Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)

Course 527CN (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Year and Campus: 2010 - Parkville
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Duration & Credit Points: 200 credit points taken over 24 months full time. This course is available as full or part time.

Coordinator

Associate Professor Michael Saling

Contact

Mr Wayne Murdoch

Professional Programmes Coordinator

School of Psychological Science

wpm@unimelb.edu.au

Course Overview:

The clinical neuropsychology program aims to provide students with the skills to work as a neuropsychologist. Since its inception in the 1970s, the clinical neuropsychology program has emphasised 'hands on' clinical training in the hospital setting. The breadth of this training experience has steadily increased over the years, and students are placed in a wide variety of settings that cover acute care neurology and neurosurgery, psychiatry, geriatrics, rehabilitation, and paediatrics. The placement experience enjoyed by our students is one of the most extensive in the world.

The neuropsychological teaching staff is made up of six members at the level of Lecturer, Associate Professor or Professor, and a Placement Co-Ordinator. All are full members of the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. Each member is actively involved in the practice of clinical neuropsychology (including supervision of clinical trainees) in a teaching hospital. Collectively, the staff cover the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Children's Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, and the Austin, Heidelberg Repatriation, and Royal Talbot Hospitals (Austin Health), and are therefore well positioned to bring to the teaching situation a high level of clinical and research expertise.

The program in clinical neuropsychology aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for competent practice in a variety of settings, and in relation to a variety of diagnostic problems and management issues. The acquisition of professional skills at a reasonably sophisticated level is the ultimate goal of the program. There is a strong emphasis on the need for world-class clinical research, with a significant number of students producing peer-reviewed publications.

Objectives:

The objective of this stream is to provide graduates with the skills to work as professional neuropsychologists. Graduates should obtain a detailed understanding of the affective, behavioural and cognitive manifestations of diseases of the central nervous system, particularly those affecting the brain, in adults and children. Graduates are expected to acquire competence in various approaches to the study of brain disease, including basic and applied clinical sciences, and are expected to acquire an understanding of objective assessment of the many behavioural features of brain diseases.

Course Structure & Available Subjects:

This course consists of coursework, placement and a minor research thesis (equivalent to 10,000 words).

Coursework consists of 13 classroom-based subjects taken over the two years of the course (see below) and 115 days of Placement (20 days in the first-year and 95 days in the second-year).

Subject Options: In order to satisfy the requirements of the Master of Psychology (Clnincal Neuropsychology), students must complete the following subjects:

Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
18.75
Entry Requirements: Eligible applicants for the professional training programs must normally possess a degree including an accredited four-year sequence in psychology (or its equivalent) of at least H2A (or Distinction) standard in the fourth year of study. Admission also depends on supervision and resource availability.

Selection is based primarily on the student's academic performance in their fourth-year of study in psychology, with some consideration given to third year performance. The personal suitability of each student as assessed by referees' reports and interview is also taken into account.

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements, Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Graduate Attributes: Graduates of the Neuropsychology programme will have the skills to work as professional neuropsychologists as well as a detailed understanding of the affective, behavioural and cognitive manifestations of diseases of the central nervous system, particularly those affecting the brain, in adults and children.
Professional Accreditation: Accredited by the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council and recognised by the Victorian Psychologists Registration Board
Generic Skills:
  • Written and spoken communication skills
  • Analytic skills
Links to further information: http://www.psych.unimelb.edu.au/courses/postgraduate/pt.html

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