and memory. Describing attention and memory theories.
- History of Psychology: How the discipline began and developed. Introductions to such seminal thinkers as Freud and Skinner.
- Practice of Psychology: The different strands of professional psychology, and how different types of psychologist work.
- Research and data analysis: An introduction to how we expand and develop knowledge in the field.
The Modules for the Certificate are as follows:
- AD1063: Science and the Practice of Psychology
- AD1064: Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Perspectives on Psychology
- AD1065: Introduction to Developmental and Social Perspectives on Psychology
- AD1066: Introduction to Research and Statistical Analysis
Course Queries
For Academic Queries and Course Content Queries please contact the Programme Coordinator Ann Marie Atkins at annmarie.atkins@ucc.ie
For Online Application Support please click here.
If you require further assistance with your online application please contact the Programme Administrator Deborah Kerrisk at deborah.kerrisk@ucc.ie.
Important Notice: Course Registration Deadlines
Please take note of the following deadlines for this course:
Round One Application Deadline: Friday, May 31st, 2024
- If the course fills by this deadline, there will be no round two application process. Early application is advisable as there are limited numbers of places for this course. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by this date to guarantee consideration.
Final Registration Deadline: August 31st, 2024
-
In the event that there are additional places available, round two applications will open. Round two applications will close on August 31st, 2024.
We highly recommend early application to secure your place in our courses.
Additional Teaching Mode Information
This course takes place on Wednesday evening from 6.00pm - 10.00pm from September/October to December and January to April. Tutorials will be held on Tuesday evening from 7.00pm -8.00pm.
Course Practicalities
Assessment
End of module examination. Continuous assessment.
Who teaches this course?
Staff and doctoral students from School of Applied Psychology
Requirements
This course is open to adult learners and will be of interest both to those who wish to pursue further study in psychology and to those who are motivated by an interest in the area. Minimum entry age: 18.
Fees and Costs
€800
For further information on fees and financial supports please click here.
How To Apply
Applicants need to be aware of the IT student checklist below before applying:
- You will need access to a laptop or desktop computer running a modern supported operating system with all software updates.
- Some of UCC’s services (e.g. the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment) link to an external site and also have mobile apps for iOS and Android Devices that you may wish to use as part of your studies. However, we recommend using your desktop web browser for submission of assessments.
- You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. In general, we recommend the Chrome Web browser (Important Note: Internet Explorer will not work with Canvas).
- We recommend a reliable broadband connection with at least 2Mbps or more.
- You will require an Office suite of software (Microsoft Office or equivalent) and a PDF reader. You should always use the latest version of this software. All UCC students will have access to Office 365 which includes software such as Word/Excel/Powerpoint etc. once registered.
To Apply for this course please follow the steps below:
When you log into the Application Portal:
Click Apply Online
Select Start a new Adult & Continuing Education Application
During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:
- Birth Cert or Passport
- Passport Photograph
- English Language Test Report [if applicable]
- 50% of the fees are also required to complete your application.
Apply Now