Psychology with Gaelic, MA

Psychology with Gaelic, MA

Introduction

This page provides information on what you will study on the MA Psychology with Gaelic Studies joint Honours degree.

Study Information

At a Glance

Learning Mode
On Campus Learning
Degree Qualification
MA
Duration
48 months
Study Mode
Full Time
Start Month
September
UCAS Code
C8QM

This page provides information on what you will study on the MA Psychology with Gaelic Studies joint Honours degree. For more detailed information about Psychology and/or Gaelic Studies please visit the relevant single Honours programme pages.

What You'll Study

A degree in Psychology with Gaelic Studies is taught via a selection of compulsory and optional courses to enhance your learning, preparing you for a future career or further study. In each year, you will take courses adding up to 120 credits. Depending on the number of compulsory and optional courses offered by your degree, you can also choose other eligible courses which fit your timetable.

Year 1

Compulsory Courses

Academic Writing for Language & Literature (AW1008)

This compulsory evaluation is designed to find out if your academic writing is of a sufficient standard to enable you to succeed at university and, if you need it, to provide support to improve. It is completed on-line via MyAberdeen with clear instructions to guide you through it. If you pass the evaluation at the first assessment it will not take much of your time. If you do not, you will be provided with resources to help you improve. This evaluation does not carry credits but if you do not complete it this will be recorded on your degree transcript.

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)

This course, which is prescribed for level 1 undergraduate students (and articulating students who are in their first year at the University), is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Topics include orientation overview, equality and diversity, health, safety and cyber security and how to make the most of your time at university in relation to careers and employability.

Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Introductory Psychology I: Concepts and Theory (PS1009)

15 Credit Points

PS1009 introduces you to major concepts and theories in psychology to provide you with a strong understanding of the human mind and behaviour. You will attend lectures on biological, social and cognitive psychology and participate in tutorials where you will work with peers to discuss topics related to the lecture materials. Studying psychology is beneficial to a wide range of careers including management, education, and counselling, to name a few.

Introductory Psychology I: Methods and Applications (PS1011)

15 Credit Points

PS1011 is the perfect combination of subject-specific knowledge and transferable skills. In weekly lectures and practicals you will learn how various research methods are applied across a variety of Psychology sub-fields. As you do so, you will learn to read scientific articles and will begin to critically evaluate them. Knowledge and skills will be practiced and assessed using a variety of methods: Critical reviews, close-reading exercises and oral presentations. The strong emphasis on developing critical thinking skills means that this course will be a valuable addition to any degree.

Introductory Psychology II: Concepts and Theory (PS1509)

15 Credit Points

PS1509 introduces you to major concepts and theories in psychology to provide you with a strong understanding of human mind and behaviour. You will attend lectures on evolution & emotion, lifespan development, and sensation & perception and participate in tutorials where you will work with peers to discuss topics related to the lecture materials. Studying psychology is beneficial to a wide range of careers including management, education, and counselling, to name a few.

Introductory Psychology II: Methods and Applications (PS1511)

15 Credit Points

PS1511 builds onto PS1011. You will learn more about research methods in Psychology through lectures, practicals and taking part in research. You will also learn how to set up and conduct a Psychology study yourself. Part of the lectures will focus on statistics, to equip you with the skills to analyze and interpret your own data. In doing so, you will also learn about the role of ethics in research. The main assessments are two research reports and and MCQ test about the lectures.

Gaelic Scotland (GH1015)

15 Credit Points

Gaelic is Scotland's oldest living language. In this introductory course you will learn about the Gaels, their history and their role in the shaping modern Scotland. You will also learn about how Gaelic language and culture became minoritised in its own country. Students will learn learn about various contemporary initiatives that are aimed at saving and promoting this indigenous language and culture and this will be compared to minority languages and cultures elsewhere in the world.

Optional Courses

Select ONE of the following options:

Beginner

  • Gaelic for Beginners 1A (GH1007)
  • Gaelic for Beginners 1B (GH1507)

Intermediate/Advanced

  • Gaelic Language 1A (GH1013)
  • Gaelic Language 1B (GH1513)

Plus select further credit points from courses of choice to reach 120 credit points.

Gaelic for Beginners 1a (GH1007)

15 Credit Points

This is an 11-week course in the modern Scottish Gaelic language for students who have little or no prior experience of the language, or for students with no formal qualifications in Gaelic.

