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Students

Psychology has been taught at the University of Adelaide since 1896 and was first established as a Department in 1956. In 2006 Psychology became a School within the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Psychology as part of another degree

Several other degree programs allow students to major in psychology, and thereby gain entry to the fourth year Honours program, subject to academic performance. To major in psychology students only need to do twelve units of psychology in their third year.

How to become a psychologist

All psychologists must be registered, and to qualify for registration there are two steps as follows. The first is a three-year bachelor degree of another discipline with a psychology major, followed by a psychology Honours year, or successful completion of the four year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) program. The second is a higher degree such as the Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Health) or Master of Psychology (Organisational & Human Factors). Registration enquiries should be directed to the South Australian Psychological Board.

If you don't want to be a psychologist

Students may do as little or as much psychology as they wish in the degree of their choosing. It can be just one of a range of subjects at Levels I and II, and you don't have to decide about going on to do a major until second year. Students who plan to do third year and apply for Honours need to include the research methodology subject in second year.

Career Prospects

There are many career options within the field of psychology. While the majority of psychologists work in the private sector, there are significant numbers employed by government agencies. For many employers, the attributes most sought after in a graduate are the skills involved in critical thinking and problem solving, and in oral and written communication, together with evidence of perseverance.

If you do not wish to become a psychologist, there are many careers in which the combination of psychology with a major in another discipline is considered highly desirable, for example, marketing, commerce, anthropology, geography, media studies, law, computer science, and health sciences.

All Australian States have enacted legislation regulating the practice of psychology. In South Australia, the Psychological Practices Act stipulates that practicing psychologists must be registered. Full registration requires four years of formal study in an accredited program, and two or more further years, either in the form of further study in an accredited Masters or Doctoral program in Psychology, or an approved program of pre-registration employment and training under the supervision and guidance of registered psychologists.

The national body for professional psychologists is the Australian Psychological Society. Student membership is available, while associate membership requires 4 years of university study, and 6 years for full membership.