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BA Psychology and Philosophy

  • UCAS code
    CV85
  • Typical offer
    ABB
  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years
  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years

With the BA Psychology and Philosophy you will explore the inner workings of the mind, and examine some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality, right and wrong.

Develop a broad overview of modern psychology and philosophy on this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course.

In psychology you will study the subjects required for BPS qualification, including cognition, neuroscience, development, personality and social psychology. The final year will then allow you to build upon this knowledge by exploring areas of interest in greater depth. The vast majority of modules in this year are optional and are regularly revised in order to incorporate the latest developments in psychology. Recent modules have included topics such as self-control, social cognition of non-verbal behaviour and adaptive control of thought. Should you wish to study abroad, you can spend a term of your final year at a partner institution.

You will be able to take advantage of the Department of Psychology's neuroimaging facilities, observation rooms and research laboratories. Additionally, we have three in-house NHS clinics and the world-renowned Charlie Waller Institute for Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments on-site.

Studying philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. We will give you an understanding of the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You will also have the chance to study non-Western philosophies, especially Indian philosophy.

The philosophy elements are flexible, allowing you to shape your studies to your interests. In the first year you will take at least two modules, one of which is compulsory. "Reason and argument" will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. In years two and three you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen topics in more depth, with modules such as "Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences", "Philosophy of crime and punishment" and "Philosophy of religion".

In the final year of your degree you will carry out an original piece of research on a philosophical psychology topic of your choice. You may even have the opportunity to present your work at conferences, and a number of past projects have won awards from the BPS and British Neuroscience Association.

Placement

Placements are encouraged as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement during the first year of your course. This can take place at an outside organisation such as a charity, or with one of our in-house NHS clinics. These include anxiety, speech and language therapy, and dementia. Alternatively, you can volunteer as a research assistant on a range of projects within the Department.

During your final year, you can opt to spend a term studying at a university abroad. We have links with many European institutions, as well as places further afield including locations in Australia, USA and Canada.

Overview

With the BA Psychology and Philosophy you will explore the inner workings of the mind, and examine some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality, right and wrong.

Develop a broad overview of modern psychology and philosophy on this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course.

In psychology you will study the subjects required for BPS qualification, including cognition, neuroscience, development, personality and social psychology. The final year will then allow you to build upon this knowledge by exploring areas of interest in greater depth. The vast majority of modules in this year are optional and are regularly revised in order to incorporate the latest developments in psychology. Recent modules have included topics such as self-control, social cognition of non-verbal behaviour and adaptive control of thought. Should you wish to study abroad, you can spend a term of your final year at a partner institution.

You will be able to take advantage of the Department of Psychology's neuroimaging facilities, observation rooms and research laboratories. Additionally, we have three in-house NHS clinics and the world-renowned Charlie Waller Institute for Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments on-site.

Studying philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. We will give you an understanding of the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. You will also have the chance to study non-Western philosophies, especially Indian philosophy.

The philosophy elements are flexible, allowing you to shape your studies to your interests. In the first year you will take at least two modules, one of which is compulsory. "Reason and argument" will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. In years two and three you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen topics in more depth, with modules such as "Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences", "Philosophy of crime and punishment" and "Philosophy of religion".

In the final year of your degree you will carry out an original piece of research on a philosophical psychology topic of your choice. You may even have the opportunity to present your work at conferences, and a number of past projects have won awards from the BPS and British Neuroscience Association.

Placement

Placements are encouraged as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement during the first year of your course. This can take place at an outside organisation such as a charity, or with one of our in-house NHS clinics. These include anxiety, speech and language therapy, and dementia. Alternatively, you can volunteer as a research assistant on a range of projects within the Department.

During your final year, you can opt to spend a term studying at a university abroad. We have links with many European institutions, as well as places further afield including locations in Australia, USA and Canada.

Entry requirements A Level ABB

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Typical offer

ABB. Some preference is given for science A levels, including Psychology

International Baccalaureate

32 points overall

GCSE

Grade C (4) in English, Maths and Science

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

  • Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Reason and Argument

Code:

PP1RA

Convenor:

DR Jumbly Grindrod

Summary:

This module enhances students’ ability to understand and construct complex arguments through the study of logic and the psychology of human reasoning. Reading: A module guide will be available. Recommended: Jamie Carlin Watson and Robert Arp, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well, 2nd edition, Bloomsbury, 2015.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Debates in Mental Health

Code:

PY1DMH

Convenor:

DR Dan Jones

Summary:

