Autism 4H PSYCH4014

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Psychology and Neuroscience
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course introduces students to the broad range of current research into autism. The approach to the topic is multi-disciplinary, examining the psychological construct of autism at the cognitive, neural and genetic levels as well as considering the historical and contemporary social context in which autism research takes, or has taken, place and the views of the autistic community. The course features in-class discussion as well as more traditional didactic content and uses authentic coursework assessment.

Timetable

10 hours over a 5 week block

Requirements of Entry

Successful completion of level 3H psychology single honours.

Excluded Courses

None

Assessment

Coursework 100%. This will consist of two components:

1. A presentation on an assigned topic prepared and delivered/recorded in groups of one, two or three (90%). 

2. A short abstract describing the presentation (10%).

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the field of contemporary autism research, with the ultimate goals of (1) providing a thorough understanding of theories of autism from a range of perspectives and (2) making students aware of the historical, social and scientific context of current thinking about autism.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course, it is intended that students will:

1. be able to demonstrate an awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of current definitions of autism and diagnostic techniques.

2. be able to critically assess current psychological/cognitive theories of autism.

3. Be able to critically assess current neural theories of autism.

4. Be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the influence of genetic, environmental and cultural factors on autism

5. Be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the social and scientific context in which autism research exists.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components of the course's summative assessment.