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. This includes a strong grounding in basic psychological concepts and theories in the areas of biological, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology. Students will also develop skills in research methods and data analysis and an advanced knowledge in at least one domain of psychology.

Completion of a psychology major is part of the preparation for a career as either a research or professional psychologist.Taught at the University since the late 1800s, Psychology at Melbourne offers a diversity and quality of undergraduate subjects.

Students majoring in psychology will complete an accredited 125 point major sequence approved by APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council). Studies in psychology prepare students for a diverse range of careers that are based on understanding human behaviour.

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.

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 (APAC) sequence for students wishing to undertake further professional training in psychology. Please note that 25 points of level two/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: (25 points)

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

Level 2: (50 points)

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

Level 3:

Compulsory subjects (25 points):

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

Choos 2 Electives subjects (25 points):

• Trends in Personality and Social Psychology
• Applications in Psychology
• Development of the Thinking Child
• Perception, Memory and Cognition
• Neuroscience and the Mind
• Psychology of Sleep and Emotions
• The Psychopathology and Everyday Life
• Social and Emotional Development
• The Unconscious Mind

Total 125 points

Please note: Students may take no more than 125 points (10 subjects) in any one discipline area in the Bachelor of Arts.

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

• Trends in Personality and Social Psychology
• Applications in Psychology
• Development of the Thinking Child
• Perception, Memory and Cognition
• Neuroscience and the Mind
• Psychology of Sleep and Emotions
• Psychopathology and Everyday Life
• Social and Emotional Development
• 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. Memory, Perception and Cognition builds on Cognitive Psychology at Level 2. Social and Emotional Development and Development of the Thinking Child build on Developmental Psychology at Level 2. Neuroscience and the Mind and Psychology of Sleep and Emotions build on Biological Psychology at Level 2. The remaining Level 3 subjects draw on knowledge acquired across Level 2 subjects.

(Note that the accredited sequence is completion of ten prescribed subjects: 125 points in total)

An undergraduate Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) - accredited psychology sequence is a prerequisite for any student wishing to undertake further study to become a practising psychologist. A three-year accredited psychology sequence requires the completion of a minimum of 125 credit points worth of undergraduate psychology subjects which includes the completion requirements of a BSc Psychology major. This requires the completion of eight compulsory subjects and at least two elective subjects. All subjects are worth 12.5 points.

Further information on the structure of the accredited psychology sequence is available on the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences website.

Level One Subjects

Students completing a major in Psychology must complete the following subjects (25 points) at level one:

Level Two Subjects

Students completing a major in Pychology must complete all of the following subjects (50 points) at level two:

Level Three - Compulsory Subjects

Students completing a major in Psychology must complete the following compuslopry subjects (25 points) at level three:

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

Level Three - Elective Subjects

Students completing a major in Psychology must choose two of the following electives subjects (25 points) at level three: