Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Overview

The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) is an integrated four-year program that offers your first step towards becoming a professional psychologist and prepares you for postgraduate studies in specialist areas.

Learn about abnormal and developmental psychology, cognition, psychological assessment, personality, social psychology and statistics, biology, chemistry and physiology.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), graduates will be able to:

• explain and critically evaluate the theoretical underpinnings, advanced theories, and methods of scientific psychology

• communicate and work effectively in contexts relevant to professional, clinical, and research applications of psychology

• explain and apply the principles of selection, development, administration, and interpretation of reliable and valid psychological tests that are situationally and culturally appropriate 

• explain and apply basic assessment techniques and strategies for psychological practice

• describe, evaluate, and explain the application of basic psychological interventions for a range of contexts

• work with a high degree of independence to design, conduct, evaluate, and report original research

• apply psychological concepts, theories, and methods in a science-based, safe, and ethical manner, that shows awareness of situation, culture and individual diversity. 

Career opportunities

Future career options for graduates of this degree may include social welfare consultant, medical researcher, child safety officer, health officer, clinical worker and child development officer.

Graduates seeking general registration as practicing psychologists in Australia must successfully graduate from an accredited postgraduate program, such as the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic Psychology), or undergo a two-year supervised internship program.

For more detailed information on Australian requirements for registration as a psychologist, visit the Australian Psychological Society website.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), students must complete 400 credit points comprising of:

• four [4] Core units of study (50 credit points)

• fourteen [14] Psychology discipline major units of study (200 credit points)

• Secondary studies comprising a second major, minor/s, student enrichment studies or electives, as applicable (150 credit points).

Students may not complete more than 150 cps (normally 12 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once. Where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

To be eligible for progression into the fourth year of this program, students must achieve a minimum of a distinction average (70%) in core psychology units at the third year level. Students who do not achieve this standard exit the degree after 3 years and receive the award of BA-PSY.

Honours merit calculation

The total Honours Result is based on the weighted average of units, with the following descriptive outcomes:

• H1A – First Class Honours 80% - 100%

• H2A – Second Class Honours A 70% - 79%

• H2B – Second Class Honours B 60% to 69%

• H3 – Third Class honours 50% - 59%.

Units included in calculation and weighting:

• PSY40001 Advanced Quantitative Methods (12.5 credit points), weighting of 12.5% in final honours result

• PSY40006 Psychological Assessment (12.5 credit points), weighting of 12.5% in final honours result

• PSY40005 Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology (12.5 credit points), weighting of 12.5% in final honours result

• PSY40009 Honours Thesis A (25 credit points), weighting of 25% in final honours result

• PSY40002 Honours Thesis B (25 credit points), weighting of 25% in final honours result.

Electives (students choose one):

• PSY40004 Current Issues in Social Psychology, or

• PSY40008 Counselling Psychology, or

• NEU40002 Neuroscience Methods, or

• NEU40001 Neuropsychology Methods

Whichever elective is completed will be weighted at 12.5% in the final honours result.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) is 150 credit points (normally 12 units). This allows students to complete the required APAC accredited psychology unit sequence.

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history

This course only accepts applicants who have just completed Year 12 or have not commenced any studies after completing Year 12 (ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered).

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history

This course only accepts applicants who have just completed Year 12 or have not commenced any studies after completing Year 12 (ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered).

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record

This course only accepts applicants who have just completed Year 12 or have not commenced any studies after completing Year 12 (ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered).

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.