An introduction to the field of clinical psychology, with an emphasis on current topics of debate. This module provides students with knowledge of common mental health disorders, approaches to psychopathology and evidence-based interventions. Students will learn about critical thinking, developing arguments and debating, and will use these skills to evaluate historical, contemporary and global views of mental health, and the ethics of treatment for psychological disorders in western and non-western societies. This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 75%, Oral 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Introduction to Psychological Research

Code:

PY1IPR

Convenor:

DR Eugene McSorley

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods, and develops skills necessary for planning, data gathering and dissemination stages of psychology related research. This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Set exercise 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Learning about Learning

Code:

PY1LAL

Convenor:

PROF Philip Beaman

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to human and animal learning.  The module will cover developmental, biological, and cognitive processes which support learning and memory, enabling students to reflect on the processes we use to plan, monitor, and evaluate our understanding and performance. It will cover early, influential studies and theories on human and animal learning (for example, studies conducted by Bandura on social learning, Pavlov on animal learning) as well as current research. The relevance of animal learning studies to human learning and cognition will also be discussed in classes on comparative cognition. This module is delivered at the University of Reading and the University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

The Person and the Brain

Code:

PY1PAB

Convenor:

DR Juliane Honisch

Summary:

Modern psychological science is an inter-disciplinary endeavour. This module is designed to introduce students to the multiple perspectives that contribute to our understanding of human thought and behaviour. It introduces the key principles of organisation of systems from neurons and brain networks, to the individual, and to societal groups. For example, the module covers topics such as neural and hormonal function, genetic contributions to behaviour, personality, group dynamics. This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
PP1RA Reason and Argument DR Jumbly Grindrod
PY1DMH Debates in Mental Health DR Dan Jones
PY1IPR Introduction to Psychological Research DR Eugene McSorley
PY1LAL Learning about Learning PROF Philip Beaman
PY1PAB The Person and the Brain DR Juliane Honisch

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Elementary Logic

Code:

PP1EL

Convenor:

DR Severin Schroeder

Summary:

Arguments are the foundation of most philosophy. This module will teach you to explore in rigorous, mathematical terms why some arguments provide absolute support for their conclusions, and others do not. This module will thus provide essential formal ‘heavy machinery’ for reading and writing original philosophical papers in later parts of the degree course.Reading: Required readings will be posted online. Recommended:The open-source, online textbook ‘forall x’:http://www.fecundity.com/logic/Wilfrid Hodges, ‘Logic’, Penguin 2001

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Global Justice

Code:

PP1GJ

Convenor:

DR Shalini Sinha

Summary:

Global traditions of philosophy  from the Buddha and Confucius to Simone Weil, Frantz Fanon, Martin Luther King Jr., and African and Native American thinkers advocate ideas of justice and freedom that extend far beyond contemporary conceptions. This course shows how these thinkers question our  ideas of justice, and  transform how we approach injustice and freedom in the  context of race and colonialism, nature and  indigenous communities, identity  and sexuality, family and polity, through radically different conceptions of freedom and violence,  love, equality and harmony.

Some of the claims we will examine include: Justice is freedom from suffering!  Revolutionary violence is cathartic and emancipatory! Political justice  requires mental training! Nature is alive and has rights! Gender and sexual freedom are gained by  dissolving bodily boundaries!  Truth lies in pleasure! Justice is  love! Social justice comes with harmonising differences! 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

The Meaning of Life

Code:

PP1ML

Convenor:

DR George Mason

Summary:

What is the meaning of life? This is perhaps the most important philosophical question we can ask. What is the answer? Indeed, what is the question really asking? In this module, we seek the answers. Along the way, we will consider a series of fascinating questions which promise to enlighten our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. What makes life worth living? Is there any reason to fear death? Could life in artificial reality be better or more fulfilling than life in the real world?

Reading:

A list of required readings will be posted online. All or nearly all core readings are available electronically.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Mental Machines

Code:

PP1MM

Convenor:

DR Nat Hansen

Summary:

This module investigates the possibility, the promise, and the perils of thinking machines. How close are we to creating artificial intelligence (AI), and what fundamental obstacles does the project of AI still face? How far does the mind extend into the world? For example, could a neural implant or even a smartphone form part of your mind? Are we ourselves thinking machines, in the form of intelligent, naturally occurring computer programs? We will investigate these questions by reading the works of contemporary philosophers such as David Chalmers, Andy Clark, Hubert Dreyfus and John Searle, as well as scientists such as Susan Greenfield.

Reading:

Required readings will be posted online.