You will learn Gaelic through a mixture of interactive language classes, a class which focuses on conversational skills, and a programme of homework exercises, together with self-directed learning.

By the end of the course, you will be able to speak, read, write and understand Gaelic at a basic level and you will have mastered a large working vocabulary.

Gaelic for Beginners 1b (GH1507)

15 Credit Points

This is an 11-week course in the modern Scottish Gaelic language for students who have completed GH1007 Gaelic for Beginners 1A.

You will attend three interactive language classes and one conversation class each week, as well as undertaking self-directed learning.

By the end of the course you will be expected to have mastered a large working vocabulary and to be competent in understanding and using most of the major structures of the language.

Gaelic Language 1a (GH1013)

15 Credit Points

This is a Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or have studied it to a similar level elsewhere.

Gaelic Language 1b (GH1513)

15 Credit Points

This is the second-half of the first year Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or have studied it to a similar level elsewhere.

Year 2

Compulsory Courses

  • PS2518 - Advanced Psychology B: Methods and Applications
Advanced Psychology A - Concepts and Theory (PS2017)

15 Credit Points

This course builds on the material covered in the 1st-year courses, expanding on psychology’s concepts and theories. The course covers three core areas of psychology: language and cognition, perception, and individual differences.

Advanced Psychology 1 - Methods and Applications (PS2018)

15 Credit Points

This course introduces students to fundamental concepts and methods in psychological research and data analysis. Lectures cover distributions and probability, null hypothesis significance testing, t-tests, chi-square tests, and correlations. Practical classes involve the application of these methods to research examples from different areas of psychology, using the statistical software package SPSS.

Advanced Psychology B - Concepts and Theory (PS2517)

15 Credit Points

This course builds on the material covered in the 1st-year courses, expanding on psychology’s concepts and theories. The course covers four core areas of psychology: social psychology, behavioural neuroscience and developmental psychology.

Optional Courses

Select one of the following options:

Beginner

  • Gaelic for Advanced Beginners 2A (GH2009)
  • Gaelic for Advanced Beginners 2B (GH2509)

Intermediate/Advanced

  • Gaelic Language 2A (GH2013)
  • Gaelic Language 2B (GH2513)
Gaelic for Advanced Beginners 2a (GH2009)

15 Credit Points

This is the second year Gaelic language course for people who started learning in their first year. It builds on the foundations already set in the first year and continues to develop vocabulary, grammatical structures and idioms in both writing and speech.

Gaelic for Advanced Beginners 2b (GH2509)

15 Credit Points

This course follows on from GH2009 and is for people who started learning in their first year. It continues to develop a range of linguistic competencies in written and oral language.

Gaelic Language 2a (GH2013)

15 Credit Points

This is the first half of the second year Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or similar level. It follows on from GH1513. It continues to develop accuracy in the language and increases usage across a wider variety of domains.

Gaelic Language 2b (GH2513)

15 Credit Points

This is the second half of the second year Gaelic language course for students who are relatively fluent in the language already and have studied it to at least Higher in school (Higher Gaelic or Gàidhlig) or similar level. It follows on from GH2013.

Year 3

Compulsory Courses

Psychological Assessment (PS3011)

15 Credit Points

Psychological assessment is used by chartered psychologists in a number of areas, including clinical, occupational and forensic applications. The aim of this course is to introduce students to psychometric theory, real life applications of psychological assessment and the legal and ethical issues surrounding test administration.

Topics covered on this lecture based course include: IQ and mood assessment; clinical neuropsychological tests of cognitive dysfunction and memory; assessment of dementia and forensic aspects of assessment (legal malingering).

An ideal course for students intending to secure a career in applied psychology.

Perception (PS3012)

15 Credit Points

Interaction with the world around us involves perceptual processing using our three main senses : visual (seeing), auditory (hearing) and haptic (touch). The aim of this course is to consider a range of approaches to human perception, from historical beginnings to recent innovative research.

Topics covered include: colour perception; face recognition; perception of pain and age related changes in perception. Students will also engage in guided debate with their peers regarding media portrayal of recent research findings.

This course is produced by academics that specialise in this field, ensuring the most up-to-date and relevant lecture material.

Biological Psychology (PS3014)

15 Credit Points

This course aims to provide students with a good understanding of the biological basis of behaviour and cognition. The course is split into two sections, each featuring 5 lectures. Section 1 focuses on psychopharmacology, which is the investigation of the effect of medication on normal and abnormal brain function. Section 2 focuses on neuropsychology, examining what can be learnt about psychological processes from studying patients with brain damage.

