Introduction
Philosophy and psychology seek to answer profound questions about ourselves and our place in the social and physical universe. In this degree, you'll investigate a range of philosophical debates about ethics, justice, scientific knowledge, religion, art, and the self. You'll cover the core approaches in social, cognitive and developmental psychology, and some applied aspects of professional practice. You’ll learn to read and understand scientific and philosophical texts; use different research methods; communicate clearly and logically; and work and think independently.
Key features of the course
- Investigate profound questions about human minds and behaviour from two complementary perspectives
- Engage with current research and discover how both psychologists and philosophers address pressing real-life issues.
- Learn how to evaluate evidence, construct well-informed arguments and present your conclusions convincingly.
- Develop valuable transferable skills that are highly prized in the workplace, including skills in communication, problem-solving, numeracy and self-management.
We also offer a Diploma of Higher Education in Philosophy and Psychological Studies that is the same in structure as the first two-thirds of this degree.
Accessibility
We make all our qualifications as accessible as possible and have a comprehensive range of services to support all our students. The BA (Honours) Philosophy and Psychological Studies uses a variety of study materials and has the following elements:
- studying a mixture of printed and online material – online learning resources may include websites, audio/video media clips, and interactive activities such as online quizzes
- finding external/third party material online
- working in a group with other students
- working with specialist reading material such as works of art and musical manuscripts
- continuous and end-of-module assessment in the form of essays, short answer questions, and in some cases an examination
Program Outcome
This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
The level and depth of your learning gradually increase as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; e-learning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.
Curriculum
Course details
This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.
- At Stage 1 you’ll study two compulsory modules that will introduce you to arts and humanities and the study of psychology.
- Next, in Stage 2, you’ll study two further compulsory modules, one in each of philosophy and psychology.
- Finally, in Stage 3, you’ll study one compulsory philosophy module and choose from two psychology options.