Recommended:

Tim Crane, The Mechanical Mind, Routledge 2003.
Hubert Dreyfus, What Computers Still Can't Do, MIT Press 1992.
John Searle, 'Minds, brains, and programs’. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 3: 417-457, 1980.
David J. Chalmers, 'The Singularity: A Philosophical Analysis', Journal of Consciousness Studies 17:7-65, 2010.
Andy Clark and David Chalmers, 'The Extended Mind’, Analysis 58(1): 7-19, 1998.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

The Right and the Good

Code:

PP1RG

Convenor:

PROF Philip Stratton-Lake

Summary:

In this module we will go through the arguments and positions of W. D. Ross’s The Right and the Good. This will involve a close reading of Ross’s seminal book to get clear on what Ross’s view was, and how defensible it is. This will cover areas such as first order normative theory, moral epistemology, and moral realism. We will assess his methodology, the historical context of the book, and its philosophical reception. 

Reading:

The Right and the Good. By W. D. Ross.

Required readings will be posted online.

Recommended:
Thomas Hurka, British Ethical Theorists From Sidgwick to Ewing

Robert Audi, Moral Knowledge and Ethical Character.
Robert Audi, The Good in the Right
Brad Hoooker, “Ross-Style Pluralism Versus Rule-Consequentialism”. Mind, Vol. 105, No. 420 (Oct., 1996), pp. 531-552

Philip Stratton-Lake, ‘Introduction’ to Ethical Intuitionism: Re-Evaluations.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Radical Philosophy

Code:

PP1RP

Convenor:

PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford

Summary:

From Plato and Marx to contemporaries like Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek, and Catharine MacKinnon, there is a long tradition of radicalism in philosophy. This course is about how radical philosophy can usefully question our deepest assumptions and challenge our deepest beliefs. Poets should be outlawed from our society! We can secure knowledge by doubting everything! Capitalism will be destroyed by the very forces it creates! Gender is a social performance! Pornography silences women! Torture is permissible in extreme circumstances, e.g. post 9/11! These are some of the claims this course investigates philosophically.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Writing the Philosophical Essay

Code:

PP1WRI

Convenor:

DR Luke Elson

Summary:

This module will provide students with the skills necessary to craft clear, well-structured, and persuasive academic writing that effectively communicates complex ideas. Reading:Required readings will be posted online. Recommended: Harry Frankfurt, “On Bullshit” (available online)

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
PP1EL Elementary Logic DR Severin Schroeder
PP1GJ Global Justice DR Shalini Sinha
PP1ML The Meaning of Life DR George Mason
PP1MM Mental Machines DR Nat Hansen
PP1RG The Right and the Good PROF Philip Stratton-Lake
PP1RP Radical Philosophy PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford
PP1WRI Writing the Philosophical Essay DR Luke Elson

These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Cognitive and Biological Psychology

Code:

PY2CBP

Convenor:

DR Lydia Yee

Summary:

This module explores core contemporary topics in biopsychology and cognition, including perception and neuroscience. Each topic will be covered from a biological, to cognitive, to behavioural perspective. This module also acknowledges the historical developments in these perspectives. Topics may include, attention and consciousness, object and face recognition, multisensory integration, pain, cognitive control, emotion and motivation, judgement and decision-making, problem solving and creativity, memory and skills. As part of this module, students will conduct and write-up a research project designed to link with one of the topics covered. This module is delivered at the University of Reading and the University of Reading Malaysia. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Development across the lifespan

Code:

PY2DAL

Convenor:

DR Teresa Tavassoli

Summary:

This module focuses on the biological, cognitive and social aspects of human development across the lifespan from infancy to old age. Students will be introduced to topics covering both typical development, as well as neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD, and disorders of ageing such as dementia. Students will be introduced to a range of historical and contemporary theories, along with relevant research, and learn how to critically evaluate these. This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Research methods in Psychology

Code:

PY2RMP

Convenor:

DR Dan Jones

Summary:

The aim of this module is to further develop students’ knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods, statistics, and data analysis. Content taught on this module will support students’ ability to complete coursework on other part 2 modules. This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Set exercise 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Social Psychology and Individual Differences

Code:

PY2SID

Convenor:

DR Emma Pape

Summary:

This module explores core topics within social psychology and individual differences, with a focus on the interplay between the two disciplines. Specifically, students will examine various aspects of social cognition, perception and behaviour, with considerations as to how these can vary as a function of individual differences (for example, culture, gender, and personality). While the module covers contemporary topics within social psychology and individual differences, it simultaneously acknowledges the historical developments in both disciplines. This module is delivered at the University of Reading.  

