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 Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). 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
PSYC231	Personality	Autumn	6
PSYC250	Quantitative Methods in Psychology	Autumn	6
PSYC241	Developmental and Social Psychology	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	Not offered in 2012	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.

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. The Honours grade will be calculated in accordance with Method 1. For further information refer to General Course Rules Section 8

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. This can be through 2 years supervised practice in the community or a fifth year at University plus 1 year of supervised practice in the community. Accreditation with the Australian Psychological Society, the national professional association, requires 6 years of approved academic study.

Minor Study Areas

• Psychology

Non-psychology students can complete a minor study in Psychology. A minor in Psychology will consist of at least 30 credit points in subjects with the prefix 'PSYC' from the course structure of the Bachelor of Psychology degree, and must include PSYC121, PSYC122, PSYC123 and any two of PSYC231 or PSYC234 or PSYC236 or PSYC241 or PSYC251. Subjects in the minor may not be cross counted towards any other minor or major study.

The Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences also offers minor studies in:

• Indigenous Health Studies (See Bachelor of Health Science in Indigenous Health Studies page in this handbook for further information)

• Introduction to Public Health (See Bachelor of Public Health page in this handbook for further information)

English Language and Linguistics Elective Subjects

The Faculty of Arts offers a number of English Language and Linguistic (ELL) subjects in both Autumn and Spring sessions for both English-Speaking Background students and Non-English Speaking Background students.

Contact Information

A/Prof Peter Caputi
Undergraduate Psychology Coordinator
+61 2 4221 3717
peter_caputi@uow.edu.au

A/Prof Nigel Mackay (4th Year enquiries only)
4th Year Psychology Coordinator
+61 2 4221 3740
nigel_mackay@uow.edu.au

Other Information

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