Future Students

Psychology

The psychology units at Level 1 have wide appeal for students preparing for a range of different careers, as they provide a broad overview of complex areas such as personality, motivation, social behaviour and human development.

Weekly laboratory tutorials feature experiments and the interpretation of results. The second and subsequent years of study are much more focused and challenging, and re¿ect the strong biological and sociological aspects of the discipline.

Students wishing to combine the study of other humanities subjects with their study of psychology should undertake the BA; those who prefer science subjects, such as human biology, should undertake the BSc (Psychology).

Those intending to qualify for registration as psychologists can apply for entry to a fourth year (Honours) and possible further study or supervised training.

Psychology can be studied as a major within either a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) or Bachelor of Arts. The psychology units to be studied are the same in either degree, whilst electives may be different according to which degree you have chosen.

To become a registered psychologist you must complete a full third level of psychology (double major) and go on to a fourth level of study, plus two years of further training and supervised experience are required. Depending upon your marks, this may be an Honours course in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science or a more applied course leading to the Bachelor of Psychology. Entry to all of these is competitive.

Psychology may also be studied as a single major within either the BA or the BSc. This does not lead on to the Bachelor of Psychology or Honours in Psychology.

Many students take one or two units of psychology without intending to become psychologists. They find that the specific information or the general approaches to people and their motives make psychology fit usefully into many courses on offer, whether they be in arts, science, human movement, law or architecture.

Level 1
Introductory psychology units aim to give a broad overview of psychology’s important methods and findings and some of their applications. Areas covered include perception, memory, learning, motivation, the measurement of individual differences, personality, clinical, social behaviour and human development.

Doing experiments and interpreting their results are important activities in psychology. To develop these skills, level 1 units involve a weekly laboratory-tutorial session where experiments and demonstrations are conducted; these sessions also allow staff and students to discuss lecture material.

Level 2 and 3
In Levels 2 and 3, you will take subjects which reflect the strong biological and social science aspects of the discipline. These courses expand the material introduced in earlier years and further sharpen your skills in doing experiments and reporting their results.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)/Bachelor of Science (Honours)
If you wish to become a professional psychologist you should apply to enrol in an honours program in psychology. It is possible to choose from a range of topics, on the basis of interest and future intentions.

If you wish to seek employment as a research psychologist in tertiary institutions or at other research facilities you should apply for entry to the BA or BSc (Psychology) Honours program in psychology. This course is designed to provide you with the skills in research design, methodology, and quantitative methods required to carry out independent research.

Educational Qualifications

Structure

Career Opportunities

The study of psychology is a useful preparation for any occupation in which a knowledge of human social behaviour and development is valuable (such as teaching, social work, politics). Students who have completed a psychology degree will enjoy considerable flexibility in employment. Their knowledge about behaviour and their skills with computers allow them to enter confidently into the labour market, in areas not specifically tied to psychology (such as market research, media, and government).