BSc (Honours) Psychology and Sociology
Three years full-time
UCAS code • CL83
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Psychology
Related subjects • Sociology and politics
By adding to My Courses you can compare courses and create a personalised prospectus.
Find out about the psychology facilities we have available for students to use.
Watch videos of our undergraduate students talking about their experiences of studying psychology at Sheffield Hallam.
Watch videos explaining some of the benefits of studying sociology at Sheffield Hallam.
Visit the Department Psychology, Sociology and Politics website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
At a glance
Understand the world from both psychological and sociological perspectives on this course. Learn about the fundamental aspects of both subjects before specialising in areas that reflect your career aims and interests. Gain valuable experience and enhance your employability through a work-related learning module.
Key points
• Study core subjects before specialising.
• Learn specialist research skills.
• Enhance your employability with our project management module.
What is psychology and sociology?
Psychology is the study of what drives human behaviour, such as brain/physiology, learning, genes, environment, social groups, individual differences in personality, and motivation. It focuses on an exploration of behaviour, thoughts and feelings, at an individual or group level.
Sociology is the study of what drives social activity, such as social policy, welfare, social structure, class, social mobility, and religion. It focuses on topics including the self and society, how we create, make sense of and are influenced by social worlds, the shaping and changing of societies, and the interactions between people in society.
This course
Gain a good understanding of both psychological and sociological perspectives of the world on this course.
The course is ideal if you have an interest in
• the ways people behave and possible sociological and psychological explanations
• a career in a psychology-related discipline
• challenging commonsense views of the social world
• applying theoretical and methodological approaches to the real world
You study core modules in psychology and sociology for two years. In your final year, you also have the opportunity to study specialist option modules in the subjects that most suit your career aims and interests.
You also combine the skills and knowledge you have gained by carrying out an independent psychology research project. This is a great opportunity to develop your research skills as you have access to our research cubicles where you can use a range of psychological tools, conduct interviews or psychometric assessments.
As part of developing your research knowledge and skills, throughout the course you gain an insight into the varied and interesting research undertaken in the department. This research uses our specialist research facilities which includes an observation suite, eye-tracking technology and electroencephalography (EEG) equipment.
We support your future employment by building your career development and key employability skills. For example, you complete a work-related project management module, where you work as part of a project team to identify goals, take action and provide solutions. This module enables you to experience the challenges of implementing psychology and sociology knowledge and skills in real world contexts.
The projects for this module are typically sourced by the award winning Venture Matrix, one of the University’s work-based learning schemes. In previous years, projects worked on by students have included • market research for an external client • website development for a charity against human trafficking.
Each year you complete an academic and professional development module. These modules help to strengthen your competence and confidence in your academic skills, and you also learn about career management strategies and personal development planning.
The modules are taught in small tutorial groups which enable you to have regular contact with your academic support tutor, and to tailor the support you receive to your individual needs.
Key areas of study
Core areas of psychology include • cognitive psychology • social psychology • developmental psychology • biopsychology • personality • research methods and statistics.
Core sociology areas include • shaping societies • identity and representation • diversity and equality • modernity and its futures.
We run a range of extra-curricular career development activities including employability-related events, talks and opportunities. Topics have included • teaching • careers in forensic psychology • social support roles • roles in mental health settings.
Find out more about BSc (Honours) Psychology and Sociology
Related courses
You apply for this course through UCAS.
2013/14 academic year
For 2013 entry, membership of a professional body is included in the course fee.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,680 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• coursework • case studies • presentations • examinations
The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and gives eligibility for the graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC) with the BPS.
Graduate basis for chartered membership is an entry requirement for all BPS accredited postgraduate training courses in psychology to become a clinical, educational, occupational, health or counselling psychologist. Applicants for GBC require an undergraduate honours degree at a minimum lower second class honours level.
Key Information Set 
Psychology facilities
We have recently updated our laboratory facilities to enable more flexible and dedicated teaching of research methods and statistics. There is also space for more general purpose laboratory work such as running focus groups and one-to-one interviews.
Main psychology laboratory
This contains teaching space with PCs and space for non-computerised research teaching. You can access dedicated software including E-Prime experiment generator software to run computerised experiments. You can also analyse quantitative data using both SPSS and AMOS statistical packages, and qualitative data using the NVivo package.
Eye tracking laboratory
Using advanced technology, the ASL 501 Pan-tilt eye-tracker is a non-obtrusive eye-tracker which does not require head mounted tracking equipment. This is currently a laboratory-based tracker but is being adapted for portability to enable eye-tracking research in the field.
Psychophysiology laboratory
This houses electroencephalograph (EEG) facilities, allowing recording from up to 32 sites on the scalp for the collection of fine detailed EEG information. We also have more basic psychophysiology apparatus, such as heart-rate and skin-conductance recording equipment.
Low-level vision laboratory.
This facility has dedicated equipment especially suited to fine grained manipulation of stimulus intensities and durations, particularly suited to low-level vision research.
We also have access to a number of other research facilities which are available through arrangement with other sections of the University. There are considerable laboratory facilities within the Centre for Sports and Exercise Science including soundproof and climate control rooms, as well as facilities within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing.
Carly Simpson (1:58)
Psychology graduate Carly talks about her experiences of studying at Sheffield Hallam, including working on a hypothetical murder case.
Laura Atkinson (1:43)
Psychology graduate Laura Atkinson talks about her experiences of studying at Sheffield Hallam, including working on a hypothetical murder case.
Mr Alan McGauley, principal lecturer - part 1 (1:02)
Alan McGauley provides a general introduction to studying sociology with us. He describes what you study, with particular emphasis on some of our sociological greats, and how you can develop your own particular interests. Alan talks about how the sociology degrees explores theories and integrates practice, to ensure you develop key skills to help you in employment.
Mr Alan McGauley, principal lecturer - part 2 (0:55)
Alan McGauley discusses some of the key opportunities available to sociology students studying with us, including international placements and exchanges as well as employer links.
Staff profiles
Visit the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
