The Bachelor of Psychological Science 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 Psychology Accreditation Council. The course provides a major in psychology, which students can combine with a minor or electives studies from areas of their choice, or a second major.
Graduates are eligible to apply for entry to the honours program in Psychology, which is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. 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 who have completed a second major are also eligible to apply for entry to the honours program in the other 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. 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 Psychological Science 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
- 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.
The core third-level, capstone topic PSYC3235 Applications of Psychological Science focuses on the use of psychology principles, theories, and skills in the real world and illustrates graduate career paths.
Program of study
A student's program of study must be approved by the Program Approver.
To qualify for the Bachelor of Psychological Science a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic.
Students undertake
- a Major Sequence in Psychology, as set out 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.
Students have the option of completing a minor or second major in a non-psychology area.
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
plus at least 13.5 units from the 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)
Plus elective topics to make a total of 108 units.
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
A student who has completed all the requirements for the Bachelor of Psychological Science, or another qualification which the Dean (Education) agrees is equivalent, may be accepted as a candidate for the honours degree providing a sufficiently high standard has been achieved in fulfilling the requirements for the bachelor's degree.
The proposed honours program is identical to the existing, nationally accredited honours programs in psychology at Flinders, namely Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours), Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Honours) and the 4th year of the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). All honours programs in psychology share the same structure and requirements.
Please refer to the Honours - Psychology Course Rule for Course Aims, Learning Outcomes, and Program of Study.
Credit transfer agreements
We will extend our existing credit arrangements for overseas qualifications to the Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Combined degrees
The Bachelor of Psychological Science may also be studied in a combined degree program with a:
