COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA Art and Psychology at the University of Reading is a four-year, British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited programme that integrates creative studio practice with scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. In the first year, students are introduced to contemporary art through Art Studio 1 while simultaneously building a foundation in psychology through modules such as Learning about Learning, The Person and the Brain, Introduction to Psychological Research, and Debates in Mental Health. This dual approach continues in the second year, where Art Studio 2 encourages independent creative exploration alongside core psychology modules including Cognitive and Biological Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences, and Development across the Lifespan. In the third year, students further refine their artistic practice through Art Studio 2b while deepening their understanding of psychological development and applying research skills in more advanced contexts. The final year focuses on Art Studio 3b, where students develop an independent and critically informed art practice, and a major Project: Art and Psychology, which involves designing and conducting original research with full academic supervision, including literature review, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Across the degree, students are encouraged to connect artistic experimentation with psychological theory, developing a unique interdisciplinary perspective on perception, cognition, behaviour, and creative expression.