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
PY2CBP Cognitive and Biological Psychology DR Lydia Yee
PY2DAL Development across the lifespan DR Teresa Tavassoli
PY2RMP Research methods in Psychology DR Dan Jones
PY2SID Social Psychology and Individual Differences DR Emma Pape

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live

Code:

PP2EA1

Convenor:

DR Luke Elson

Summary:

This module introduces students to longstanding methods, issues and arguments in moral philosophy.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Global Philosophy 1

Code:

PP2GP1

Convenor:

DR Shalini Sinha

Summary:

This module introduces some key thinkers and issues in global philosophy, the philosophy of gender and race, the ethics of resistance and the epistemology of terrorism. Some of the claims we will examine include: Gender is an illusion, male and female ‘sex’ attributes are social constructions!  Race categories are racist, they should be abolished! Persons are ‘processes’; self and identity are conceptual fictions!  Self-immolation is an ethical form of political protest! Gandhi and Islamist suicide bombing share an ethics of sacrificial dying! Debt is founded on violence! We should undertake dying with full awareness, by meditative fasting!

We will engage in philosophical conversations with (i) contemporary feminist and race theorists such as Judith Butler, Sally Haslanger and Naomi Zack on performativist,  constructionist and essentialist approaches to gender and race; (ii) Buddhist philosophers on the metaphysics of self and identity; (iii) Buddhist, Gandhian and Islamic ethics of sacrificial dying and political resistance; (iv) interdisciplinary perspectives on the nature and origins of debt and money; (v) Jaina conceptions of meditative dying, suicide and euthanasia; (vi) the epistemology of terrorism and Islamic approaches to non-violence.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1

Code:

PP2HKW1

Convenor:

DR Severin Schroeder

Summary:

This module introduces students to the ideas of three great philosophers: David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, focussing especially on their respective conceptions of philosophy.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1

Code:

PP2IDR1

Convenor:

DR Jumbly Grindrod

Summary:

This module introduces students to a core area of philosophy – epistemology (the theory of knowledge), makes them familiar with key stances on the extent and nature of human knowledge (modal theories, reliabilist theories, virtue theories etc.), and requires them to evaluate such stances and find their place on the epistemological map. They will also be introduced to the social aspect of epistemology, by considering what role knowledge plays within a society, how we gain knowledge from others, and how we may be harmed specifically as knowers.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Meaning and the Mind 1

Code:

PP2MM1

Convenor:

DR Jumbly Grindrod

Summary:

This module introduces students to core philosophical issues about meaning and the mind, and to central connections between these issues. How could there be minds in a physical world? Are states of consciousness physical states? How do our thoughts and words come to represent the world around us? These questions are intimately related. The capacity to represent the world is a central, problematic feature of the mind. Moreover, to assess what minds are, we must pay careful attention to what our words for mental states mean, and to how they come to mean what they do. We will investigate these questions by reading and discussing recent work in the philosophy of mind and language, by authors such as David Chalmers, Hilary Putnam and John Searle, as well as classic texts by authors such as Gottlob Frege and Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1

Code:

PP2OID1

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Newey

Summary:

In this wide-ranging module, with an emphasis on contemporary political philosophy, we will explore some of the most important concerns for society. We will ask questions such as: Do existing accounts of justice need to be amended to acknowledge, explicitly, the concerns arising from race, gender, and disability? How should political philosophy respond to intersecting oppressions? What aspects of modern life threaten democracy? What is the best method by which to develop theories of justice? Is justice a local or global concern? How should we balance loyalty to our own state with concerns for global justice?

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
PP2EA1 Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live DR Luke Elson
PP2GP1 Global Philosophy 1 DR Shalini Sinha
PP2HKW1 Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1 DR Severin Schroeder
PP2IDR1 Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1 DR Jumbly Grindrod
PP2MM1 Meaning and the Mind 1 DR Jumbly Grindrod
PP2OID1 Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1 DR Charlotte Newey

These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Project for Psychology & Philosophy Students

Code:

PY3PPP

Convenor:

DR Katie Barfoot

Summary:

PY3PPP: Project for Psychology & Philosophy students

Assessment Method:

Dissertation 90%, Report 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
PY3PPP Project for Psychology & Philosophy Students DR Katie Barfoot

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility

Code:

PP3BESR

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Newey

Summary:

This module will introduce students to a variety of ethical challenges and considerations for professionals and corporate enterprises alike. We consider issues such as: the importance of ethics in the business environment, the grounds of professional ethics, moral reasoning in a business environment, whether doing well is compatible with doing good, and how to allocate social responsibility.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Chinese Philosophy

Code:

PP3CP

Convenor:

PROF John Preston

Summary:

