The Bachelor of Behavioural Science is one of two degrees offered at Monash Gippsland in which major studies in psychology can be undertaken. The Bachelor of Behavioural Science has been designed to provide a substantial specialisation in psychology, with supporting studies in other disciplines which are commonly studied with psychology. The Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) is a course that provides for a major in psychology to be combined with more extensive studies in the social sciences and humanities. Details of the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) are provided in the Faculty of Arts handbook.
The psychology major sequence completed at Monash Gippsland is accredited by the Australian Psychological Society, and can be used as the basis for further study leading to a qualification as a psychologist.
The Bachelor of Behavioural Science takes three years to complete full-time and six years by distance education or part-time study. An honours program in psychology will require one further year of full-time study or two years part-time.
Objectives
On completion of the Bachelor of Behavioural Science students should:
(a) understand the role of empirical research and theory in progressing knowledge in the scientific discipline of psychology;
(b) appreciate the contribution of biological processes in human and animal behaviour, and how they interact with environmental factors;
(c) have a sound understanding of the major theoretical foundations of psychology and the research results on which these are based in each of the following major sub-areas - perception, learning and cognition, motivation and emotion, personality, developmental psychology, social psychology;
(d) appreciate how these theoretical foundations are applied in education, clinical and business settings, and have a sound basic knowledge of at least one area of professional psychology;
(e) be sufficiently competent in conducting and analysing the major types of research studies used in psychology at a level that will enable them to undertake independent research study at fourth-year level; and
(f) have a sound understanding of at least one other discipline that is closely related to research or professional practice in psychology.
Course structure
The course structure is comprised of four main components; the psychology major, additional sequences in supporting disciplines, core subjects in scientific methods and electives.
A discipline is a particular area of study in which a sequence of subjects can be studied. Each subject is designated a particular value which is expressed in points. Subjects are also designated by year level, and most disciplines specify requirements of each year level which must be completed before progressing to the next year level. Students are expected to undertake a normal work load of forty-eight points a year full-time or twenty-four points a year part-time or by distance education study.
It is advisable for full-time students to complete at least three first-level sequences in their first year in disciplines in which they may wish to complete further studies. Due to the flexibility of the course students are encouraged to seek guidance from administrative officers within the School of Applied Science.
Course requirements
A total of 144 credit points must be completed to satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of Behavioural Science. Students must complete a full psychology major of at least sixty credit points. Together with the major sequence in psychology students must also complete either two additional sequences or one extended sequence from applied biology, applied chemistry, applied physics, management, marketing, mathematics or operations research. An additional sequence is also available in sociology.
An additional sequence comprises subjects in a discipline which amount to at least twenty-four credit points, with at least twelve credit points being at second level. An extended sequence comprises subjects which tally to at least forty-eight credit points. Of the forty-eight points at least thirty-six points must be completed at second or third level, of which twelve points must be at third level.
Students must also complete at least two subjects from GAS1062 (Scientific thought and methods), GAS2062 (Scientific thought and methods) and GAS1030 (Science and society).
Psychology major
The psychology major offered by the Gippsland section of the Department of Psychology aims to provide a comprehensive coverage of the discipline of psychology. The Gippsland major has an emphasis on the study of human behaviour in its social context, and its applications in clinical, organisational, educational and other settings. The psychology major is accredited by the Australian Psychological Society. Details of postgraduate courses in psychology are located in the graduate studies (Gippsland) section of this handbook.
Most psychology subjects include a component requiring on-campus attendance by distance education students. This will require one full day at first and second levels and two full days at third level. Some subjects do not require attendance, and alternatives to attendance are available for first level and some second-level subjects. Details will be specified for each subject.
New subject codes
All psychology subjects have received new subject codes for 1995. The following list identifies equivalent subjects under the previous subject numbering systems.
New subject code and name Old
subject/unit
codes
GAS1501 Introduction to 6190,
psychology A GSC1101
GAS1502 Introduction to 6191,
psychology B GSC1102
GAS1503 Psychology for 6192,
nursing A GSC1103
GAS1504 Psychology for 6193,
nursing B GSC1104
GAS2501 Personality psychology 6395,
GSC2101
GAS2502 Social and community GSC2104,
psychology GSC2106
GAS2503 Developmental 6295 GSC2103
psychology
GAS2504 Research methods in GSC2105
psychology I
GAS3501 Biological psychology 6290,
GSC3101
GAS3502 Abnormal psychology 6396,
(previously clinical GSC3102
psychology)
GAS3503 Organisational 6391,
psychology GSC3103
GAS3504 Cognitive psychology new subject
GAS3505 Research methods in new subject
psychology II
GAS3506 Experimental social new subject
psychology
GAS3508 Research methods in 6399,
psychology GSC3104
GAS4501 Counselling theory 6500,
and practice A GSC4101
GAS4502 Research methods in 6505,
counselling psychology GSC4106
GAS4503 Psychological 6502,
Assessement GSC4503
GAS4504 Ethics of 6507,GSC4108
professional practice
(previously Professional
practice A)
GAS4505 Counselling theory 6501,
and practice B GSC4102
GAS4506 Research project 6506,
(1994 intake only) GSC4107
GAS4507 Health psychology GSC4104
(1994 intake only)
GAS4508 Community psychology 6503,
in Australia GSC4105
GAS4509 Professional practice 6507,
B (1994 intake only) GSC4109
GAS4510 Research project -
(0ffered in 1996)
Requirements
of the major in psychologyA major in psychology in the Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences must consist of at least ten subjects, including at least three subjects at second level and at least four at third level. Subject GAS2504 is a compulsory subject in the psychology major.
The major is structured into three distinct levels. The requirement of each level must be completed before students are eligible to study at the next level.
