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Monash University

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Behavioural studies - Faculty of Arts

Offered by the School of Political and Social Inquiry
Campus availability: Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton

NOTE: A first-year sequence only is offered on the Berwick campus. Berwick students wishing to complete a minor or major in behavioural studies will need to travel to the Clayton or Caulfield campus.

NOTE: From 2005 the 'behavioural studies programs' offered at Gippsland campus and via off-campus learning were renamed 'Psychological sudies' - those students refer to the Psychological studies entry in this section of the Handbook.

Relevant courses

  • 3784 Diploma in Arts (Behavioural Studies)
  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts (and associated double degrees)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 1275 Bachelor of Communication (and associated double degrees)
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters

At Monash the field of behavioural studies is concerned with an exploration of human behaviour in the rapidly changing, and challenging environments of the 21st century. The major draws on historical and emerging insights from sociological, cultural, philosophical, biological and psychological explanations of human behaviours. Behavioural studies promotes a multi-disciplinary orientation to the study of a range of issues including the following: the relationships between the individual and the social; human relationships; theories of personality, identity, self and others; explanations of criminal behaviours; individual development across the lifecourse; conflict and difference; the self in digital environments.

The discipline offers an undergraduate program (minor and major) at the Clayton and Caulfield campuses, an honours program at the Caulfield campus and selected undergraduate units at the Berwick campus.

A major in behavioural studies can play a vital part in preparing students for employment in most areas that involve the understanding, management and direction of human behaviours and relations, particularly in private and public sector areas such as the human services field, management, marketing, communications and media. It can also provide a basis for further studies in social work, education, mind and society, counselling and law.

Sequences

First year sequence

A first year sequence in Behavioural studies consists of BHS1711 and BHS1712 (previously BHS1320 and BHS1340).

Please note students are not permitted to study both BHS1711/BHS1712 (or previous codes) and PSY1011/PSY1022.

For the purposes of a major or minor in Behavioural studies the following first-year level combinations may also be counted as a first-year level sequence in Behavioural studies:

Minor sequence

Students complete a standard minor chosen from the core units below.

Major sequence

Students complete a standard major chosen from units below and including four core units and four electives.

Important - pre 2005 information

NOTE: Students who started Behavioural studies prior to first semester 2005 can count the following toward a behavioural studies minor or major as indicated:

  • minor - BHS1711, BHS1712 plus any two BHS coded second or third year level units
  • major - BHS1711, BHS1712 plus any two BHS coded second or third year level units and any four of the elective units listed below.

Units

First-year level

  • BHS1711 Understanding human behaviour
  • BHS1712 Introduction to social behaviour

A first year sequence in Behavioural studies consists of BHS1711 and BHS1712 (previously BHS1320 and BHS1340).

Please note students are not permitted to study both BHS1711/BHS1712 (or previous codes) and PSY1011/PSY1022.

For the purposes of a major or minor in Behavioural studies the following first-year level combinations may also be counted as a first-year level sequence in Behavioural studies:

Second/Third-year level

Students completing a major in Behavioural studies must complete at least three units at a third-year level.

Core units
  • BHS2490/BHS3490 The self and others: Identity and the experience of difference in the 21st Century (previously: Relationships: You, me, us and them)
  • BHS2110/BHS3110 Researching behaviour: Principles and practice
Elective units

Plus four of the following

* Not offered in 2009

Contact details

Email psi@arts.monash.edu.au

Visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/psi

Enquiries (Clayton): room W1017, West Wing, Menzies building; +61 3 9905 2443

Enquiries (Caulfield): room H5.31, building H; Telephone +61 3 9903 2378