This module introduces students to the following major figures in the Confucian tradition from early Chinese philosophy: Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi. (Works by Mozi and Han Feizi will also figure). We will look at central texts from each of these thinkers in detail, and consider relations not only between their ideas but also between their ideas and those of notable philosophers from the Western philosophical tradition.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Fairness

Code:

PP3FAI

Convenor:

DR Charlotte Newey

Summary:

This module addresses the concept of fairness and its relation to other moral concepts and considerations.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Happy, Good and Meaningful Lives

Code:

PP3HGML

Convenor:

PROF Philip Stratton-Lake

Summary:

Happiness and well-being are not only important from the agent’s point of view, but are essential to many moral debates. In this module we will analyse the key notions of happiness, a good life, and a meaningful life to gain a better understanding of each. We will also consider various views on what things make for a happy life, a good life, and a meaningful life. The module will look at both historical and current views on these issues.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Philosophy of Law

Code:

PP3LA

Convenor:

DR George Mason

Summary:

This module will introduce students to basic issues in the philosophy of law, including the nature of crime and punishment.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Christian, Islamic and Jewish Mediaeval Philosophy

Code:

PP3MEDI

Convenor:

DR Luke Elson

Summary:

This module introduces students to mediaeval philosophy (roughly, the period from 500 to 1500 AD), including thinkers from at least two of the named religious traditions. We will focus on several representative topics (such as moral obligation, or God’s existence, the problem of universals, or the motion of projectiles) and look at what some major thinkers of the period had to say about it. Careful, repeated reading of difficult texts is a crucial part of this module.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

The Morality of Abortion

Code:

PP3MOA

Convenor:

PROF Philip Stratton-Lake

Summary:

In this module we will look at both sides of the debate about the morality of abortion. We will consider different approaches to the issue, eg., rights based, value based, reasons based, feminist arguments, etc, read the main literature for each approach, and assess the various arguments. Authors to be considered will typically include Thomson, Singer, Dworkin, Tooley, and Marquis.

Assessing these various argument will take us into various more general issues, such as what makes it wrong to kill adult humans, the conditions of having rights, as well as issues outside of moral philosophy that are relevant to this debate, such as the nature of personhood, personal identity, the identity conditions of organisms, philosophy of mind, philosophy of biology, and metaphysics.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Philosophy of Religion

Code:

PP3REL

Convenor:

DR George Mason

Summary:

This module will introduce students to basic issues in the philosophy of religion.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Reason, Value & Knowledge

Code:

PP3RVK

Convenor:

PROF Philip Stratton-Lake

Summary:

To familiarise students with important concepts and debates in contemporary moral theory.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

The Scandal of Film

Code:

PP3SCF

Convenor:

PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford

Summary:

Films play a central role in our cultural life. But many aspects remain unclear and call for philosophical investigation. For example, we often attribute enormous powers to films. They teach us about reality! They reveal the human condition! They make us better people! They make us worse people! They include some of the greatest art yet produced! They do philosophy—better and more seriously than philosophers do! But are any of these claims actually true? Is it even possible, for example, that a film might be a work of art? It would be a scandal to go on believing these claims and not investigate them. So this course will.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Speech Attacks: bullshit, lies, propaganda

Code:

PP3SPA

Convenor:

DR Nat Hansen

Summary:

This module focuses on the way language can be used aggressively, to deceive, manipulate, and oppress. The theoretical foundation of the approach to language taken in this module is speech act theory, which investigates the various ways that we use language to perform actions ranging from betting, promising, and telling, to insulting, bullshitting, and silencing.  We will begin by discussing the foundations of speech act theory and examine a variety of ways that it has been applied to philosophical problems in feminist theory and political and social theory. We will also discuss lies and bullshit, and what (if anything) is wrong with these uses of language. And we will discuss the nature of propaganda and “fake news” and how to resist its effects. 

Exploring the questions raised in this module will take us into debates in philosophy of language, epistemology, feminist theory, and political philosophy. We will look at real-world examples in which language is used aggressively and use the tools provided by speech act theory to help us understand how those uses function, and how they can be opposed. We will read work by some (if not all) of the following authors: J.L. Austin, Harry Frankfurt, Sally Haslanger, Rae Langton, Ishani Maitra, Geoff Nunberg, Martha Nussbaum, George Orwell, Jason Stanley, and Lynne Tirrell.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Society and State in Ancient Greece

Code:

PP3SSG

Convenor:

DR George Mason

Summary:

A module devoted to the study of classic works in Ancient Greek political philosophy, including some or all of Aristotle’s Politics and Rhetoric and Plato’s Republic and Gorgias. We look at the philosophers’ conceptions of politics, society, and government, and examine their relevance to modern concerns and issues.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

World Views in Western Philosophy

Code:

PP3WWP

Convenor:

PROF John Preston

Summary:

What is a world view? What counts a world view, and why? Can world views be evaluated (as true or false, adequate or inadequate), or do we just have to accept that some other people have a different world view, and leave it at that? Are world views the kind of thing that people are consciously aware of, or not? Might they somehow be more subterranean than that? Could there be someone who has no world view?

