Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities)


Course information

Course code: 1712
Gippsland campus
HECS fees applicable
Attendance compulsory for some subjects

Aims

The aims of the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) degree are to give students opportunities to develop an understanding of psychology as a scientific discipline, and to appreciate the role it plays within society as a whole. The construction of major and minor sequences enables students to undertake specialised studies in humanities and social science disciplines.

Professional recognition

The current major sequence in psychology is recognised by the Australian Psychological Society.

Entry requirements

All applicants should satisfy Tertiary Entrance Requirements (TER) as outlined in the section on entry requirements in this book.

Special requirements

Work load

All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal initial work load of at least twenty-four points a year by distance education. Distance education students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes. In later years of the course the normal work load will be thirty-two points per year, but there is scope to vary this under some circumstances.

Attendance

There is a compulsory attendance requirement for all psychology subjects and students should be aware of the costs involved in meeting this requirement. Details will be specified for each subject.
In other disciplines, classes will be held in most subjects at each weekend school. Normally, this will include lectures and seminars or tutorials. Attendance at weekend school classes is recommended, but not compulsory for the completion of most subjects offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Course structure

The course

The course of study is normally five to six years by distance education, dependant on work load and sequencing of subjects. In order to complete the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) a student must:
(a) complete appropriate subjects within the course to gain at least 144 but not more than 162 points.
(b) complete a total of ninety points within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
(c) complete a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten first-level subjects, including a first-level sequence in psychology, a first-level sequence in the proposed arts major and two additional first-level sequences which must be chosen from arts disciplines. A first-level sequence is a pair of first-level subjects which usually form the first part of a major or minor.
(d) complete an arts major from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (fifty-two points) and the prescribed psychology major (fifty-two points). An arts major will comprise a first-level sequence and at least sixteen points at second level and twenty-four points at third level. No more than seventy-six points may be included in the Arts major.
(e) undertake additional studies to complete the minimum 144 points needed for the degree.

Course plan

A course plan for the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) may look like the one depicted below:

First semester

Second semester

Year 1

Arts sequence 1; Arts sequence 2

Arts sequence 1; Arts sequence 2

Year 2

Arts sequence 3; PSY1011 Psychology 1A

Arts sequence 3; PSY1022 Psychology 1B

Year 3

PSY2011 Psychology 2A; Arts elective subject

Arts major sequence; PSY2022 Psychology 2B

Year 4

PSY3031 Abnormal psychology; Arts major sequence

Arts major sequence; PSY3032 Psychological assessment and theories of ability; PSY3042 Psychological research and theoretical perspectives

Year 5

PSY3041 Perception and personality; Arts major sequence

Arts major sequence; Arts elective subject

Arts major studies

For a listing of the humanities and social sciences major and minor sequences which may be included in the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities), refer to the entry for the Bachelor of Arts.

Initial enrolment

Students entering the degree should normally enrol in four subjects in the first year, two in each semester. Normally, these will all be subjects which do not require prerequisites. The following are suggested first-year enrolment options:

First semester

Second semester

or

First semester

Second semester

Credits/exemptions

Students with previously completed or partially completed tertiary studies should complete an application for credit transfer to apply for credits and exemptions. The onus is on the student to provide course records and details of course content and duration (including extracts from relevant handbooks). Students in this category are advised to complete a course plan prior to the commencement of study to ensure they will complete the major/s or minor they intend. Students may be granted up to a maximum of ninety-two points of credits/exemptions, but should note that they will be required to complete at least fifty-two points in arts disciplines directly through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students wishing to add a psychology major only to an existing degree are advised to consider non-award study. For details of this option, the science entry should be consulted in this book. As a general rule, specific credits will not be granted for studies completed more than ten years prior to the date of enrolment in the current course.

Further information

For more detailed information, contact the administrative officers, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, telephone (03) 9902 6339 or (03) 5122 6339, email melanie.michie@arts.monash.edu.au. For specific details relating to the psychology component of this degree, prospective students are advised to contact the administrative officer, Department of Psychology on (03) 9902 6813, or (03) 5122 6813.

Completed applications

Completed applications are to be forwarded to the admissions officer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Monash University Gippsland campus, Churchill, Victoria, 3842, by 18 September 1998 to be considered for a first-round offer.

Details of subjects

Details of the various arts sequences and the first-level subjects offered within them are included under the entry for the Bachelor of Arts.

  • PSY1011: Psychology 1A
  • PSY1022: Psychology 1B