Specific topics that will be covered include: neurotransmitters; drug effects; psychedelic drugs; impaired object and face recognition; amnesia; and disorders of motor control.

Methodology A (PS3015)

15 Credit Points

The main aim of this course is to help students prepare, evaluate and run their own Psychological research. As such this is a ‘hands-on’ course, where students will have the opportunity to conduct a small qualitative research project and practice using SPSS for a variety of statistical analyses. The course provides a thorough grounding in qualitative and quantitative research methods through a lecture series. Specific topics covered in this course include: verification and falsification of results; ANOVA and qualitative research strategies.

Developmental Psychology (PS3518)

15 Credit Points

The aim of this course is to consolidate and extend students’ knowledge of a number of core areas of developmental psychology, focusing on the age range of young children (3 years) to adolescence. This course will examine both historical and contemporary issues and findings in (1) cognitive development and (2) social-emotional development. In one half of the course students will evaluate how some main types of memory undergo developmental changes, and how cognitive plasticity develops. In the other half students will evaluate the development of aggression and its risk factors, and gain a deeper understanding of the role of play in typical and atypical development of social interaction with a focus on autism. There will also be opportunity to learn about some intervention programmes aimed at improving cognitive and socio-emotional skills in childhood. The broad range of developmental topics makes this an ideal course for anyone with interest in working with children.

Memory and Language (PS3519)

15 Credit Points

The memory component of this course aims to introduce students to the main theoretical components of memory (working and autobiographical memory). Psychological theories of forgetting and eyewitness memory will also be discussed.

The second component of the course, language, will introduce students to the key issues in psycholinguistics. This will include assessment of sentence processing, analysis of the processes underlying language production and factors that influence communication in different settings.

The assessment of multiple approaches within both research areas will provide all students with a good basis for developing critical thinking skills.

Social Psychology (PS3520)

15 Credit Points

Social Psychologists explore the psychological factors that influence individual behaviours within social situations. As such, the aim of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the range of topics within experimental social psychology, with a defined focus on social cognition.

Topics covered within this lecture based course include: Stereotypes; social perception and action; self-control; consciousness and mimicry.

This course provides a scientific explanation for social phenomena, making it ideal for students with an interest in individual and group behaviour.

Methodology B (PS3522)

15 Credit Points

This course builds on the skills already developed through participation in Methodology A. Similar to that course the aim is to help students prepare, evaluate and run their own Psychological research. As such this is a ‘hands-on’ course, where students will have a second opportunity to conduct a small research project and practice using SPSS for a variety of statistical analyses. The course also builds on the thorough grounding in qualitative and quantitative research methods provided in Methodology A through a second lecture course. This course also features workshops on employability, providing students with information on career planning, networking etc.

Year 4

Compulsory Courses

Gaelic Language A (GH3022)

30 Credit Points

A level three Gaelic language course for students taking honours Gaelic. The course runs over both semesters and is topic based, enabling students to develop their ability to deal with a large range of subjects in Gaelic. The course also develops students' generic writing and oral skills.

Psychology Thesis (PS4019)

30 Credit Points

This course constitutes the final-year thesis for the single honours Psychology degree. The thesis is an empirical research project, where the student collects and analyses data in answer to a research question. The thesis itself begins in September and the final draft of the thesis is handed in for assessment at the end of the second term. The School has an international-level research culture and the final-year projects offer the students an opportunity to be involved in that culture. A number of student projects have contributed towards research publications.

Optional Courses

Plus, select 60 credit points from Level 4 Psychology courses.

    We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

    How You'll Study

    Teaching is by means of lectures, laboratory practicals, workshops and tutorials, with more extensive experimental projects at year 3 and 4. Assessment is by means of examination and continuous assessment.

    Learning Methods

    • Group Projects
    • Individual Projects
    • Lab Work
    • Lectures
    • Tutorials

    Assessment Methods

    Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

    • Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
    • Practical assessments of the skills and competencies learnt on the course.
    • Written examinations at the end of each course.

    The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, year of study and individual courses.

    Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

    Why Study Psychology with Gaelic?

    Why Gaelic Studies

    • A warm welcome for students whatever your level of Gaelic, and long-standing experience in teaching this fascinating language to complete beginners.
    • Student-run Celtic Society famous for its musical events, ceilidhs and trips, and a great opportunity to use Gaelic in an informal, social context.
    • Strong tradition of commitment to Gaelic, and a University Gaelic Language Plan to promote and develop Gaelic in the University in line with the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.
    • The spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, with an extensive Gaelic collection and treasures.
    • An opportunity to study abroad at the University College Cork.

