Psychology and Drama (Joint Honours) BA/BSc (Hons)
This course is an excellent foundation for practical careers in teaching, devising or the application of of performance techniques in a variety of contexts, alongside due to the learning of human behavior, thought and emotions from very different psychological outlooks to develop a well rounded individual styling of both subjects.
Our Drama course emphasises the use of drama in education, educational and youth theatre, and applied performance approaches that will connect you with national and global practice. You will experience innovative strategies in teaching and learning through drama via an intensive exploration that encompasses practical and theoretical approaches, and performance styles from a range of historical and cultural perspectives. The course is also accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)* and is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist if that is something you wish to pursue.
You will develop knowledge of a range of practices including Process Drama, Story Drama, Applied Performance, Community Theatre, improvisation, devising, and adapting material for a range of young audience, as well as essential literary skills required for textual interpretation, writing and critical analysis. You will have access to excellent studio facilities and Northampton’s nationally recognised Royal & Derngate provides many exciting possibilities for developing practical skills in Youth Theatre leadership and Children’s Theatre in particular.
By choosing to study these subjects there is a higher level of flexibility in deciding your future employability pathway. Both courses are taught by an enthusiastic and experienced team which has substantial research and teaching experience.
*Accreditation applicable to Undergraduate Single Honours Psychology degrees and Joint Honours degrees where Psychology is the major subject.
Starting university is a big step and we want you to have everything you need from day one. That’s why if you choose to study this course full-time at Northampton from September 2018, you will be provided with your own brand new Hewlett Packard laptop* to keep at no additional cost. For more information on this and many other benefits you can enjoy, please visit our benefits webpages.
*Terms and conditions apply. Please see the benefits webpages for more information.
Waterside Campus
Waterside is our purpose-built campus, designed to provide you with the learning experience and opportunities you expect from a modern university.
We know our staff and students want the very best, and that’s what Waterside will provide. It is the embodiment of our mission to transform lives and inspire change.
We’ve designed Waterside to put you first – it is flexible to the changing needs of our students but also makes the most of our fantastic staff. A University that teaches in a way that mirrors the skills you will need when you graduate, a place that provides everything you will need to live and learn, and that will provide a home-from-home as you enjoy one of the best and most fulfilling experiences of your life.
Our new campus opens its doors in September 2018 and while Waterside will be home to most of our teaching, we’ll also be making use of the excellent facilities around the town. We’ll also be retaining some facilities at our current campuses (Park and Avenue) on a temporary basis for the initial period. These will mostly be used to offer off-campus accommodation options to make sure we have a great range of rooms to suit everyone.
Find out more about our new campus at Hello Waterside or come and visit the new campus on an Open Day.
More about our campuses »Other course locations
This course will be divided between Park Campus for Pscyhology modules and Avenue Campus for Drama modules.
Course content
Our students learn new ways of understanding how and why people think and act as they do. They are also equipped with transferable, critical and analytical skills to enhance their employability. The course offers considerable flexibility and choice, whilst developing your knowledge of a range of practices encompassing different types of performance, improvisation, devising, adapting material for new media and audiences, as well as the literary skills required for textual interpretation, writing and critical analysis.
Students enjoy excellent studio facilities and access to view productions at Northampton’s nationally recognised regional theatre, Royal & Derngate. There are opportunities for visits, researching educational settings and activities in schools and other educational contexts.
Drama is an experiential practice-led discipline in which students practically explore key aspects of theatre and performance practice styles, conventions and theories across a wide range of historical and cultural backgrounds.
In Drama modules you will develop and increase your repertoire of physical and performance skills. They will develop physical and vocal techniques for work in different styles of performance, for improvisation and for devising. They will also acquire skills relevant for textual interpretation and critical analysis. These skills will be developed through a combination of teaching strategies including theatre visits, lecture or seminars and workshops with visiting professionals.
Stage one
You will be introduced to the core disciplines that underpin the academic analysis of both subjects.
Psychology modules introduce the major approaches to understanding human behaviour: social, cognitive, biological and developmental and personality psychology. Students acquire skills in the design and execution of a range of psychological research methods, the analysis and interpretation of data and report writing. In addition to the core modules, students can take other stage one Psychology modules exploring the many ways that psychology is applied to real-world problems and developing students’ research, thinking and communication skills. With Drama, the first stage is a generalist study of drama and forms the basis for study in stages two and three. This first stage concentrates on developing key skills, both practical and academic, through modules consisting of workshop-based, practice-led investigations of selected performance theories and through lectures and seminars.
Stage two
In stage two, if you major in Psychology seek Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) and undertake four modules covering, social, developmental, biological, cognitive and personality psychology, plus the key debates within psychology and psychological research methods. But if you are a minor or joint pathway student you can also choose to study Positive Psychology, Evolutionary Psychology and Educational Psychology.
In Drama, you build on the ensemble work of the foundation year through increased speculation in chosen areas of interest whilst extending the depth of study and scope of practical work. You will be exposed to work of greater complexity and challenges requiring more creativity and imagination most especially in the compulsory modules, Specialist Study and Theories and Movements of Performance.
