The Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, and is accredited by the Australian Psychological Society
Graduates are eligible to apply for entry to the honours program in Psychology, which is also accredited by the Australian Psychological Society. Following application, enrolment in the honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the College being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.
Graduates are also eligible to apply for entry to the honours program in the other related discipline studied.
Admission requirements
The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.
Course aims
The aims of this course are to develop knowledge of the factors influencing human behaviour and experience, and to provide skills for the application of this knowledge to issues in the real world. Graduates will develop core knowledge in psychological theory and research to prepare them for possible entry into an Honours program in psychology.
The course provides comprehensive knowledge of such fields as learning, motivation, personality, emotion, development across the lifespan, social and cultural influences, biological influences, and mental health. Within this course, these core studies in psychology are linked to study in one other discipline, which provides knowledge required for a multidisciplinary understanding of human behaviour and experience. Within this second area of study, students will also be prepared for possible entry into an Honours program in that discipline. Also integral to the course is the development of critical thinking and research skills, and an understanding of the ethical responsibilities of researchers and psychology clinicians.
Learning outcomes
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences (Psychology) should be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- knowledge of influences on human behaviour, both normal and abnormal
- an understanding of the principles and techniques of psychological research
- knowledge of psychological assessment and measurement
- the ability to critically analyse ideas and research
- the ability to connect their theoretical knowledge and learned psychological techniques with relevant real-world problems
- the integration of psychological principles with at least one other behavioural science
- knowledge of ethical principles governing the conduct of research, the use of formal assessment tests and clinical practice by psychologists
- discipline-based writing skills and APA-style conventions.
Program of study
To qualify for the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic.
The 108 units must include:
- a major sequence in Psychology, as set out below
- a major sequence* in accordance with the requirements for one of the majors listed below; plus
- elective topics to make a total of 108 units.
Elective topics may be selected from any offered by the University, provided entry and course requirements are met.
Within the 108 units at least 27 units but no more than 45 units of year 1 topics must be included. With the permission of the Dean (Education), up to 54 units may be taken by cross-institutional study at an approved institution.
Not all topics in Psychology or the other disciplines listed in the following sections are necessarily available in a given year.
Major Sequence in Psychology
58.5 units comprising
Core - Year 1 topics
PSYC1101 Psychology 1A (4.5 units)
PSYC1102 Psychology 1B (4.5 units)
PSYC1106 Research Methods 1 (4.5 units)
Core - Year 2 topics
PSYC2018 Research Methods 2 (4.5 units)
PSYC2019 Personality and Social Psychology (4.5 units)
PSYC2020 Cognition and Learning (4.5 units)
PSYC2021 Human Development (4.5 units)
PSYC2022 Psychological Assessment and Measurement (4.5 units)
Core - Year 3 topics
PSYC3007 Research Methods 3 (4.5 units)
PSYC3235 Applications of Psychological Science (4.5 units)
Option - Year 3 topics
Select at least 13.5 units of other year 3 Psychology topics from the following list:
PSYC3003 Introduction to Clinical Psychology (4.5 units)
PSYC3004 Advanced Social Psychology (4.5 units)
PSYC3008 Applied Cognitive Psychology (4.5 units)
PSYC3009 Lifespan Development in Cultural Perspective (4.5 units)
PSYC3010 Mind, Brain and Behaviour (4.5 units)
PSYC3236 Forensic Psychology: Legal and Clinical (4.5 units)
Majors
plus select one of the following major sequences
plus elective topics to make a total of 108 units.
* Students who complete more than 75 units of the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and are approved to graduate with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) degree are required to complete only year 1 and 2 of the major sequence in the related discipline.
Honours
Please refer to Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours)
Combined Degrees
The Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) may also be studied in a combined degrees program with a:
