Undergraduate Courses
  • 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

My University:

Psychology, Sociology, Statistics

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 at least 70% for 100 and 200-level subjects at the end of 200-level, and a cumulative average of at least 70% for 200 and 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

Spring

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

Autumn

6

PSYC347

Assessment and Intervention

Autumn

8

PSYC348

History and Metatheory of Psychology

Spring

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:

PSYC350

Social Behaviour and Individual Differences

Autumn

8

PSYC355

Forensic Psychology

Autumn

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 the Honours program. Places within the Honours program are limited; therefore entry will be on a competitive basis. For the purposes of assessing eligibility for entry to the Honours program, we use the weighted average mark (WAM) of the best 11 subjects from successfully completed 200- and 300- level Psychology subjects, including PSYC354 Design and Analysis and PSYC348 History and Metatheory in Psychology (or their equivalent).The Honours grade will be calculated in accordance with Method 1. For further information refer to General Course Rules Section 8.

Bachelor of Psychology 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

PSYC407

Theory and Methods

Autumn

8

PSYC408

Psychological Assessment: Principles and Applications

Autumn

8

PSYC409

Psychological Intervention: Principles and Applications

Spring

8

Candidates intending to complete Honours as part-time students will generally do PSYC407, PSYC408 and PSYC409 in the first year, and PSYC410 in the second year.

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.

Minor studies are also offered in:

English Language and Linguistics Elective Subjects

A number of English Language and Linguistic (ELL) subjects are offered in both Autumn and Spring sessions for both English-Speaking Background students and Non-English Speaking Background students.

Contact Information

For further information please contact your Course Advisor at.