M2018 Bachelor of Psychology

The course is structured in three parts: A. Psychology APAC accredited sequence, B. Psychology in practice and society, and C. Elective study.

A. Psychology APAC accredited sequence 

These studies will address core areas of psychology, including the theoretical and empirical basis of our current understanding of human psychology, brain function and evidence-based approaches to psychological intervention. Building a strong foundation in your understanding of psychology and neuroscience will enable you to appreciate the major challenges in psychology today and in the future. These studies will develop your understanding of scientific methodology and its application in psychology. You will learn to critically evaluate contemporary and historical claims relating to human behaviour and mental processes and apply your understanding to the generation of new research questions. This Psychology sequence is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

B. Psychology in practice and society

These streams of study will enable you to understand and apply a coherent body of knowledge to a range of contexts such as; personal, social, organisational, technological, global and use knowledge and its practice in an ethical manner, for the benefit of society in general.

C. Elective study

This will enable you to further develop your knowledge of psychology through a choice of electives covering contemporary topics in the field, or to select units in which you are eligible to enrol from across the faculty or the University.

Please note that the practical unit PSY3034 is not available to the psychology double degree students.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 144 points, of which 60 points are focussed on the study of psychological science and 54 points are a focused stream of study that may include mental health and wellbeing, neuroscience, applied psychology or public health and 30 points are electives.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Psychology APAC accredited sequence (60 points)

You must complete:

• PSY1011 Foundations in psychology
• PSY1023 Introduction to psychological inquiry
• PSY2041 Psychological testing and assessment
• PSY2042 Personality and social psychology
• PSY2061 Biological psychology
• PSY2071 Developmental psychology
• PSY3032 Psychological disorders
• PSY3051 Perception and cognitive psychology
• PSY3052 Cultural safety, responsiveness and reflexivity in practice
• PSY3062 Research methods in psychology

Part B.  Psychology in practice and society (54 points)

1. You must complete one of the following streams:

a. Neuroscience stream (Clayton) (42 points)

You must complete:

•       PSY1211 Brain and behaviour
•       BIO1022 Life on Earth
•       PHY2011 Neuroscience of communication, sensory and control systems
•       PSY2320 Sleep and circadian rhythms
•       RAD3004 Neuroimaging for neuroscience research
•       PSY3180 Introduction to clinical neuropsychology
•       PSY3280 The neuronal basis of consciousness

OR

b1. Mental Health and Wellbeing stream (Clayton) (42 points)

You must complete:

•   PSY1014 Introduction to contemporary mental health practice
•   PSY1024 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health
•   PSY2014 Mental health in the digital age
•   PSY2242 Psychology of ageing
•   PSY2243 Child and youth mental health: Empowering parents and carers
•   PSY3120 Introduction to counselling
•   PSY3252 Disability and inclusion

OR

b2. Mental Health and Wellbeing stream (Malaysia) (42 points)

You must complete:

• PSY1014 Introduction to contemporary mental health practice
• PSY1025 Indigenous health psychology: South East Asia and global insights
• PSY2014 Mental health in the digital age
• PSY2214 Mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan
• PSY3120 Introduction to counselling
• PSY3214 Mental health and wellbeing in diverse communities
• PSY3250 Positive psychology OR PSY2112 Organisational psychology and workplace wellbeing

OR

c. Applied Psychology stream (Malaysia) (42 points)

You must complete:

• PSY1025 Indigenous health psychology: South East Asia and global insights
• PSY2112 Organisational psychology and workplace wellbeing
• PSY3150 Contemporary social psychology
• AMU1010 Introduction to public relations OR AMU1278 Communication technologies and practices OR AMU1309 Introduction to sexuality studies OR NUT1030 Nutrition and mental health
• AMU1310 Introduction to gender studies OR NUT1024 Nutrition, health and behaviour
• NUT2029 Nutrition education and counselling OR AMU2625 Borders, people and identity: Migration in the 21st century OR AMU2814 Transforming community: Project design and public relations for social campaigns
• AMU2020 International human rights OR AMU2907 Sexual and reproductive health and rights in global contexts OR PSY3120 Introduction to counselling

OR

d. Public Health stream (Clayton) (42 points)

You must complete:

• PSY1024 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health
• HSC1200 Public health and prevention
• HSC2300 Health promotion and disease prevention
• PBH2001 Foundations of epidemiology
• PBH2005 Health program planning
• PBH3002 Communicable disease prevention and control
• PBH3009 Chronic disease prevention and control

AND

2. You must complete the following additional Units as part of your stream of study (12 points):

Note: Please note that the practical unit PSY3034 is not available to the psychology double degree students.

• PSY1013 The science of thriving
• PSY3034 Psychological science in practice

Part C. Elective study (30 points)

You must complete 30 credit points of elective study from free electives offered by the School of Psychological Sciences, the Faculty or the University.

The units may be at any level, however, at least one elective unit (6 points) must be at level 2 or above, and no more than 4 units (24 points) at level 1.

The list of electives offered through the School of Psychological Sciences:

•   SWM3127 Foundations for family violence practice
•   PSY2112 Organisational psychology and workplace wellbeing (Malaysia)
•   PSY3150 Contemporary social psychology (Malaysia)
•   PSY3190 Addiction studies
•   PSY3250 Positive psychology (Malaysia)
•   PSY3251 Suicide prevention and support

Free electives can be identified using the browse units tool and indexes of units in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

Students seeking recommendations for electives may wish to review units available in:

• Behavioural studies (e.g. ATS1261, ATS1262)
• Criminology (e.g. ATS1421, ATS1423)
• Philosophy (e.g. ATS1057, ATS1835)
• Sociology (eg. ATS1365, ATS1366)
• Biological sciences (e.g. BIO2242, BIO3052, MCB2011, MCB2022)
• Genetics (e.g. GEN2041, GEN2052)
• Immunology (e.g. IMM2011, IMM2022)
• Pharmacology (e.g. PHA2022, PHA3011, PHA3021)
• Physiology (e.g. PHY2032, PHY2042)
• Health sciences (e.g. BMA1011, BMA1012, HSC1100, HSC1200, HSC1300, HSC1400)
• Public health (e.g. PBH1102, PBH1104, PBH2002, PBH2003, HSC2400)
• Social work (e.g. SWM3127)