Level one
Students must complete the following subjects before being eligible to enrol in second-level subjects.
* GAS1501 Introduction to psychology A
* GAS1502 Introduction to psychology B
Level two
Students must complete
* GAS2504 Research methods in psychology I
and at least two other subjects at second level before being eligible to enrol in third-level subjects
* GAS2501 Personality psychology
* GAS2502 Social and community psychology
* GAS2503 Developmental psychology
Note: Students completing two level-two subjects prior to 1994 may count these as meeting level two requirements.
Level three
Students must complete at least four subjects at third level. GAS3505 is strongly recommended.
* GAS3501 Biological psychology
* GAS3502 Abnormal psychology
* GAS3503 Organisational psychology
* GAS3505 Research methods in psychology II
* GAS3504 Cognitive psychology
* GAS3506 Experimental social psychology
Subjects available from the different disciplines in which additional sequences may be studied are as follows:
Applied biology
Level one
* GAS1185 Biological science
* GAS1186 Biology
* GAS1281 Chemical science
* GAS1282 Chemistry
* GAS1383 Physical science
Level two
* GAS2121 and GAS2122 Microbiology
* GAS2141 and GAS2142 Biochemistry
* GAS2281 Instrumental science
* GAS2282 Applied chemistry
Level three
* GAS3121 and GAS3122 Applied microbiology
* GAS3141 and GAS3142 Applied biochemistry
Mathematics
Level one
* GAS1611 Calculus
* GAS1612 Vectors and matrices
* GAS1614 Discrete mathematics
* GAS1621 Mathematical modelling A
* GAS1631 Probability and statistics
* GAS1711 Introduction to operations research
Level two
* GAS2611 Real analysis
* GAS2612 Functions of more than one variable
* GAS2613 Linear algebra
* GAS2614 Mathematical structures
* GAS2621 Integral transforms
* GAS2622 Numerical methods
* GAS2623 Vector field theory
* GAS2631 Distributions and inferential techniques
* GAS2711 Linear programming
* GAS2713
Level three
* GAS3611 Philosophy of mathematics
* GAS3612 Applied modern algebra
* GAS3613 Complete analysis
* GAS3614 Combinatorics
* GAS3621 Differential equations
* GAS3622 Mathematical modelling B
* GAS3631 Applied statistics
* GAS3632 Statistical inference
* GAS3711 Simulation
* GAS3751 Forecasting
Operations research
Level one
* GAS1611 Calculus
* GAS1631 Probability and statistics
* GAS1711 Introduction to operations research
Level two
* GAS2711 Linear programming
* GAS2713 Applied probability models
* GAS2714 Sequential decision models
* GCO2813 Information systems 2
* GCO2851 Programming for business applications
* GCO2852 Business systems
Level three
* GAS3719 Operations research project
* GAS3712 Inventory management
* GAS3751 Forecasting
* GCO3851 Database management systems
Applied chemistry
Level one
* GAS1281 Chemical science
* GAS1282 Chemistry
* GAS1383 Physical science
Level two
* GAS2251 and GAS2252 Chemistry
* GAS2281 Instrumental science
plus at least one of the following:
* GAS2282 Applied chemistry
* GAS2382 Physical science
* GAS2141 Biochemistry
* GAS2142 Biochemistry
Level three
* GAS3251 and GAS3252 Chemistry
plus at least two of the following:
* GAS3271 and GAS3272 Applied chemistry
* GAS3382 and GAS3382 Physical science
* GAS3241 and GAS3242 Applied biochemistry
Applied physics
Level one
* GAS1281 Chemical science
* GAS1383 Physical science
* GAS1384 Physics
Level two
* GAS2281 Instrumental science
* GAS2382 Physical science
* GAS2391 and GAS2392 Physics
Level three
* GAS3381 and GAS3382 Physical science
* GAS3391 and GAS3392 Applied physics
Management
Two vocational streams are available in management. The two streams are either business planning and policy or human resource management.
Compulsory subjects
* GBU1302 Management theory and functions
* GBU 2304 Organisational behaviour
* GBU 3308 Organisational change and development
Business planning and policy stream
* GBU2305 Management methods and decision making
* GBU3313 Business planning and policy
* GBU3319 Management processes and systems
Human resource managment stream
* GBU3309 Industrial relations
* GBU3312 Personnel management
* GBU3314 Training and development
* GBU3316 Industrial relations policy and practice
* GBU3317 Personnel management policy and practice
* GBU3318 Contemporary issues in labour management relations
Students wishing to complete an additional sequence in management are required to undertake:
* GBU1302, GBU2304 plus two other subjects listed above.
Marketing
To obtain an extended sequence in marketing students must satisfactorily complete six of the following subjects:
Compulsory subjects
* GBU1401 Introduction to marketing
* GBU1402 Consumer behaviour
Electives
* GBU2405 Promotion management
* GBU3406 Research project in marketing
* GBU3408 Banking and law and lending practice
* GBU3409 Export management
To obtain an additional sequence in marketing students must complete:
* GBU1401, GBU1402, GBU2404, GBU3405.
Sociology
An additional sequence can be completed in sociology from the following subjects:
Level one
* GSC1201 Introduction to sociology A
* GSC1202 Introduction to sociology B
Level two
* GSC2201 Sociology of the family and generations
* GSC2202 Sociology of race and ethnic relations
* GSC2203 Sociology of children
* GSC2204 Work and technology
* GSC2205 Sociology of deviance
* GSC2206 Sociology of health
* GSC2207 Women's sociology
* GSC2209 Environmental sociology
Level three
* GSC3201 Sociological theory and methods
For more detail of the above subjects please consult the relevant faculty handbook.