Bpsych

240 credit points

80 extra credit points (Honours)

Duration                                3 years full-time or equivalent part-time (Pass)

                                              4 years full-time or equivalent part-time (Honours)

Available at                           Melbourne Campus VIC (St Patrick's)

INDEX

Pass Course

This course provides a comprehensive coverage of the discipline of psychology, within the context of issues and practice as they affect families and children.

The course combines theoretical and practical components designed to provide students with training in the basic discipline of psychology while at the same time offering an introduction to applied topics at the third-year level. It also prepares graduates for further professional training in psychology. Those students who complete the Honours program will be eligible for probationary registration as psychologists in Victoria, as well as most other Australian States. By the end of the course students should be able to:

• apply relevant and current knowledge and skills in the practice of psychology;
  
• have confidence in themselves and their professional skills for beginning a career as a probationary psychologist;
  
• prepare and present research reports and papers in psychology;
  
• demonstrate skills in research;
  
• undertake independent learning in a dynamic profession;
  
• act in a professional and ethical way.
  

Mode of Offering

The course is offered on–campus, either full-time or part-time.

Admission

Apply to VTAC.

Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (any).

Extra Requirements: 'Mature Age' applicants must also complete an ACU National Additional Information Form available from the Student Centre.

Course Structure

Requirements for Completion of Pass Award

Students are required to complete a total of 24 units (240cp) as follows:

• 10 Compulsory core units in Psychology 100cp
  
• 2 Psychology elective units 20cp
  
• 4 Family Studies units 40cp
  
• 2 Theology/Philosophy units 20cp
  
• 6 elective units 60cp
  

Unit Offerings

Unit offerings will vary subject to student demand and lecturer availability.

Elective units will vary between campuses and from year to year.

Years One to Three (Compulsory Units)

Psychology

PSYC100 Psychology A

PSYC101 Psychology B

PSYC200 Lifespan Development

PSYC202 Social Psychology

PSYC204 Biological Psychology

PSYC300 Theories of Personality

PSYC304 Abnormal Psychology

PSYC307 Cognitive Psychology

PSYC308 Communication Skills

PSYC309 Psychological Testing

Psychology Electives

BEHV201 Contemporary Psychology

BEHV202 Cross-Cultural Psychology

BEHV206 Psychology of Organisations

BEHV208 Psychology of Religion

BEHV210 Small Group Processes

BEHV212 The Concept of Self

PSYC310 Psychological Service Experience

EXSC130 Foundations of Motor Development and Behaviour

EXSC230 Motor Control & Learning

EXSC236 Exercise Psychology

EXSC335 Advanced Exercise and Sport Psychology

Family Studies

BEHV215 Work, Stress and the Family

SOCG102 Introduction to Family Studies

SOCG103 Historical Perspectives on the Family

SOCG200 Families in Crisis

SOCG201 Families and Major Institutions

SOCI231 Family and the Law

SOCG202 Family Support Programs

SOCG203 Family and Work

SOCG204 Marriage and Relationship Education

SOCG205 Special Topics in Family Studies

THEO261 Family, Faith and Spirituality

Philosophy/Theology

PHIL100 Introduction to Philosophical Inquiry

PHIL101 Reason and Argument

PHIL102 A Philosophy of the Human Person

PHIL103 History of Western Philosophy

PHIL104 Introduction to Ethics

THEO113 The World and Literature of the Bible

THEO122 Practical Theology as Social Criticism

THEO128 God, Faith and the Search for Meaning

THEO149 The Church in History: Tradition and Change

BACHELOR OF PSYCHOLOGY

Sample Enrolment Pattern

* Two units to be chosen from the current BA list of options.                  Shaded area = Units in Psychology      

Honours Program

An Honours program in Psychology operates in Victoria. Candidates studying Honours will have the opportunity to build on the more basic foundations provided by their first three years in the discipline. The fourth year will require study in advanced units in the relevant discipline and will provide students with the opportunity for engaging in research in a setting that encourages systematic reflection upon the methodology and theory being deployed. It is expected that students who meet the required standard in this course will be advantageously placed to go on to higher degrees with the ability to engage in significant psychological research.`

Grades

The Honours degree is awarded in one of the following four grades as determined by the School Committee on the basis of results obtained in units undertaken in the Honours course at Australian Catholic University, weighted according to their credit point values, and using the following numerical scale.

First Class Honours                                      85 - 100

Second Class Honours – Division A                75 - 84

Second Class Honours – Division B                65 - 74

Third Class Honours                                      50 - 64

Mode of Offering

The course is offered on-campus, normally full-time.

Admission

In order to qualify for admission to the Honours course a student must normally:

·       have completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Psychology Pass degree or its equivalent, normally within the previous 5 years;

·       have gained at least a credit average (or equivalent) across units of the entire Pass degree including at least four (4) of the units in the major sequence of the discipline in which the Honours program will be undertaken;

·            have satisfied the prerequisites for the particular units to be undertaken in the Honours course.

The number of Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) is strictly limited; entry requirements are generally competitive.

In exceptional circumstances an individual not fulfilling these requirements may apply to the School Committee through the relevant Head of School for entry into the Honours course.

Course Structure

Honours Award

Completion of 80cp in academic studies as prescribed hereunder (in addition to satisfying the requirements of the Pass degree):
· Honours Thesis/research project (40cp);
· 4 coursework units (each unit has a value of 10cp), 2 coursework units - Research Methods and Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology - are compulsory.

Psychology

PSYC404 Research Methods in Psychology

PSYC413 Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology

Plus 2 elective coursework units chosen from the following list

PSYC405 Comparative Psychology

PSYC406 Theories of Intervention

PSYC407 History and Philosophy of Psychology

PSYC408 Psychology of Human Sexuality

PSYC412 Psychology of Ageing

PSYC414 Cultural Issues for Psychologists

PSYC415 Theories of Psychoanalysis

Units Offered

Each unit has a credit point value of 10, unless otherwise indicated.

.
Compulsory Units

PSYC410 Honours Thesis (40cp)

PSYC404 Research Methods in Psychology

PSYC413 Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology

Advanced Units
Group A Applied Topics

PSYC406 Theories of Intervention

Group B Theory Topics

PSYC405 Comparative Psychology

PSYC407 History and Philosophy of Psychology

PSYC408 Psychology of Human Sexuality

PSYC412 Psychology of Ageing

PSYC414 Cultural Issues for Psychologists

PSYC415 Theories of Psychoanalysis

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Psychology is recognised by the Australian Psychological Society as an accredited three-year undergraduate program in Psychology. Those students who complete the Honours program will be eligible for probationary registration as psychologists in Victoria, as well as becoming eligible for associate membership with the Australian Psychological Society.