Bachelor of Psychological Science
Course summary for local students
‘I feel that Deakin is a very future-oriented university, with a major focus on preparation for the wider world and job market.'
Student Information Centre
Tel 1300 334 733
enquire@deakin.edu.au
G = Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
S = Geelong Waterfront Campus
W =Warrnambool Campus
X = Off campus
| Award granted | Bachelor of Psychological Science |
|---|---|
| Campus | Offered at Melbourne Burwood Campus, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Warrnambool Campus, off campus, Deakin Learning Hub-Dandenong, Hume Global Learning Centre (Craigieburn) |
| Off-campus | Yes |
| Length | 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Next available intake | March (Trimester 1) July (Trimester 2) |
| Indicative annual fee 2014 | No fees defined |
| Faculty contacts | Health - Student and Academic Services Tel 03 9251 7777 health-enquire@deakin.edu.au |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| CRICOS course code | 079316E |
| VTAC Codes | 1400314231 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 1400514231 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 1400614231 - Burwood (Melbourne) - off campus, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 1400714231 - Warrnambool, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) |
| Deakin course code | H344 |
Dandenong students must enrol in course code H344D Craigieburn students must enrol in course code H344C Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2014 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2014 should refer to the 2012 course handbook entry or consult your course enrolment officer. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Fees and charges
- Career opportunities
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Entry requirements - general
- Closing dates
- Credit for prior learning - general
- How to apply
Course overview
Psychology is concerned with understanding human personality, behaviour, emotion, underlying mental processes and the factors that lead people to differ in the way they think and behave. In the Bachelor of Psychological Science you will be exposed to a contemporary integrative approach to psychology, one that recognises the importance of, and interrelationships between, biological, developmental, social, cognitive, and developmental factors. In undertaking this course of study you will cover broad areas of psychology including behavioural and clinical neuroscience, child and adolescent psychology, relationships and the psychology of groups, cognitive psychology, forensic psychology, and psychopathology.
An undergraduate major sequence in psychology is also available to students enrolled in the following degrees: H345 Bachelor of Psychology, H300 Bachelor of Health Sciences, D387 Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science, D391 Bachelor of Health Sciences/Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), D390 Bachelor of Criminology /Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Work-Integrated Learning
As part of this course, you will also be given the opportunity to undertake an internship in psychology as well as develop your counselling skills through a suite of elective units offered by the School of Psychology.
Professional recognition
Deakin’s Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA), accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and enables you to undertake additional study in pursuit of professional registration.
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2014, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2014 can be viewed from the Unit Search.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
As a graduate of this course you will have developed the knowledge and skills that make you highly employable across an array of stimulating employment settings. You may find work in schools and education settings, or in a variety of businesses, delivering employee assistance programs or training. Increasingly, opportunities are available in commerce and industry such as human resources, business and management.
If you choose to pursue full registration as a psychologist, you may find employment in a variety of settings including clinical, forensic, organisational, educational, health sport and many other specialist areas. The contexts in which you work may include private practice, hospitals, business organisations, schools, universities, government agencies, community sport groups and various research groups.
Course rules
The Bachelor of Psychological Science consists of 24 credit points, of which at least 12 must be Psychology (i.e., ‘HPS’) units.
At level 1, two Psychology units, HPS111 and HPS121, and three foundation health units, HBS107, HBS108 and HBS110, are compulsory.
At level 2, HPS201, HPS202, HPS203, HPS204, and HPS205 are compulsory.
At level 3, HPS301, HPS307 and HPS308 are compulsory, and an additional two level-3 HPS elective units must also be completed.
In summary, Bachelor of Psychological Science students must complete two Psychology (HPS) units at level 1, five at level 2, and five at level 3.
No more than 10 credit points may be taken at level 1, and a maximum of 8 credit points may be taken outside the Faculty of Health.
Students may choose to accelerate their progress through the course by selecting from the following units that are normally offered in Trimester 3: HBS110, HBS107, HBS108, HPS111, HPS121, HPS201, HPS204, HPS205, HPS206 and HPS307.
Following completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Science students intending to become psychologists must successfully apply for and complete a level-4 Honours year or the level-4 Graduate Diploma of Psychology.
Course structure
Level 1
Trimester 1
| HPS111 | Fundamentals of Human Behaviour |
| HBS107 | Understanding Health |
plus two elective units
Trimester 2
| HPS121 | Psychology B: Individual and Social Development |
| HBS108 | Health Information and Data |
| HBS110 | Health Behaviour |
plus one elective unit
Level 2
Trimester 1
| HPS203 | Understanding the Mind |
| HPS204 | Introduction to Social Psychology |
plus two elective units
Trimester 2
| HPS201 | Research Methods in Psychology A |
| HPS202 | Child and Adolescent Development |
| HPS205 | Behavioural Neuroscience |
plus one elective unit
Level 3
Trimester 1
| HPS301 | Research Methods in Psychology B |
| HPS307 | Personality |
plus two elective units
Trimester 2
| HPS308 | Psychopathology |
plus three elective units
Elective units
Two of the 11 elective units must be chosen from the psychology units listed below.
Trimester 1
| HPS302 | Pathways Through Adulthood |
| HPS395 | Clinical Neuroscience |
Trimester 2
| HPS303 | Unit description is currently unavailable |
| HPS304 | The Social Psychology of Relationships |
The remaining nine electives may include other psychology units such as:
| HPS206 | Psychology in the Criminal Justice System |
| HPY201 | Psychology Internship |
| HPY210 | Coaching and Counselling Individuals for Behaviour Change |
| HPY310 | Coaching and Counselling Groups for Behaviour Change |
or
students may choose to take complementary studies in other disciplines.
Registration as a Psychologist
The current requirements for registration as a provisional psychologist include the completion of four years of academic study of psychology that is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia. The academic program usually consists of an approved undergraduate psychology sequence – such as Deakin’s Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) – followed by an approved fourth-year of study (such as Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology or honours in psychology).
Following successful completion of an approved fourth-year of psychology study, you may apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
In order to gain full registration, provisional psychologists must then complete either two years of supervised practice, or a minimum two years of further study, which may include: Master of Psychology, Doctor of Psychology or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (with supervised practice completed outside the degree).
Entry requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Closing dates
Credit for prior learning - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
How to apply
Applications for on and off campus study for Trimester 1 must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC (external site).
Applications for Trimester 2 and Trimester 3 must be made directly to the University through the Applicant Portal. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the Apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