Stage three*
In stage three, you can specialise in areas of interest and potential career preparation. Students select from the wide range of advanced Psychology modules on offer. There are modules on each of the applied psychological professions such as forensic psychology and clinical psychology. There are also modules reflecting the research expertise of our staff, for example Transpersonal Psychology and Positive Psychology. Psychology majors typically undertake an empirical dissertation with one-to-one guidance from a Psychology lecturer. The dissertation allows you to immerse themselves in a topic of your choosing, subject to staff approval, and to put into practice the research skills they have acquired through the course.
In Drama, you will take the compulsory module, Adaptations, and participate in a compulsory intensive tutor led investigative course, Theatre and Performance in Context. You will form creative relationships with professionals in the performance and creative industries.
Course modules (17/18)
stage1
-
Histories and Cultures of Theatre (40 Credits)
- Module code: DRA1022
- Core module Y
-
Creating Theatre: Devising, Writing, Adapting (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA1023
- Core module Y
-
Introduction to Psychology (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY1003
- Core module Y
-
Becoming a Psychologist (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY1006
- Core module Y
-
Psychology in Practice (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY1001
- Core module Y
stage2
-
Specialist Study (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA2001
- Core module Y
-
Learning Through Drama (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA2034
- Core module Y
-
Actor and Text (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA2002
- Core module N
-
Writing for Performance (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA2032
- Core module N
-
Research Methods & Data Analysis in Psychology (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2005
- Core module N
-
Independent Practical Work (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2003
- Core module N
-
The Human Animal (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2006
- Core module N
-
The Psychology of Well Being (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2007
- Core module N
-
Cognitive Psychology (10 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2010
- Core module N
-
Biological Psychology (10 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2011
- Core module N
-
Developmental Psychology (10 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2013
- Core module N
-
Personality Psychology (10 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2014
- Core module N
-
Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology (10 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2015
- Core module N
-
Social Psychology (10 Credits)
- Module code: PSY2016
- Core module N
stage3
-
Adaptations in Drama (40 Credits)
- Module code: DRA4001
- Core module Y
-
Drama Dissertation (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA4006/DRA4003
- Core module N
-
Drama Independent Research (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA3030
- Core module N
-
Applied Performance (20 Credits)
- Module code: DRA3032
- Core module N
-
Psychology Dissertation (20/40 Credits)
- Module code: PSY4001/PSY4002/PSY4003/PSY4004
- Core module N
-
The Psychology of Mental Health (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3004
- Core module N
-
Occupational Psychology (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3006
- Core module N
-
Parapsychology and Anomalous Experiences (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3007
- Core module N
-
The Developing Adult (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3011
- Core module N
-
The Developing Child (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3012
- Core module N
-
The Psychology of Health (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3013
- Core module N
-
Forensic Psychology (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3016
- Core module N
-
Conciousness (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3019
- Core module N
-
Motivation and Emotion (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3021
- Core module N
-
Educational Psychology (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3023
- Core module N
-
Understanding the Social World (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3024
- Core module N
-
Psychology of Spirituality, Religion and Wellbeing (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3027
- Core module N
-
The Psychology of Advertising (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3025
- Core module N
-
Investigating and Applying Memory (20 Credits)
- Module code: PSY3029
- Core module N
Module information is quoted for 17/18 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.
Opportunities Abroad
There are opportunities for international study visits and exchange as part of the second year for the Education Studies element. Periodically, Drama plays host to Erasmus and American Studies exchange students who cite the range of modules and teaching methods as significant factors in their development of confidence and understanding of drama as a learning medium and vehicle for social change.
Assessments
There are a variety of assessment formats including, essays, practical reports, presentations, time-constrained essays, multiple-choice tests, group project work, analysis and reflection.
Careers
Career Opportunities
This joint honours programme provides an excellent foundation for entry into the competitive professional and academic fields of Psychology and Drama and applies to many professional contexts. With Psychology, after further qualification, you can obtain ‘chartered’ status as a counselling, clinical, educational, occupational, health or forensic psychologist. Also, academic psychologists conduct research and teach in higher education. Our graduates have followed each of these careers. It is widely acknowledged by employers that Psychology degrees provide an excellent grounding for a diverse range of non-psychological careers. Our graduates are employed in education, the health service, the police force, human resources management, marketing, the civil service, broadcasting, social work, performers, directors, stage managers, dramaturges, writers, theatre journalists, community arts administrators and practitioners, as well as teachers and lecturers in the discipline.
The highly valued transferable skills gained from the programme have enabled our graduates to go on to work outside the arts at managerial level, whilst some have gone on to postgraduate study. Students will have highly developed performance and academic skills and transferable skills for work in different fields. They will become incisive critics and confident presenters.
Work Experience
Within Drama students go on placements in regional and national theatres and also in applied and touring theatre companies in order to experience first-hand, professional work in the creative and performance industries.
How to apply
For application information please see our how to apply page.
Entry requirements
General entry requirements apply. A typical offer would be BCC at A Level or DMM at BTEC.
Fees and funding
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 18/19 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Full Time: | £9,250 |
---|---|
Part Time: | £1,350 per 20 credit module |
International
This course is available to international students.
Full-time international tuition fees
For information on our international tuition fees, please see our Tuition fees for international students page.
Please note that tuition fees for EU students will remain the same as UK fees for 2018/19. For more information, please visit the Gov UK website.
How to apply as an international student
For information on how to apply to study with us, please see our How to apply page.
Scholarships available to international students
For information on the scholarships available to you as an international student, please see our International scholarships page.