Psychology
The psychology degree represents the necessary first step to becoming a professional psychologist. Across the programme, all the key areas of psychology are studied, including laboratory and project work.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
3 years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
2 H5 + 4 O6/H7 to include Maths & English or another language.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Selection of CAO applicants will be made on the basis of points. Your points will be calculated by adding together the points scored in the best of six subjects in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate. The results of two sittings at Leaving Certificate (or equivalent examination) can be combined for the purposes of meeting the subject requirements for minimum entry. DBS currently awards bonus points for Honours maths students. Please note that bonus points will only apply where Mathematics is counted as one of the best six subjects for the applicant.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Points Calculation Grid
Applicants can use their link module for points allocation as one of their six subjects for the purpose of calculating points and it will therefore count as a passing subject.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Minimum entry requirements for graduates of FETAC awards is a full FETAC award at Level 5 on the NFQ and which includes a Distinction grade in at least three modules. A full FETAC award normally consists of eight modules. A record of achievement/component certificate does not meet minimum entry standards. FETAC Level 5 awards will be accepted in any discipline. Further details can be obtained from the Admissions Office.
Careers / Further progression
Careers In Psychology
A postgraduate qualification is normally required if graduates are to find work as professional psychologists. Such courses are normally at the level of Masters degree or Higher Diploma, and usually are of 1-2 years duration. The full range of specialist areas described above can be studied. Graduates are also eligible to undertake many postgraduate courses and/or research in related areas such as social and cultural studies or health sciences.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychologists work in health settings, engaging in diagnostic and therapeutic work with people with conditions such as schizophrenia and major depression. They often work in teams alongside other health professionals, including social workers, psychiatrists and doctors, in order to tailor treatment that best serves the needs of the patients.
Counselling Psychology
Counselling psychologists work with people who have emotional and psychological difficulties in their daily lives, seeking to guide,support and advise people through their problems. They can work in health settings and in other institutions (such as schools) or they can work in private practice seeing members of the general public.
Educational Psychology
Educational psychologists often work with schools under government of local authority supervision, assisting students with learning, emotional, behavioural or other difficulties through Child Psychology. Some educational psychologist work at the highest levels of the education system,designing and reforming the national curriculum to make it more effective, fairer and more useful to students and students and society. Others specialise in related areas such as special needs or adult education.
Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychologists often work in the Prison Service. However, forensic psychologists may also work in the health service (including rehabilitation units and secure hospitals), the social service (including An Garda Siochana and young offender units) and in university departments or in private consultancy. Forensic psychologists also act as expert witnesses and give evidence in court around forensic psychology.
Further information
Students who are applying to programmes as mature applicants will be required to be over the age of 23 as on 1st January in the year of entry. Mature students may apply through the CAO or directly to the college. They are not required to do both. Mature students are assessed on basis of age, educational standard and work experience to date.
All applicants presenting other qualifications should contact the Admissions Office directly to discuss their eligibility criteria.
Please note DBS is an independent college and therefore fees apply.
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
What is Psychology?
Psychology is one of the most exciting and interesting subjects available in third level education. It is the study of human behaviour in all its forms normal and abnormal, natural and learned, productive and destructive. It is a modern and progressive area of study, which with a 150-year history, is currently experiencing unprecedented growth and development in Ireland and internationally.
Professional psychologists work in almost every sphere of contemporary life. They contribute to the design of our classrooms and what takes place in them. They teach industry the best ways to select and motivate employees. They provide crucial insight into the background of social problems such as suicide, addiction and child abuse. They help coaches to train athletes, help the police to investigate crime, help managers to reduce stress in the workplace and help the health services to design effective health promotion campaigns (for example, anti-smoking and safe driving campaigns).
Aims and Objectives
The Psychology programme in DBS School of Arts was the first non-University degree to be accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). PSI is the professional body for psychology in Ireland. As such, it seeks to promote the science and profession of psychology in Ireland and beyond.
The psychology degree represents the necessary first step to becoming a professional psychologist. Across the programme, all the key areas of psychology are studied, including laboratory and project work. The BA (Hons) in Psychology programme at DBS School of Arts is also unique in that it includes significant content from the field of psychoanalysis, one of the major and most challenging traditions in the history of psychology. Upon successful completion of the degree, depending upon the final grade, graduates will be eligible to apply to enter postgraduate training programmes in their chosen specialisation and ultimately gain employment in their area of expertise.
Programme Structure
This is a 3 year programme. The degree is divided into three levels. All content in levels 1 and 2 is is mandatory, while there are two elective streams in addition to mandatory content in level 3.
In Level 1, students undertake introductory subjects that are designed to develop knowledge and understanding of core disciplines to provide a platform for more advanced study.
In Level 2, students take subjects that build on the level 1 foundation and further develop student knowledge and understanding.
In Level 3, students take subjects intended to develop understanding of applied areas and key subjects. Furthermore, students also undertake a research project under the guidance of a supervisor.
Year 1 (Core Modules)
• Psychological Foundations
• Foundations in Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Foundations of Biopsychology
• Fundamentals of Cognitive Psychology
• Academic Skills Lab
• ASSET
• Research Technique & Analysis 1
• Introduction to Psychoanalysis & the Unconscious
Year 2
(Core Modules)
• Modelling Cognitive Systems
• Development Across the Lifespan: Adolescence and Adulthood
• Fundamentals of Biopsychology
• Social Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Psychology in Action – online
• Ethical Research Methods & Design
• Research Technique & Analysis 2
• Personality and Psychoanalytic Subjectivity
Year 3
(Core Modules)
• Neuropsychopharmacology
• Internet Mediated Research – online
• Behaviour Science
• Research Project
Electives: (Choose One Stream)
► Stream 1
• Organisational
• Psychology Health
• Psychology
• Mental Health & Distress
• Human Performance
Year 2
(Core Modules)
• Modelling Cognitive Systems
• Development Across the Lifespan: Adolescence and Adulthood
• Fundamentals of Biopsychology
• Social Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Psychology in Action – online
• Ethical Research Methods & Design
• Research Technique & Analysis 2
• Personality and Psychoanalytic Subjectivity
Year 3
(Core Modules)
• Neuropsychopharmacology
• Internet Mediated Research – online
• Behaviour Science
• Research Project
Electives: (Choose One Stream)
Stream 1
• Organisational
• Psychology Health
• Psychology
• Mental Health & Distress
• Human Performance
Teaching and Assessment
The BA (Hons) in Psychology is taught mainly through lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory classes, with learners taking responsibility for a significant amount of study outside the scheduled class contact times. Continuous assessment will vary in style and purpose from module to module, depending upon the nature of the subject material and the teaching and learning objectives of the module. Sample assessment activities will include essays, multiple-choice questionnaire, short answer in-class exam, oral presentation, group work, poster presentations and formal examinations. The majority of subjects are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination.
Award: Honours Degree
NFQ Level: Level 8
Award Title: BA (Hons) Psychology
Award Type: Major
PSI Accredited
The BA (Hons) in Psychology is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the professional body for psychology in Ireland. As such, it seeks to promote the science and profession of psychology in Ireland and beyond. PSI membership now stands at over 2000 members, and includes practitioners, educators and researchers, professionals and postgraduate students, as well as undergraduate subscribers.
Transfer Students
Students holding a relevant Level 6 or Level 7 qualification may qualify for entry to the second or third year of degree programme. Transfer applications to the second or third year full-time programmes are to be made directly to the college. Students should send copies of their examination transcripts and other relevant documentation along with their application form (available from the School / College) to the Admissions Office at Dublin Business School.
T: +353 (0) 1 4177500
E: admissions@dbs.ie