Bachelor of Psychology

Testamur Title of Degree:	Bachelor of Psychology
Abbreviation:	BPsyc
Home Faculty:	Health and Behavioural Sciences
Duration:	4 years
Total Credit Points:	192
Delivery Mode:	On-campus
Starting Session:	Autumn
Location:	Wollongong
UOW Course Code:	866
UAC Code:	757652
CRICOS Code:	026184F

Overview

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and experience, the physiological, sensory and cognitive processes that underlie it, and the profession that applies this knowledge to practical problems. Psychologists help us to understand who we are and how we think, feel, act and change. They aim to help people function better, and to prevent ill-health and other problems developing. Psychologists' clients include children, adults, couples, families and organisations.

The Bachelor of Psychology offered by the University of Wollongong is a four year undergraduate Honours degree accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). The Bachelor of Psychology is a route to Postgraduate coursework or research degrees in Psychology. It is also a partial qualification for registration as a Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, a post degree supervision period also being required.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

Domestic school leavers are assumed to have completed at least 2 units of English at HSC level.

International students are required to have achieved an overall IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum level of 6.0 in all bands of reading and writing, speaking and listening.

Course Requirements

The Bachelor of Psychology requires the successful completion of 192 credit points of subjects in accordance with the table below.

For students entering at the Bachelor of Psychology at 100-level, continuation in the course requires an average result of at least 70% at the end of 100-level, a cumulative average of 70% for 100 & 200-level subjects at the end of 200-level, and a cumulative average of 70% for 200 & 300-level subjects at the end of 300-level in the psychology subjects approved for the degree.

Students who do not maintain this level of academic achievement will be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) or the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology).

100-level to 300-level Course Program

Subject Code	Subject Name	Session	Credit Points
PSYC121	Foundations of Psychology A	Autumn	6
PSYC122	Foundations of Psychology B	Spring	6
PSYC123	Theory, Design and Statistics in Psychology	Spring	6
PSYC234	Biological Psychology and Learning	Autumn	6
PSYC241	Developmental and Social Psychology	Autumn	6
PSYC250	Quantitative Methods in Psychology	Autumn	6
PSYC231	Personality	Spring	6
PSYC236	Cognition and Perception	Spring	6
PSYC251	Psychology of Abnormality*	Spring	6
PSYC347	Assessment and Intervention	Autumn	8
PSYC348	History and Metatheory of Psychology	Autumn	8
PSYC354	Design and Analysis	Spring	8
Plus 24 credit points of elective subjects at 300-level, including at least one of the following:
PSYC345	Advanced Topics in Cognition	Autumn	8
PSYC349	Visual Perception	Spring	8
PSYC352	Psychophysiology	Spring	8
And may include:
PSYC315	Psychology of Abnormality*	Spring	8
PSYC350	Social Behaviour and Individual Differences	Autumn	8
PSYC355	Forensic Psychology**	Spring	8
In addition, a further 42 credit points from 100-, 200- or 300- levels must be taken from the Health and Behavioural Sciences, Science or General Schedules. Students may include PSYC101 Introduction to Behavioural Science as an elective, but no more that 60 credit points in total are to be taken at 100-level.

* In previous years PSYC249 Applied Psychology was a core subject for the BPsyc. From 2011, PSYC249 will be replaced by PSYC251 Psychology of Abnormality as a core subject. Furthermore, PSYC251 Psychology of Abnormality was previously known as PSYC315 Psychology of Abnormality and students cannot count both PSYC251 and PSYC315 toward their degree. This means that students entering the second year of the BPsyc from 2011 onwards must take PSYC251 as a core subject in place of PSYC249 Applied Psychology. Students entering third year of the BPsyc in 2011 who have already completed PSYC249 may elect to take PSYC315 as an elective for 2011 only. PSYC315 Psychology of Abnormality will no longer be offered after 2011.

** In previous years PSYC249 Applied Psychology was a core subject for the BPsyc. From 2011, PSYC249 has changed to PSYC355 Forensic Psychology and students cannot count both of these subjects toward their degree. Therefore students in the BPsyc who have completed PSYC249 as a core subject will not be able to take PSYC355 as an elective.

400-Level Course Program

Students eligible to progress into 4th year will study in either the Honours or Non-Honours stream. Places within the Honours stream are limited; therefore entry will be on a competitive basis. All students who do not successfully gain entry into Honours will be enrolled in the Non-Honours stream provided they have satisfied the credit level performance to remain in the program.

BPsyc students must have completed all 144 credit points outlined in 100-level to 300-level Course Program above, including all required Psychology subjects, before proceeding to 400 level.

Honours

The Honours program is made up of 48 credit points as outlined below:

Subject Code	Subject Name	Session	Credit Points
PSYC410	Honours Empirical Thesis	Annual	24
PSYC412	Honours Data Analysis	Autumn	6
PSYC485	Principles and Practices of Psychological Assessment	Autumn	6
Plus Either:
PSYC413	Honours Theory	Spring	6
And one of the optional subjects:
PSYC489	Advanced Abnormal Psychology	Autumn	6
PSYC478	Child and Adolescent Psychology	Spring	6
PSYC484	Social Psychology and Health	Spring	6
Or
PSYC414	Honours Theoretical Thesis	Annual	12

Candidates intending to complete Honours as part-time students will generally do PSYC412, PSYC485 plus PSYC414 or PSYC413 and one of the optional subjects in the first year, and PSYC410 in the second year.

Non-Honours

This program is made up of 48 credit points as outlined below:

Subject Code	Subject Name	Session	Credit Points
PSYC479	Major Research Project	Annual	18
PSYC485	Principles and Practices of Psychological Assessment	Autumn	6
PSYC488	Contemporary Issues for Professional and Research Psychologists	Autumn	6
PSYC489	Advanced Abnormal Psychology	Autumn	6
PSYC478	Child and Adolescent Psychology	Spring	6
PSYC484	Social Psychology and Health	Spring	6

Professional Recognition

Completion of four years in Psychology is an important first step for registration as a psychologist in Australia. The Bachelor of Psychology meets this academic qualification requirement and allows for conditional registration as a psychologist in NSW. An additional 2 years of supervised practice is necessary to apply for registration as a professional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. Accreditation with the Australian Psychological Society, the national professional association, requires 6 years of approved academic study.

Contact Information

Dr Nadia Crittenden
Undergraduate Psychology Coordinator
+61 2 4221 4515
nadiac@uow.edu.au

Dr Amy Chan (4th Year enquiries only)
4th Year Psychology Coordinator
+61 2 4221 4468
amy_chan@uow.edu.au

Other Information

Other information is available at http://coursefinder.uow.edu.au/