1999 Science Handbook

Psychology

Discipline objectives
The discipline
Undergraduate subjects
Diploma in Psychology
Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Further study in psychology
Further information

Discipline objectives

The study of human behaviour can be undertaken from two broad perspectives, one based in the sciences, the other in the humanities. Monash University provides both.

Students seeking professional qualifications should enrol in the subjects offered by the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Science. This program is accredited by the Australian Psychological Society and recognised by the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria, and provides an avenue to the further training required to practice as a psychologist.

Humanities

For students interested in human behaviour as a humanities-oriented stream of study, the Faculty of Arts offers a behavioural studies minor comprising subjects which have close links with arts disciplines and arts-based professionally oriented courses such as social work, human services and police studies.

A common curriculum

The Department of Psychology is developing a new common curriculum across all campuses. In its curriculum development the department has endorsed the view of the Australian Psychological Society that training in the discipline occurs within the context of the scientist-practitioner model. A student does not decide to become either a scientist or a practitioner; rather, professional practice is embedded within the scientific perspective. This is the philosophy underlying the decision to create a core curriculum, with students then being in a position to make informed choices about psychology-related careers and further training at the fourth year and postgraduate level.
Students completing their degree in psychology will have:

a fundamental understanding of major principles of behavioural science;
detailed knowledge of a range of areas and theoretical issues drawn from the biological, social and cognitive aspects of the discipline;
been exposed to a broad cross-section of topics relevant to contemporary applied and professional psychology;
a good understanding of research design and analysis in psychology.

The discipline

The psychology programs of the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Science are taught at the Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, Gippsland and Peninsula campuses. The department offers subjects for students who intend to specialise in psychology by completing a major sequence in the subject, with the option of proceeding to a degree with honours, or into postgraduate programs of study. Caulfield offers evening as well as day classes. At Berwick, Gippsland and Peninsula psychology is offered in flexible learning mode with on-campus tutorial and laboratory classes and lectures taught through study notes and web-based material. Psychology can also be undertaken in distance education study mode through the Gippsland campus with the compulsory on-campus attendance requirements being available both at Gippsland and Clayton campuses.
Unless otherwise specified, all psychology programs offered by the department are accredited by the Australian Psychological Society and approved for registration purposes by the Psychologists' Registration Board of Victoria.

Undergraduate subjects

The Department of Psychology's new common curriculum commenced in 1997 when the common first-year psychology program was introduced on all campuses. In 1998 the common second-year was introduced, and in 1999 the common third-year program will commence.
Students wishing to take the accredited major sequence in psychology will complete the following semester-length subjects:

First year

PSY1011 Psychology 1A (6 points)
PSY1022 Psychology 1B (6 points)

Second year

PSY2011 Psychology 2A (8 points)
PSY2022 Psychology 2B (8 points)

Third year

PSY3031 Abnormal psychology (6 points)
PSY3051 Perception and personality (6 points)
PSY3042 Psychological testing, theories of ability and ethics (6 points)
PSY3062 Research methods and philosophy of psychology (6 points)

Electives

In addition to the core subjects above, students may take an elective subject at second year, and up to four elective subjects at third year. The elective subjects are:

Second year

PSY2032 Introduction to psychoanalytic theory (6 points)

Third year

PSY3071 Human neuropsychology and its evolutionary perspectives (6 points)
PSY3082 Psychology of work and disability (6 points)
PSY3091 Cognitive science (6 points)
PSY3102 Advanced psychobiology: brain and behaviour (6 points)
PSY3111 Organisational psychology (6 points)
PSY3122 Experiential introduction to counselling (6 points)
PSY3131 Health psychology (6 points)
PSY3142 Psychology and the law (6 points)

Diploma in Psychology

This course is offered to undergraduates who wish to complete an accredited undergraduate major in psychology while undertaking a concurrent degree, and who meet the quota requirements for Psychology 1A. The course structure is identical to the undergraduate major sequence in psychology. This course replaces enrolment in single psychology subjects. Details of the Diploma of Psychology are included elsewhere in this handbook.

Graduate Diploma in Psychology

This course replaces enrolment in single psychology subjects. Entry will be open to graduates who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline. Selection will be based on academic merit, in particular, academic merit in the final year of study. The course structure is identical to the undergraduate major sequence in psychology. Details of the Graduate Diploma in Psychology are included elsewhere in this handbook.

Further study in psychology

Students completing a degree with a major sequence in psychology will be eligible to apply for entry to a fourth year in psychology through an honours year, the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Caulfield) and the Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology (by distance education mode at Gippsland). Masters and doctoral degrees are available by coursework and/or research after completion of a fourth year of study in psychology.

Further information

Caulfield section: telephone 9903 2691
Clayton section: telephone 9905 3968
Gippsland section: telephone 9902 6766