- 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 Science (Psychology and Biology)
Note: This double major is not available for direct entry via UAC. Students should apply for the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and seek advice on enrolment day regarding a transfer into the double major.
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 combination of psychology and biological sciences provides further insight into fundamental biological processes, which deepens the knowledge and understanding of the physiological components of psychology.
Entry Requirements
Academic requirements and English requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) are available from the Course Finder.
Course Structure
The Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Biology) requires:
- The successful completion of a minimum of 150 credit points in accordance with the table below, including at least:
- 66 credit points for the psychology component of the double major; and
- 84 credit points for the biology component of the double major.
- Students who wish to progress into an Honours year in either discipline, may be required to complete more than 150 credit points. Students should consult the relevant School prior to enrolment each year to ensure that the appropriate subjects are selected.
| Subject Code | subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Autumn | |||
| BIOL104 | Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment | 6 | Autumn |
| BIOL105 | Functional Biology of Animals and Plants | 6 | Autumn |
| Select ONE of the following TWO subjects: | |||
| CHEM101 | Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry* | 6 | Autumn |
| CHEM104 | Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter* | 6 | Autumn |
| Plus: | |||
| PSYC121 | Foundations of Psychology A | 6 | Autumn |
| Spring | |||
| BIOL103 | Molecules, Cells and Organisms | 6 | Spring |
| Select ONE of the following TWO subjects: | |||
| CHEM102 | Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life* | 6 | Spring |
| CHEM105 | Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures* | 6 | Spring |
| Plus: | |||
| PSYC122 | Foundations of Psychology B | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC123 | Research Methods and Statistics | 6 | Spring |
| * Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101 and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM104 and CHEM105. | |||
| Year 2 | |||
| PSYC234 | Biological Psychology and Learning | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC250 | Quantitative Methods in Psychology | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC231 | Personality | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC241 | Developmental and Social Psychology | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC236 | Cognition and Perception | 6 | Spring |
| Select FOUR subjects from the following SEVEN subjects: | |||
| BIOL213 | Principles of Biochemistry | 6 | Autumn |
| BIOL240 | Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms | 6 | Autumn |
| BIOL251 | Principles of Ecology | 6 | Autumn |
| MARE200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 6 | Autumn |
| BIOL214 | The Biochemistry of Energy and Metabolism | 6 | Spring |
| BIOL215 | Introductory Genetics | 6 | Spring |
| BIOL241 | Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms | 6 | Spring |
| Year 3 | |||
| PSYC347 | Assessment and Intervention | 8 | Autumn |
| Select subjects to the value of at least 16 credit points from the following EIGHT subjects, including at least ONE of PSYC345, PSYC349 or PSYC352: | |||
| PSYC345 | Advanced Topics in Cognition | 8 | Autumn |
| PSYC349 | Visual Perception | 8 | Spring |
| PSYC352 | Psychophysiology | 8 | Spring |
| PSYC251 | Psychology of Abnormality | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC348 | History and Metatheory of Psychology | 8 | Autumn |
| PSYC350 | Social Behaviour and Individual Differences | 8 | Autumn |
| PSYC355 | Forensic Psychology | 8 | Autumn |
| PSYC354 | Design and Analysis | 8 | Spring |
| Plus 24 credit points from ONE of the following TWO options: | |||
| Option 1: Select THREE subjects (24 credit points) from the following FIVE subjects: | |||
| BIOL303 | Biotechnology: Applied Cell and Molecular Biology | 8 | Autumn |
| BIOL320 | Molecular Cell Biology | 8 | Autumn |
| BIOL332 | Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology | 8 | Autumn |
| BIOL321 | Infection and Immunity | 8 | Spring |
| CHEM320 | Bioinformatics: From Genome to Structure | 8 | Spring |
| Option 2: Select the following subjects (24 credit points): | |||
| BIOL332 | Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology | 8 | Autumn |
| MARE300 | Fisheries and Aquaculture | 8 | Spring |
| BIOL355 | Marine and Terrestrial Ecology | 8 | Spring |
| Students interested in including subjects outside of the combinations listed above should discuss their choices with the Biological Sciences Coordinator. | |||
The following two subjects are available for high-achieving students wishing to complement their coursework with research projects. Entry into these subjects is by permission of the Coordinator and requires a distinction average or higher performance in subjects pertinent to the intended area of research, as approved by the Head of School.
| Subject Code | subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL391 | Advanced Biology | 16 | Annual, Autumn, Spring |
| BIOL392 | Advanced Biology | 8 | Autumn, Spring, Summer |
Honours
Psychology
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as the fourth year of study required for provisional registration as a professional psychologist.
If you wish to be eligible to apply for the honours year you must have completed:
- All degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Biology);
- PSYC251 Psychology of Abnormality, PSYC348 History and Metatheory of Psychology, and PSYC354 Design and Analysis; and
- At least 76 credit points of Psychology subjects at 200- and 300- levels.
Further information on the entry requirements is available from the Psychology website.
Biology
Refer to the Bachelor of Science (Honours).
Credit Arrangements
Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.
Professional Recognition/Accreditation
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 accredited add-on Honours year such as the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), or an accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology to meet the academic requirement for conditional registration as a psychologist in Australia. Students who are enrolled in an accredited three year degree and wish to undertake the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) are advised to check the entry criteria prior to completing their degree to ensure they have completed all subjects required for entry to the Honours course.
An additional two years of supervised practice is necessary to apply for registration as a professional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. This can be through two years supervised practice in the community or a fifth year at University plus one year of supervised practice in the community.
Accreditation with the Australian Psychological Society, the national professional association, requires six years of approved academic study.
Other Information
Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: ssc@uow.edu.au