Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

SATAC code 324051

HESS Group: General

2009 TER / IB: 99.1 / 41

Graduate Attributes

University Undergraduate Calendar

The four year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) program is designed for students who are committed from the beginning of their tertiary education to enter professional practice, or to undertake further study at a postgraduate level.

In the fourth year of study, students are invited to select a specialist area of psychology in which to carry out a supervised research project.

Places are limited, and entry into this program is very competitive.

A small number of places are available for students who wish to transfer into this program from other degree programs in which psychology courses are offered.

Study Plan for the BPsych(Hons)

Program Structure

The first year of the program seeks to provide an overview of psychology as a discipline and a profession. Later years build on this foundation and enable students to study topics including developmental psychology, social psychology, mental health, cognition, language, learning, memory, personality and individual differences. Since psychology is an evidence-based discipline, students also have an opportunity to find out about the range of methodologies employed to collect and analyse data relevant to these various topics. In addition, students become acquainted with cultural and ethical issues that may impact on the practice of psychology. In fourth year, students are invited to select a specialist area of psychology in which they would like to carry out research, under the supervision of a member of the academic staff of the School of Psychology.

These programs have been accredited by APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council)

Requirements needed for registration as a Psychologist:

• a University degree with four years of formal study in Psychology;
  
  
• two further years, either in further study for a Master’s degree in Psychology that provides advanced coverage of professionally-relevant material, field training placements and a research thesis, or in a program of preregistration training under the guidance of a registered psychologist.

Careers in Psychology

According to the Commonwealth Government Job Search Website employment growth for Psychologists to 2011-12 is STRONG. The range of jobs available to psychologists is also becoming increasingly varied. Further information can be found at http://jobsearch.gov.au/joboutlook.

Psychologists are employed in both the public and private sectors, and work in a variety of settings. Clinical psychologists are involved in meeting the needs of children and adults with mental health problems such as depression and drug addiction, and play major roles in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of people with disabilities and acquired brain damage. In business and industry, psychologists are employed in personnel selection, human resource management, job design and skills training, and product marketing. In the legal system, psychol ogists have skills relevant to criminal investigation and a range of matters examined within the court system and correctional programs. In schools and universities, psychologists assess students with learning difficulties, develop programs for the management of behavioural problems and carry out research into many aspects of human and animal behaviour.