Bachelor of Psychology
Course summary for local students
‘I chose Deakin because I immediately felt most comfortable there. I could see my life there.'
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 Psychology |
|---|---|
| Campus | Offered at Melbourne Burwood Campus, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Warrnambool Campus |
| Length | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Next available intake | March (Trimester 1) July (Trimester 2) - July intake not available at Warrnambool Campus Trimester 3 (November) - November intake Burwood and Geelong only |
| Indicative annual fee 2013 | $6,920* - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Faculty contacts | Health - Student and Academic Services Tel 03 9251 7777 health-enquire@deakin.edu.au |
| VTAC Codes | 14691 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 15151 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) 18161 - Warrnambool, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) |
| CRICOS course code | 055179G |
| Deakin course code | H345 |
Course structure applies to students who commenced in 2012. Students who commenced prior to 2012 should refer to the 2011 course handbook entry or consult your enrolment officer. Course available to local students only. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Fees and charges
- Career opportunities
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Entry requirements - general
- 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 Applied Science (Psychology) 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.
The Bachelor of Psychology is designed to enable students to complete a four year sequence in psychology that complies with requirements for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and also for associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
It is comprised of the three-year undergraduate major sequence in psychology and the fourth year honours program in psychology which are currently offered separately. Due to the stringent requirements of entry to an honours year and the requirements for registration, students who do not attain the progression standards will exit with a three-year award, the Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology).
An undergraduate major in psychology is also available to students enrolled in the following degrees: H344 Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology), H300 Bachelor of Health Sciences, D387 Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology), and D391 Bachelor of Health Sciences/Bachelor of Arts.
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 Psychology is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
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 2013, 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 2013 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
After successfully completing the Bachelor of Psychology (with honours) you will be well prepared for employment in a wide range of areas relevant to human wellbeing, such as social work, youth work, careers counselling, work/life counselling, developmental psychology, research psychology, or mental health rehabilitation.
Depending on your chosen area and level of further study, you will be able to work in a variety of settings, including specialist areas of psychology practice, such as clinical, forensic, organisational, educational, health, sport and many others. The contexts in which you work may include hospitals, business organisations, schools, universities, government agencies, community sporting groups, various research groups or in private practice.
Course rules
The course comprises 32 one credit point units including a minimum of 20 psychology (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 Psychology 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 successful completion of the first 3 levels of the course (i.e., at the completion of 24 credits), students will be considered for progression to the level-4 ‘honours’ year of the course. There is a quota on honours places and successful applicants must achieve at least a mid-credit (65%) for Research Methods B and a sufficient mark for their remaining level-2 and level-3 psychology units (an indicative ‘minimum mark’ is advertised each year based on the previous year’s competition for places). Failure to achieve an honours place results in an alternative exit from H345 with course H344 Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology). Such students may apply for a fee-paying alternative to honours: course H650 Graduate Diploma of Psychology. Students who do not wish to complete the honours year may also opt for this alternative exit.
Course structure
Level 1
Trimester 1
| HPS111 | Introduction to Psychology A |
| HBS107 | Understanding Health |
plus two elective units
Trimester 2
| HPS121 | Introduction to Psychology B |
| HBS110 | Health Behaviour |
| HBS108 | Health Information and Data |
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
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
A minimum of two third-level elective units must be chosen from the psychology units listed below.
Trimester 1
| HPS302 | Pathways Through Adulthood |
| HPS395 | Clinical Neuroscience |
Trimester 2
| HPS303 | Cognition and Behaviour |
| 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 complimentary studies in other disciplines
Level 4
Trimester 1
| HPS425 | Honours in Psychology Part A |
| HPS427 | Honours in Psychology Part C |
Trimester 2
| HPS426 | Honours in Psychology Part B |
| HPS428 | Honours in Psychology Part D |
The four units HPS425, HPS426, HPS427, HPS428 comprise the honours sequence in psychology. All four parts must be successfully completed before a result will be obtained. 8 credit points will be achieved at the end of the sequence.
Total coursework weighting at fourth level is 50%. The research thesis at fourth level is completed across the entire level and accounts for 50% of the total weighting. Attendance and presentation at the annual School Honours Conference and attendance at the weekly School Research Colloquia are hurdle requirements.
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 (PBA). The academic program usually consists of an approved undergraduate psychology sequence 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 (PBA) and associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Deakin’s Bachelor of Psychology can lead directly to provisional registration provided the honours year is completed within this four-year course.
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.
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.
