- Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.
However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.
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/