    Why Psychology

    • You will be introduced to state-of-the-art concepts and theories taught by award-winning teachers and world-class researchers, exposing you to the latest thinking in the field.
    • You will benefit from the key strengths within the School of social psychology, neuroscience, language, perception and industrial psychology.
    • We have a wide range of course options available in 4th Year to allow you to specialise in areas such as clinical, forensic, language and developmental psychology.
    • You will have the opportunity to gain experience using specialised laboratories and equipment including those for brain imaging analysis, eye movement recording, movement analysis and visual neuroscience.
    • To help you get a job we have an employability programme for our students which includes: internship opportunities, online resources, career talks and networking events.
    • Psychology graduates are eligible for membership of the British Psychological Society, this is a first step towards becoming a professional Psychologist.
    • In the final year students have the opportunity to do a unique research project to a professional level. A number of final year projects have gone on to be published in internationally renowned journals.

    Entry Requirements

    Qualifications

    The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.


    General Entry Requirements

    2024 Entry

    SQA Highers

    Standard: AABB

    Applicants who have achieved AABB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

    Minimum: BBB

    Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.

    Adjusted: BB

    Applicants who achieve BB over S4 and S5 and who meet one of the widening access criteria are guaranteed a conditional offer. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    A LEVELS

    Standard: BBB

    Minimum: BBC

    Adjusted: CCC

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    International Baccalaureate

    32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

    Irish Leaving Certificate

    5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

    Entry from College

    Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.

    2025 Entry

    SQA Highers

    Standard: BBBB

    Applicants who have achieved BBBB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

    Minimum: BBB

    Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.

    Adjusted: BB

    Applicants who achieve BB over S4 and S5 and who meet one of the widening access criteria are guaranteed a conditional offer. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.

    Foundation Apprenticeship: One FA is equivalent to a Higher at A. It cannot replace any required subjects.

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    A LEVELS

    Standard: BBC

    Minimum: BCC

    Adjusted: CCC

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    International Baccalaureate

    32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

    Irish Leaving Certificate

    5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

    Entry from College

    Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.

    The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Arts and Social Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.


    English Language Requirements

    To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

    IELTS Academic:

    OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

    TOEFL iBT:

    OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

    PTE Academic:

    OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

    Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

    OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

    Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

    Fees and Funding

    You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.

    Fee information
    Fee category Cost
    RUK £9,250
    Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year
    EU / International students £20,800
    Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year
    Home Students £1,820
    Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year

    Scholarships and Funding

    Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.

    Additional Fees

    • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
    • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.

    Our Funding Database

    View all funding options in our Funding Database.

    Careers

    At the University of Aberdeen, we give you every opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop the professional and personal skills and attributes you will need to build a successful career. The high quality of our degrees, combined with our strong focus on employability opens up a wide range of career options, which is demonstrated by our consistently high rate of graduate employment.

    Accreditation

    This degree holds accreditation from

    Founded Over 100 Years Ago

    The School of Psychology at Aberdeen is one of the oldest in the UK.

    Our Experts

    The School of Psychology provides an exciting and vibrant research environment. Our degrees are taught by a range of experts across our 3 research themes: Cognition, Perception and Attention and Social Cognition.

    Director of Undergraduate Teaching
    Dr Helen Knight

    Information About Staff Changes

    You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.

    World Class Facilities

    There is a range of specialised laboratories including those for brain imaging analysis, eye movement recording, movement analysis and visual neuroscience.

    Image for Sir Duncan Rice Library
    Sir Duncan Rice Library

    Sir Duncan Rice Library

    The University’s award winning Sir Duncan Rice Library is listed in the “Top 20 spellbinding University libraries in the World”. It contains over a million volumes, more than 300,000 e-books and 21,000 journals.

    Find out more
    Image for Psychophysiology Centre
    Psychophysiology Centre

    Psychophysiology Centre

    This facility consists of several spacious rooms that house electroencephalographic (EEG) equipment and sound-attenuated, shielded testing booths.

    Image for Eye Tracking Facilities
    Eye Tracking Facilities

    Eye Tracking Facilities

    The School of Psychology has four in-house eye trackers. The Eyelink 1000 system allows the recording of eye gaze at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz.

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