- Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.
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Bachelor of Psychological Science
The course information on this page is for new students commencing their degree in 2016 only.
Students should follow the rules and requirements for the year that they commenced their course. The online course information for years prior to 2016 are available from the Archives link in the menu.
Students should also review current subject availabilities via the Subject Descriptions link in the menu.
Testamur Title of Degree: |
Bachelor of Psychological Science |
Abbreviation: |
BPsycSc |
UOW Course Code: |
364 |
CRICOS Code: |
086228B |
Total Credit Points: |
144 |
Duration: |
3 years full time or part time equivalent |
Home Faculty: |
Faculty of Social Sciences |
Intake Session(s): |
Autumn/ Spring |
Delivery Mode: |
On-campus |
Delivery Campus / UAC Code: |
Wollongong/ 753220 |
Additional Information: |
Overview
Psychologists help us to understand who we are and how we think, feel and act. They aim to help people function better and to prevent ill-health and other problems developing. Clients include children, adults, couples, families and organisations.
A three-year degree in Psychology provides comprehensive training in the processes basic to human psychological functioning required for qualification as a professional psychologist. These include biological and social bases of behaviour, cognition, learning, perception, social and organisational behaviour, personality, abnormality and research and assessment tools.
Psychology can be usefully combined with a wide range of disciplines. This degree offers students the freedom to choose complementary studies from Social Science, Business and, Humanities and the Arts, so that they may create their own professional pathway in the diversity of fields where psychology is applied.
Students with an excellent academic record may apply to transfer to the four-year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree, or apply for entry to the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) at the end of Year 3.
Entry Requirements
Academic requirements, English requirements and credit transfer information is available from the Course Finder.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Bachelor of Psychological Science will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge of core topics in the discipline of psychology, their applications, and ethical behaviour in research and professional contexts.
2. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of research methods, including an evaluation of the characteristics of the science of psychology/scientific method.
3. Demonstrate an ability to apply research methods to address psychological questions related to behaviour and mental processes.
4. Write standard research reports and orally present information in various formats.
5. Exhibit a capacity for independent learning to sustain personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology.
6. Apply critical thinking skills and knowledge of scientific method to evaluate claims regarding psychological phenomena.
7. Use information in an ethical manner and apply knowledge of ethical and legislative requirements to determine appropriate ethical conduct in a range of contexts.
Course Structure
The Bachelor of Psychological Science requires the successful completion of 144 credit points as specified in the table below, comprising:
1. 78 credit points of core Psychology subjects; and
2. At least one of either:
a. an additional 22 credit points of Psychology subjects for honours eligibility; or
b. a minor from the recommended list; or
c. a major from the approved list; and
3. remaining elective credit points from the General Schedule; and
4. No more than 60 credit points will be at 100-level.
Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | |||
PSYC120 | Critical Thinking and Communication Skills in Psychology | 6 | Autumn |
PSYC121 | Foundations of Psychology A | 6 | Autumn |
PSYC122 | Foundations of Psychology B | 6 | Spring |
PSYC123 | Research Methods and Statistics | 6 | Spring |
Plus 24 credit points of subjects that contribute to either a second major, a minor, and/or elective credit. | |||
Year 2 | |||
PSYC231 | Personality | 6 | Autumn |
PSYC234 | Biological Psychology and Learning | 6 | Autumn |
PSYC250 | Quantitative Methods in Psychology | 6 | Autumn |
PSYC236 | Cognition and Perception | 6 | Spring |
PSYC241 | Developmental and Social Psychology | 6 | Spring |
Plus 18 credit points of subjects that contribute to either a second major, a minor, honours eligibility, and/or elective credit. | |||
Year 3 | |||
PSYC347 | Assessment and Intervention | 8 | Autumn |
Select TWO 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 |
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 |
PSYC356 | Topics in Applied Psychology | 8 | Spring |
Plus a further 24 credit points of subjects that contribute to either a second major, a minor, honours eligibility, and/or elective credit. |
Psychology Extension for Honours Eligibility
If you intend to apply for the honours year (a requirement for registration as a professional psychologist) you must complete the 100 level core, the 200 level core and the following 200 level subject, and take 300 level subjects as specified below.
Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
---|---|---|---|
200-level subjects | |||
PSYC251 | Psychology of Abnormality | 6 | Spring |
300-level subjects | |||
PSYC347 | Assessment and Intervention | 8 | Autumn |
PSYC348 | History and Metatheory of Psychology | 8 | Autumn |
PSYC354 | Design and Analysis | 8 | Spring |
And 16 credit points from the following, including at least one from PSYC345, PSYC349 or PSYC352 : | |||
PSYC345 | Advanced Topics in Cognition | 8 | Autumn |
PSYC349 | Visual Perception | 8 | Spring |
PSYC352 | Psychophysiology | 8 | Spring |
PSYC350 | Social Behaviour and Individual Differences | 8 | Autumn |
PSYC355 | Forensic Psychology | 8 | Autumn |
PSYC356 | Topics in Applied Psychology | 8 | Spring |
Students who complete the extended requirements in psychology are eligible to apply for the one year honours program to confer the Bachelor of Psychological Science with honours.
Majors
All students in this degree complete core requirements in Psychology, specified above. The following majors are approved for inclusion in this course for students who elect to take them in addition to the Psychology requirements:
- Criminology
- Human Resource Management
- Indigenous Studies
- Management
- Marketing
- Social Marketing
- Philosophy
- Sociology
Students may also select language majors offered in the Bachelor of Arts.
Minors
The following minors are recommended for inclusion in this course. You may complete more than one minor, as space permits in your program:
- Criminology
- Human Resource Management
- Indigenous Studies
- Management
- Marketing
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Philosophy of Psychology
- Introduction to Public Health
- Public Relations
- Social Marketing
- Social Policy
- Sociology
Other minors from the General Schedule of Minors are also available.
Neuroscience Minor
The Neuroscience minor is only available for students in the Bachelor of Psychological Science. Entry may be restricted due to resource limitations.
The Neuroscience minor provides students with an understanding of the human brain and its anatomical and physiological context, metabolism, CNS functional organisation, cranial nerves and their motor and sensory functions, and an introduction to the discipline of neuroscience.
A minor in Neuroscience requires at least 24 credit points from the following table.
Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
---|---|---|---|
MEDI111 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I | 6 | Autumn |
MEDI112 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II | 6 | Spring |
MEDI211 | Control Mechanisms Physiology | 6 | Autumn |
MEDI311 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience | 8 | Autumn |
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.
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
The three year Bachelor of Psychological Science and the additional honours year are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council as a four year sequence for the purposes of provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. An additional two years of supervised practice is necessary to apply for general registration. 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 or an approved Masters degree.
Other Information
Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: ssc@uow.edu.au