Psychology

Psychology is intellectually fascinating and has direct applications to everyday life. As a discipline, it embraces a wide range of perspectives and approaches that contribute to the scientific study and understanding of behaviour, especially human behaviour. Taught at the University since the late 1800s, Psychology at Melbourne offers a diversity and quality of undergraduate subjects.

The majority of undergraduate students studying psychology will complete an APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council) major sequence.

Psychology is concerned with the study of human behaviour and experience. People trained in psychology work in a wide variety of areas in health, education, industry, commerce, welfare and government.

Psychology has been a part of a tradition of academic excellence and research achievement at the University of Melbourne since the late 1800s. The Department of Psychology, formally established in 1946 is part of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. It is one of the largest departments of psychology in Australia.

The Psychology undergraduate program has been designed to provide students with flexibility and choice in coursework areas and offers a broad range of subjects aimed at providing a thorough and extensive grounding in the discipline.

Psychology is available as both a major and minor sequence of study within the BA. The BA major in psychology requires a 125 point accredited sequence for students wishing to undertake professional training in psychology. This means that 25 points of level two or three subjects must be completed within the breadth component of the degree. Students intending to complete the major in psychology should factor this into their course planning - see sample course plans for more.

Major:
Level 1: 2 compulsory level 1 Psychology Subjects

• Mind, Brain and Behaviour 1
• Mind, Brain and Behaviour 2

Level 2: 4 compulsory level 2 Psychology Subjects

• Cognitive Psychology
• Biological Psychology
• Personality and Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Level 3: 2 compulsory Psychology level 3 subjects and at least 2 elective Psychology level 3 subjects.

Compulsory subjects:

• Research Methods for Human Inquiry
• Psychological Science: Theory & Practice (Capstone)

Electives subjects:

• Advanced Personality and Social Psychology
• Advanced Studies of Human Cognition
• Developing Persons in Social Worlds
• Development of the Thinking Child
• Neuroscience and the Mind
• Organisational Psychology
• Psychology of Sleep and Emotions
• Psychopathology and Everyday Life
• The Unconscious Mind

Total 125 points

Please note: Students may take a maximum of 125 points in any one discipline area.

Minor

The BA minor in psychology is a 75 point sequence. It may require the completion of 25 points of level two or three subjects within the breadth component of the degree.

Level 1: 2 compulsory level 1 Psychology Subjects

• Mind, Brain and Behaviour 1
• Mind, Brain and Behaviour 2

Level 2: Two of the following level 2 Psychology Subjects

• Cognitive Psychology
• Biological Psychology
• Personality and Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Level 3: Two of the following level 3 Psychology Subjects

• Advanced Personality and Social Psychology
• Advanced Studies of Human Cognition
• Developing Persons in Social Worlds
• Development of the Thinking Child
• Neuroscience and the Mind
• Organisational Psychology
• Psychobiology of Sleep and Emotions
• Psychopathology and Everyday Life
• The Unconscious Mind

Total 75 points

Level 3 subjects build on the skills and knowledge obtained at Level 2. For example, Advanced Personality and Social Psychology builds on Personality and Social Psychology at Level 2. Advanced Studies of Human Cognition builds on Cognitive Psychology at Level 2. Developing Persons in Social Worlds and Development of the Thinking Child build on Developmental Psychology at Level 2. Neuroscience and the Mind and Psychobiology of Sleep and Emotions build on Biological Psychology at Level 2. The remaining Level 3 subjects draw on knowledge acquired across Level 2 subjects.

Level One Subjects

Level Two Subjects

All 50 points are compulosry for the major

Level Three Subjects

All 25 points is compulsory for the major.

Research Methods for Human Inquiry is the compulosry capstone subject for the major and is not available in the minor.

Other Level Three Elective Subjects

25 points of electives must be taken as part of the major