This module covers the idea of a world view, some of the history of that concept, its critical evaluation, and certain uses of the concept in Western philosophy. We look at: the history of the concept in German philosophers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; how scientists came to make use of the concept from the mid-nineteenth century, and then some ways in which the concept of a world view and closely related concepts were used or critiqued by certain philosophers in the 20th century (including Ludwig Wittgenstein, Oswald Spengler, G.E.Moore, Michael Polanyi, Thomas Kuhn, and Donald Davidson).

Within the works of these philosophers, we look at: the remarks Wittgenstein made about world views from the time of his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) to his one of his last works, On Certainty (1949-51); G.E.Moore’s attempt to defend what he called ‘the common sense view of the world’, and Wittgenstein’s critique of that attempt; Michael Polanyi’s use of the idea of an ‘interpretation of nature’; Thomas Kuhn’s use of the term ‘paradigm’, and Donald Davidson’s critique of ‘the very idea of a conceptual scheme’.

(Note that Part 3 modules in the Department of Philosophy are driven by student interest: the University will not allow us to run any that do not enrol enough students (the minimum number is 12)).

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Adaptive Control of Thought

Code:

PY3ACT

Convenor:

PROF Philip Beaman

Summary:

Adaptive Control of Thought

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Autism Spectrum Conditions

Code:

PY3ASC

Convenor:

DR Fiona Knott

Summary:

This module aims to enable students to understand the nature of autism spectrum conditions and their impact on the individual and the family, and to develop an understanding of evidence-based practice. The module provides experience of critical evaluation of selected topics in these areas, and of current research being undertaken in the department. It also aims to help students develop the ability to study independently.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Active Vision

Code:

PY3AV

Convenor:

DR Eugene McSorley

Summary:

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Assignment 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Behavioural Economics

Code:

PY3BE

Convenor:

DR Rachel McCloy

Summary:

Behavioural Economics

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Cognitive neuropsychology of ageing

Code:

PY3CA

Convenor:

DR Jayne Freeman

Summary:

This module explores some of the changes in cognitive functioning that take place in heathy ageing and dementia. We will examine the possible causes and consequences of cognitive changes, and consider some of the interventions that may help to reduce or prevent cognitive decline in later life.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Computational Models and Methods in Psychology

Code:

PY3CMC

Convenor:

PROF Ingo Bojak

Summary:

This module provides students with the opportunity to learn about the application of mathematical and computational models to the study of cognition and behaviour. It also introduces aspects of advanced data analysis and covers some practical matters relevant to modelling, in particular parameter fitting and model comparison. The general role of modelling in psychological research will be discussed and different types of models will be distinguished. A number of computational models that have been used in psychology will be introduced, and various issues in the implementation and interpretation of their results will be considered.  

This module is delivered at the University of Reading only.  

Assessment Method:

Report 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention and Working Memory

Code:

PY3CNWM

Convenor:

DR Eva Feredoes

Summary:

This module will explore the brain mechanisms underlying attention and working memory. The topics covered will include a historical background to the cognitive neuroscience of attention and working memory, the latest theories and research in these areas, and how attention and working memory relate to and interact with other cognitive functions. The format will consist of lectures, group discussions and student presentations.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Dietary and Metabolic influences on cognition

Code:

PY3DMC

Convenor:

DR Daniel Lamport

Summary:

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Oral 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

The Developmental Psychopathology of Anxiety

Code:

PY3DPA

Convenor:

MRS Shannon Wake

Summary:

PY3DPA: The Developmental Psychopathology of Anxiety Disorders 

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Assignment 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Eating behaviours across the lifespan

Code:

PY3EBL

Convenor:

DR Sarah Snuggs

Summary:

This module examines development of and changes in eating behaviours across the lifespan from infancy through to older adulthood. This includes the development of typical eating behaviours and food preferences in childhood and adolescence, as well as specific eating-related topics including obesity, disordered eating and dieting. It will draw on health psychology and clinical psychology research methods and will also consider relevant interventions that are designed to support individuals with their eating.   

