Psychology

UAC Code 757651

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.

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 IELTS score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Alternative pathways exist for mature age domestic students.

Major Study

The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) requires the successful completion of 144 credit points of subjects in accordance with the table below, which incorporates the 72 credit points of Psychology subjects required to achieve a major in Psychology.

Elective subjects to the value of 72 credit points are chosen from Health and Behavioural Sciences, Science or the General Schedules.

Subjects to the value of at least 90 credit points must be selected from the Health and Behavioural Sciences or Science Schedules to meet Bachelor of Science (UOW Course Code 749) degree requirements. The 72 credit points required for the Psychology major count toward this requirement.

* PSYC315 Psychology of Abnormality has been changed to PSYC251 Psychology of Abnormality and students cannot count both subjects toward their degree. Both PSYC251 and PSYC315 will be offered in 2011. From 2012 only PSYC251 will be offered. Students in the BSc (Psyc) who are considering taking Psychology of Abnormality as an elective should seek advice from the School of Psychology prior to finalising their subjects for 2011.

** PSYC249 Applied Psychology has changed to PSYC355 Forensic Psychology and students cannot count both subjects toward their degree. Both PSYC249 and PSYC355 will be offered in 2011. From 2012 only PSYC355 will be offered. Students in the BSc (Psyc) who are considering taking either of these subjects as an elective should seek advice from the School of Psychology prior to finalising their subjects for 2011.

Double Majors

Students in the Bachelor of Science (Course Code 749) may undertake a double major in:

• Psychology and Biology

The details of this double major are listed under Major Study Areas of the Bachelor of Science.

Honours

Honours in Psychology is a fourth year of study accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). It is offered on a one year full-time or two year part-time basis. Psychology Honours is a route to the 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. Graduates of the University of Wollongong with a major in Psychology are eligible to apply for admission to Psychology Honours provided that: they have completed an undergraduate degree curriculum with a major in psychology; they have completed PSYC249 Applied Psychology, PSYC348 History and Metatheory of Psychology and PSYC354 Design and Analysis; they have completed at least 76 credit points of Psychology subjects at 200- and 300- levels; they have at least a credit average for Psychology subjects at 200- and 300- levels. For the purposes of assessing eligibility for entry to the Honours program, we use the best 11 subjects from successfully completed 200- and 300- level Psychology subjects excluding PSYC216 Psychology of Physical Activity.

Professional Recognition

Completion of four years in Psychology is an important first step for registration as a psychologist in Australia. The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) is accredited as the first three years of study. To complete the four years students must complete an add-on Honours year or a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology to meet the academic requirement 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
nadia_crittenden@uow.edu.au

Other Information

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