Master of Psychology (Health)

• Aims
• Professional recognition
• Entry requirements
• Special requirements
• Attendance
• Course structure
  • Major studies
• Assessment
• Credits/exemptions
• Further information
• Completed applications

Course code: 3502 + Caulfield campus (off-campus distributed learning) + Full-fee paying course: (fee TBA)

Aims

On completion of the course, students will have:

• developed skills in consultation with individuals, organisations, and community groups about psychosocial development and adaptation, particularly in rural and remote regions
• developed an understanding of the biopsychosocial bases of health and illness
• developed skills in the design and implementation of psychosocial programs to promote and maintain health, prevent and treat illness, and rehabilitate persons with disability, particularly in rural and remote areas
• gained advanced knowledge of sociocultural factors associated with health and illness, organisational structures and the function of health care systems in rural and remote areas
• gained advanced knowledge of the different models of health care, of issues associated with chronic health problems, of important elements in the patient- practitioner relationship, and of factors in the process of adjustment to loss, particularly in rural and remote areas
• developed skills in the psychological treatments relevant to health and illness (eg pain management, addiction)
• formulated, carried out and reported independent research
• applied research principles, methods and findings to professional practice
• developed skills in evaluation, selection, administration and interpretation of a range of psychometric tests
• understood and applied the APS Code of Professional Conduct to research and practice.

Professional recognition

The program has been designed to be consistent with the requirements of the:

• Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria for registration as a psychologist and for specialist registration as a health psychologist. Students are able to apply for registration as a psychologist at the completion of the program.
• Australian Psychological Society for membership and for associate membership of the College of Health Psychologists.

Entry requirements

Students should possess a minimum of a second class honours degree in psychology or equivalent from an APS-accredited program. Students should therefore be eligible for associate membership of the APS. Suitability to the role of a professional working in the public arena will be assessed by interview and referees' reports. Students must be registered as a probationary psychologist at the beginning of the course to qualify for legal registration as a psychologist in the State of Victoria at the completion of the program.

Special requirements

The off-campus distributed learning mode will require access to a personal computer (preferably a Pentium 111) with a minimum memory of 16KB RAM and a CD-ROM drive to complete assignments and conduct analyses necessary for a research thesis. Students must also have access to the internet.

Attendance

Attendance at residential schools is compulsory throughout the four years of the program. There will be one five-day compulsory residential school per semester. The first of three supervised placements (42 days each) will begin in year two and will continue through the remainder of the program. Work towards the research thesis will also commence in year two and continue until the completion of the course.

Course structure

The course is offered over four years part-time.

Major studies

The following units will be offered in first year:

• MHP5011 Introduction to health psychology
• MHP5021 Professional psychology in rural and remote communities
• MHP5032 Health promotion
• MHP5042 Counselling for rural practitioners

Assessment

The program will have three components:

• Coursework - eight six-point units (50 per cent)
• Research thesis - minor thesis (25 per cent)
• Three supervised placements - 42 days each (25 per cent)

A pass in all components is required for satisfactory completion of the course.

Credits/exemptions

There will be scope for students who have completed coursework and/supervised placements of equivalent standing to those in the program to be granted an exemption for the relevant component(s) of up to 50% of the coursework units. Appropriate methods of assessment of equivalence of prior study will be applied either through a viva, written examination, submission of referees' reports and/or presentation of written work. Credit will not be given for previous research.

Further information

For more detailed information, contact Dr Sue Burney, course coordinator, Department of Psychology, Caulfield campus, telephone (03) 9903 2437 or email sue.burney@sci.monash.edu.au. Application forms are available from the Administrative Officer (Postgraduate Studies), telephone (03 9905 3975.

Completed applications

Applicants should complete and submit the following forms:

• Monash University Off-campus Distributed Learning Application for Admission 2002
• Master of Psychology (Health) application form

Completed applications are to be forwarded to the Administration Officer (Postgraduate Studies), Department of Psychology, Monash University Clayton Campus, Victoria 3800, by 31 October 2001. Late applications may be considered.

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