PSYCHOL 4302 - Current issues in Psychology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2022

This course is designed to provide students with insights into the nature of psychology as a profession. Students gain will insight into the challenges associated with providing services to complex populations. Topics may vary from one year to the next, but will typically include material relating to: psychology in health and medical contexts such as interviewing and interprofessional practice.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 4302
    Course Current issues in Psychology
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to B.Psychological Science (Honours) and B. Psychology (Advanced) (Honours) students only
    Course Description This course is designed to provide students with insights into the nature of psychology as a profession. Students gain will insight into the challenges associated with providing services to complex populations. Topics may vary from one year to the next, but will typically include material relating to: psychology in health and medical contexts such as interviewing and interprofessional practice.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Deborah Turnbull

    This course is co-convened with Dr Melissa Oxlad.  
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes




    At the successful completion of this course students will:


    1) Have more confidence in their ability to demonstrate interpersonal communication and interview skills in situations appropriate to psychological practice and research;


    2) Be able to demonstrate the key skills required for effective interpersonal communication and interviewing; 

    3) Have more awareness of the areas that they need to develop further in order to develop their interpersonal communication and interviewing skills, including appropriate cultural responsiveness

     

    4) Be able to explain how basic psychological intervention strategies can be applied across a range of settings.

     






     

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,2,3

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1,2,3

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1,2,3

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1,2,3

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1,2,3

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    1,2,3

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    1

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1,2,3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources


    All readings are listed in MyUni under the modules for each of the weeks. These should be completed prior to the seminar for that week.

    Recommended Resources


    Barr Smith Library – Psychology on the Web

    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.

    For additional information regarding recommended resources please refer to the Honours Program Handbook at the following link:
    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/


     

    Online Learning


    Material from the training seminars offered during the semester will be made available on MyUni.

    This course may use MyUni for one or more of the following:

    - Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    - Submission of summative assessment
    - Access to lecture recordings
    - Access to tutorial materials
    - Additional readings
    - Self-directed learning activities
    - Exam preparation materials

    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
     

     

     

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    This course is delivered via a series of online and interactive seminars.  

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.


    The following is indicative. 

    Interactive sessions:  6 x 3 hours  = 18 hours
    Mid-semester exercise: 20 hours
    Exam preparation:  30 hours
    Independent reading:  86 hours
    Final exam: 2 hours

    Total: 156

    Learning Activities Summary
    These will be provided in the first session.  


  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Mid-semester exercise
    Summative Weighting:  30%



    Examination
    Summative: 70%


    Assessment Detail
    Assessment is via a mid-semester activity and a final open-book exam.   

    Submission


    Please refer to the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below) for details on submission
    process/requirements, penalties for late submission, the process of applying for extensions, and the staff “turn-around” timeline on assessments and the provision of feedback and policy relating to re-submission/redemptive work.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

    Feedback is provided by SELTs.  The course is continuously updated and refreshed. 
  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.