Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Course

This course provides an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited fifth and sixth-year sequence in psychology and prepares graduates to practise as educational and developmental psychologists in schools, hospitals, clinics and private practices. For more detailed information regarding the role and employment prospects of educational and developmental psychologists, students should consult the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists, Australian Psychological Society.

The course aims to develop graduates as independent specialist professionals with a commitment to life long learning of the theoretical, research, assessment, and therapeutic skills involved in educational and developmental psychology. It aims to develop the ability to think critically and analytically about the processes involved in educational and developmental psychology. Within the context of sound ethical principals, competencies applicable across the lifespan will be developed through collaborative participation in coursework lectures and workshops, research, and practicum placements across a variety of settings under the supervision of experienced specialist practitioners.

Competencies include high professional standards in:

• the administration and interpretation of a comprehensive range of psychological, educational and developmental tests and assessments
• planning, implementation and evaluation of evidence based interventions with individuals, groups and systemically
• the capacity for effective consultation and collaboration across a diverse range of organisational contexts including educational, health and welfare, care facilities, business and corporate.

Undertaking their minor research thesis, students will develop as scientist-practitioners, carrying out reviews and scientific investigations relevant to the theory and practice of educational and developmental psychology.

Clinical practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus clinical placements. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit. In the clinical setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision.

Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the unit will be denied. A student may be withdrawn from a clinical practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Clinical expenses

Students are responsible for all uniforms and accessories, travel and accommodation expenses during clinical placement and will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.

Off-campus students' compulsory residentials

Students enrolled in off-campus mode will be required to attend a compulsory one-week (35 hour) residential school at the Clayton campus for each of the four core units.

On commencing the program and prior to commencing their placement, students must submit proof of provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and a satisfactory Victorian government Working with Children Check (details available at http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren).

Graduates qualify for registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and meet most requirements for membership of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society.

This courses comprises advanced coursework, supervised practica and a research thesis. Research supervision will be by telephone, email and/or residential workshop.

Note: Coursework units are only offered in alternate years.

Coursework

Core units

• EDF6504 Developmental psychology and counselling
• EDF6510 Exceptionality: Assessment, intervention and research
• EDF6511 Cognitive, personality and educational assessment
• EDF6512 Clinical interventions in educational and developmental psychology

Practica and research thesis

In the second year (full-time) or third and fourth years (part-time), students undertake supervised practica and complete a research thesis on a topic relevant to the discipline of educational and developmental psychology.

• EDF6507 Clinical placement in psychology 1
• EDF6508 Clinical placement in psychology 2
• EDF6509 Clinical placement in psychology 3
• EDF6535 Psychology thesis part 1
• EDF6536 Psychology thesis part 2

NOTE: Unit availability may change. Students should consult http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/current/timetables and talk with their course adviser to assist in planning their program.

To satisfy entry requirements for doctoral-level studies (ie PhD), applicants need to have completed research at either masters or honours level. Master of Psychology by coursework candidates who wish to proceed to a doctoral course must achieve a grade of distinction or higher for the research thesis and an average of distinction or higher in the coursework units for doctoral-level eligibility. Students enrolled in the MPsych(Ed&Dev) who achieve a high distinction average in two of the core units (one of which must be the research project unit) and a minimum overall average of high distinction over all four core units will be eligible to apply for articulation to the combined Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) and Doctor of Philosophy program.

Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental)