Monash University: University Handbooks: Off-Campus Distributed Learning 2002: All Units (Both On- and Off-Campus) Indexed by Faculty
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Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities)/Bachelor of Social Welfare


Course code: 1798 + Gippsland campus + HECS fees applicable + Attendance compulsory in some units

Aims

This course allows students to combine the study of psychology with the specific vocational qualifications available within the social welfare field. Students will graduate with a major in psychology that is recognised by the Australian Psychological Society, and will also possess a full welfare qualification, recognised by the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers.

Professional recognition

The major sequence in psychology is a common program offered on the Caulfield, Clayton and Gippsland campuses by the Department of Psychology. The APS (Australian Psychological Society)-accredited major comprises 10 six-point units: nine core units and one elective unit. This course is also recognised by the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers.

Entry requirements

All applicants should satisfy the university's minimum entry requirements as outlined in the section on entry requirements in this guide.
In addition to meeting standard entry requirements, all applicants are required to complete a social welfare course administration form. If you did not receive this form with this guide, it can be obtained from the Course Inquiries Centre, telephone 1800 671845 or from the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences on (03) 5122 6339 or (03) 9902 6339. Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of information contained in this form, for a more detailed selection process. Applicants are strongly advised that academic criteria are not the only ones for entry into the course. Other factors such as work and life experience, personal qualities and maturity are taken into account.

Special requirements

Work load

All applicants should be willing to undertake a normal initial work load of at least 24 points a year by off-campus distributed learning. Off-campus distributed learning students should note that this may have implications regarding eligibility for Austudy or similar schemes.

Attendance

Students must be aware of the attendance requirements for certain social welfare units and all psychology units, and should take the cost of this into account before applying for entry to the course.
Students in the double degree must attend the Gippsland campus for two residential workshops during the course, involving one two-day workshop, and one three-day workshop. Students will also be required to undertake a 16-day placement in their second year and a sixty-day field education placement during the final year of the program.
There is a compulsory attendance requirement for psychology units for off-campus distributed learning students. Most psychology units include a component requiring on-campus attendance. Details will be specified for each unit.

Course structure

The course of study is normally a minimum of eight years part-time by off-campus distributed learning. In order to meet the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities)/Bachelor of Social Welfare double degree a student must complete:
(a) three core units (18 points)

(b) a prescribed 14-unit sequence in social welfare (84 points)
(c) a psychology major (54 points). Students who wish to take the additional six points required for registration with the Australian Psychological Society may do so as part of their elective credit points.
(d) an arts minor (24 points)
(e) a total of 192 points (29 units).

Course plan

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

First semester

Second semester

Year 1

PSY1011 Psychology 1A
GSC1303 Foundations of interpersonal practice: casework and groupwork

PSY1022 Psychology 1B
GSC1304 Communication and counselling skills

Year 2

GSC1201 Sociological reflections on everyday life
AIS1010 Introduction to Australian Indigenous societies

GSC1202 Global sociology
GSC1305 Human services organisational practice

Year 3

Arts sequence (first level)
PSY2031 Developmental and biological psychology

GSC2311 Social welfare issues
Arts sequence (first level)

Year 4

GSC2303 Case management theory and practice
PSY2051 research design and analysis

PSY2042 cognitive and social psychology
Arts minor

Year 5

GSC2304 Community development
PSY3041 Psychological testing, theories of ability and ethics

PSY3062 Research methods and philosophy of psychology
GSC2310 Social policy: developing the links

Year 6

Arts minor
PSY3051 Perception and personality

PSY3032 Abnormal psychology
Arts elective

Year 7

GSC3306 Field education and practice
GSC3307 Human services management and practice

GSC3303 Insights into practice

Year 8

Psychology elective or arts elective

GSC3304 Paradigms of practice

Psychology major

The APS (Australian Psychological Society) -accredited major comprises 10 six-point units (60 points): nine core units and one elective unit. Some third-level electives may be undertaken at second level providing prerequisite and corequisites are met. An outline of the unit sequencing is included under the BA (Psychology and Humanities) entry.

Arts minor studies

An outline of each arts area and a list of the available units is included under the entry for the Bachelor of Arts.

Initial enrolment

Students entering the double degree program should normally enrol in four units in the first year, two in each semester. Normally, these will all be units that do not require prerequisites. The following is the suggested first-year enrolment:

First semester

Second semester

Advanced standing for previous studies

Students with previously completed or partially completed tertiary studies should complete an application for advanced standing 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. As a general rule, credits will not be granted for studies completed more than 10 years prior to the date of enrolment in the current course.

Further information

For more detailed information, contact the administrative officers, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, telephone (03) 9902 6339 or (03) 5122 6339, email humass.info@arts.monash.edu.au.

Completed applications

Completed applications are to be forwarded to the Admissions Officer, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Monash University Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria, 3842, by 30 October 2001 to be considered for a first-round offer.

Units

Details of the various arts sequences are included under the entry for the Bachelor of Arts. An outline of the psychology major sequence is included under the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) entry.

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