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Early Lexical Development

Code:

PY3ELD

Convenor:

DR Beth Law

Summary:

Early lexical development

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Face Perception and Recognition

Code:

PY3FPR

Convenor:

DR Katie Gray

Summary:

Face Perception and Recognition

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Forensic Psychology: Theory and Practice

Code:

PY3FPT

Convenor:

DR Jayne Freeman

Summary:

This module examines some of the main theories, models and practices associated with the development, assessment, treatment and management of offending behaviour, with an emphasis on sexual offending. It considers crime within societal context and encourages consideration of possible alternatives to the traditional retributive framework.  This module includes reference to sexual (including against children) and violent offending which might trigger unwelcome and distressing memories or thoughts for some students. Students might wish to discuss any particular concerns with the Module Convenor. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Health Psychology

Code:

PY3HP

Convenor:

PROF Kate Harvey

Summary:

Health Psychology

Assessment Method:

Oral 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Music, Language and the Brain

Code:

PY3MLB

Convenor:

DR Fang Liu

Summary:

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Motivation and Performance in Organisations

Code:

PY3MPO

Convenor:

DR Amanda Branson

Summary:

This module aims to give students understanding of the concepts and approaches used in the measurement of motivation and performance in work settings. We will explore major theories of motivation, as well as policies and practices designed to affect motivation and performance at work.  

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Memory and the Self: Past, Present and Future

Code:

PY3MS

Convenor:

PROF Judith Ellis

Summary:

Memory and the Self: Past, Present and Future

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Oral 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Neuropsychology of frontostriatal disorders

Code:

PY3NFD

Convenor:

DR Aileen Ho

Summary:

Neuropsychology of Frontostriatal Disorders 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Psychology and Culture

Code:

PY3PAC

Convenor:

DR Marat Zagidullin

Summary:

This module will enable students to acquire knowledge of cultural processes, specifically how culture influences our thinking, feelings, and behaviour. Students will gain experience in critical evaluation of current theories and empirical research from a cross-cultural perspective, develop awareness of their own cultural patterns, and gain practical insights into the current dynamics of intercultural conflicts of today. 

This module will be delivered online on both campuses simultaneously in Autumn term.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Reward Dysfunction in Clinical Disorders

Code:

PY3RCD

Convenor:

DR Ciara McCabe

Summary:

Reward Dysfunction in Clinical Disorders 

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Assignment 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Social Cognition

Code:

PY3SC

Convenor:

DR Lorella Lepore

Summary:

This module is delivered at the University of Reading only.  

This module will enable students to examine contemporary theory and research on selected current topics in social cognition. Students will be encouraged to critically evaluate models and evidence, and will gain understanding of a variety of methods employed to investigate socio-cognitive processes.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Social Cognition of Nonverbal Behaviour

Code:

PY3SCN

Convenor:

DR Juliane Honisch

Summary:

Social Cognition of Nonverbal Behaviour 

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Self Control

Code:

PY3SCO

Convenor:

DR Julia Vogt

Summary:

Self Control

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Science of Emotion

Code:

PY3SE

Convenor:

PROF Carien Van Reekum

Summary:

This module will enhance the student’s understanding of issues in scientific approaches to the study of emotion. This module is particularly relevant to students interested in experimental psychology, but will also benefit those who wish to pursue further training in clinical psychology.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Sensory Perception in Neurodevelopmental Conditions

Code:

PY3SNC

Convenor:

DR Teresa Tavassoli

Summary:

It is crucial to react to the sensory world around us in an adaptive way. However, for some individuals, e.g. children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, sensory stimuli such as sounds and touch, can be overwhelming. This module will first introduce students to the concept of sensory reactivity.  Further we will explore sensory reactivity differences such as hyperreactivity to sounds or touch, hyporeactivity and sensory seeking behaviours across neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism, ADHD and OCD. Students will also be introduced to ways of measuring sensory reactivity and we will explore underlying mechanisms. Last, the impact of sensory reactivity symptoms on daily life and ways to improve symptoms will be explored, including clinical trials and interventions. Taken together, this module will help students understand the sensory world around them and it’s impact on neurodevelopmental conditions better.  

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Set exercise 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Typical and Atypical Reading

Code:

PY3TAR

Convenor:

DR Rachel Pye

Summary:

This module focusses on reading and dyslexia from theory to practise. We will look at how definitions of dyslexia can affect diagnosis decisions, which can lead to different treatment approaches. Teaching is highly interactive, using a Team-Based Learning approach, where students work together to explore content in depth. The poster assessment requires students to design a battery of tests to identify potential reading difficulties, with an accompanying summary to explain your rationale. Students receive formative feedback from peers in the poster conference.

