Psychology and Philosophy University of Reading

Overview

Throughout the Psychology and Philosophy BA degree offered from the University of Reading you will develop a broad overview of modern psychology and philosophy on this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course.

Key features

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Career opportunities:

• 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, within areas 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.