Psychology

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These fee-paying OU Courses are organised in collaboration with police partners, into categories of interest for all police officers and staff. All courses, except the short course, are credit bearing, which when combined form part of an OU qualification.

Select the duration of study below and you will be taken to resources that match that duration

6 months (part time)	9 months (part time)

6 months (part time)

Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module

This Access module gives you the chance to dip into some of our most popular subjects, such as psychology, childhood and youth, early years, health and social wellbeing, sport, education, and social sciences. You'll be introduced to discussions of theory and engage with real-world events to build up your knowledge and understanding of these wide-ranging topics. The areas you'll cover are introduced and explained at a gentle pace, which is perfect if you want to discover something new or brush-up on your study skills.

Course code: Y034

Credits: 30

9 months (part time)

Death, dying and bereavement

This is a revolutionary module in which you’ll engage with real issues based on the experiences of dying people, bereaved people, those who work with them, and their careers, both lay and professional. This module will be of interest for anyone who works with dying people and their families or students who want to find out more about death, dying and bereavement, and what these mean in different contexts.

Course code: K220

Credits: 60

Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology

How can we understand children, childhood and youth today? What influences children’s development? What roles do families, society and culture play? This introductory module offers fascinating insights into children and young people’s lives. Through anthropology, sociology, childhood and youth studies and psychology, you will explore themes including mental health, education, diverse families, global childhoods, adolescence, development, children’s rights, and more, to learn about the factors that shape children and young people’s experiences, and their emotional, physical, intellectual, social and cultural development from birth to early adulthood.

Course code: E104

Credits: 60

Encountering psychology in context

This module offers an accessible and engaging introduction to classic and contemporary psychological theory and research applied to a broad range of contexts. You'll encounter core areas of psychology as set out by the British Psychological Society (e.g. social, cognitive, developmental, biological) and applied aspects of professional practice (e.g. forensic, counselling). You will learn how psychologists have studied topics that directly affect people's lives in areas such as criminal justice, family life, ageing, and brain injury.

Course code: DE120

Credits: 60

Issues in research with children and young people

This module examines the research process through studies with young children, children and young people carried out in the fields of education, health and social care. It explores topics central to the research process such as ethics, diversity, power and the responsibilities of researchers. This is a project-based module with no exam and it will help you to develop your own research and analytical skills.

Course code: EK313

Credits: 60

Living psychology: from the everyday to the extraordinary

In this module you will learn how psychologists have studied both practical and theoretical issues, such as nationalism or sexuality, with a particular emphasis on understanding and solving problems that directly affect people’s lives. You will also develop your understanding of psychological research methods, along with other useful academic and employability skills.

Course code: DD210

Credits: 60

Psychology of childhood and youth

This module explores key themes in the development of children through the early years, middle childhood and into adolescence, covering attachment, identity, emotions, representation and communication. The module integrates a range of approaches from developmental psychology and childhood studies, and makes extensive use of audio and video material, including a number of specially made documentary films.

Course code: E219

Credits: 60

News

2023 Annual Report

This annual report features a selection of the work undertaken across 2023 which we consider to be highly relevant for the current policing environment.

15th May 2024