This module will be delivered online on both campuses simultaneously in Autumn term.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Topics in Social Psychology

Code:

PY3TSP

Convenor:

DR Emma Pape

Summary:

PY3TSP: Topics in Social Psychology

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Assignment 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Virtual Reality and the Brain

Code:

PY3VRB

Convenor:

DR Peter Scarfe

Summary:

This module will help the student to gain a better understanding of consciousness and the brain by determining what virtual reality is, how best to create it, and what it can be used for.

Assessment Method:

Exam 75%, Report 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
PP3BESR Business Ethics and Social Responsibility DR Charlotte Newey
PP3CP Chinese Philosophy PROF John Preston
PP3FAI Fairness DR Charlotte Newey
PP3HGML Happy, Good and Meaningful Lives PROF Philip Stratton-Lake
PP3LA Philosophy of Law DR George Mason
PP3MEDI Christian, Islamic and Jewish Mediaeval Philosophy DR Luke Elson
PP3MOA The Morality of Abortion PROF Philip Stratton-Lake
PP3REL Philosophy of Religion DR George Mason
PP3RVK Reason, Value & Knowledge PROF Philip Stratton-Lake
PP3SCF The Scandal of Film PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford
PP3SPA Speech Attacks: bullshit, lies, propaganda DR Nat Hansen
PP3SSG Society and State in Ancient Greece DR George Mason
PP3WWP World Views in Western Philosophy PROF John Preston
PY3ACT Adaptive Control of Thought PROF Philip Beaman
PY3ASC Autism Spectrum Conditions DR Fiona Knott
PY3AV Active Vision DR Eugene McSorley
PY3BE Behavioural Economics DR Rachel McCloy
PY3CA Cognitive neuropsychology of ageing DR Jayne Freeman
PY3CMC Computational Models and Methods in Psychology PROF Ingo Bojak
PY3CNWM Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention and Working Memory DR Eva Feredoes
PY3DMC Dietary and Metabolic influences on cognition DR Daniel Lamport
PY3DPA The Developmental Psychopathology of Anxiety MRS Shannon Wake
PY3EBL Eating behaviours across the lifespan DR Sarah Snuggs
PY3ELD Early Lexical Development DR Beth Law
PY3FPR Face Perception and Recognition DR Katie Gray
PY3FPT Forensic Psychology: Theory and Practice DR Jayne Freeman
PY3HP Health Psychology PROF Kate Harvey
PY3MLB Music, Language and the Brain DR Fang Liu
PY3MPO Motivation and Performance in Organisations DR Amanda Branson
PY3MS Memory and the Self: Past, Present and Future PROF Judith Ellis
PY3NFD Neuropsychology of frontostriatal disorders DR Aileen Ho
PY3PAC Psychology and Culture DR Marat Zagidullin
PY3RCD Reward Dysfunction in Clinical Disorders DR Ciara McCabe
PY3SC Social Cognition DR Lorella Lepore
PY3SCN Social Cognition of Nonverbal Behaviour DR Juliane Honisch
PY3SCO Self Control DR Julia Vogt
PY3SE Science of Emotion PROF Carien Van Reekum
PY3SNC Sensory Perception in Neurodevelopmental Conditions DR Teresa Tavassoli
PY3TAR Typical and Atypical Reading DR Rachel Pye
PY3TSP Topics in Social Psychology DR Emma Pape
PY3VRB Virtual Reality and the Brain DR Peter Scarfe

These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*

New international students: £24,500

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

As a graduate of this course you will be qualified for further training to become a professional psychologist. Our BA Psychology and Philosophy course is accredited by the British Psychological Society and provides you with the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.

This course will provide you with a range of transferable skills, including analytical qualitative abilities, writing experience, presentation skills and the ability to think and analyse scientifically. Additionally, skills in clear thinking, logical analysis and the critical assessment of argument are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers such as law, politics, management and marketing.

Your psychology skills will enable you to work for organisations such as the NHS, civil services, schools or charities. Skills learned on the course also open up many doors within the private sector, such as HR, recruitment, management consultancy, publicity, finance and journalism.

As a philosophy graduate you could also find employment in the civil service, journalism, consultancy, finance, local and central government. Recent employers have included the Ministry of Defence, Cambridge University Press, Yellow Media Works, local authorities and other universities.

Alternatively you can choose to further develop your skills by moving into research, teacher training or postgraduate studies.

I mainly chose to come to Reading to study as it is one of the few universities that offer a joint degree in philosophy and psychology. Additional factors contributing to my decision were the good reputation of the teaching staff, the University's proximity to London and the beautiful campus.

Anna Frey
BA Psychology and Philosophy

Emily discusses the course

Contextual offers


We make contextual offers for all our courses.

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Related Subjects


  • Philosophy
  • Psychology

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