Undergraduate - Area of study Psychology

Curriculum

The Monash psychology curriculum is research-led, and is based on the principle that training in the discipline of psychology should follow the scientist-practitioner model, where learning about professional practice is taught within the scientific perspective. Students are then able to make informed choices about psychology-related careers and further training at the fourth year and postgraduate level (where available and if students are eligible), which is a requirement to practice as a psychologist in Australia.

The School of Psychological Sciences offers a common psychology curriculum accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) at the Australian campuses and Monash University Malaysia.

Accredited and non-accredited study options

Accredited and non-accredited psychology majors are available at Monash campuses as outlined below. For the correct sequence of units required students should refer to the information for the managing faculty of the course in which they are enrolled and also to their course entry.

Accredited major / accredited courses

The 60-point APAC-accredited major, when studied within an accredited course* is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), and approved for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA). Note: Students cannot practice as a psychologist until they have completed honours and further postgraduate requirements and are registered with the PBA.

* For the list of APAC-accredited courses refer to the notes in the 'Relevant courses' section below.

Non-accredited major

A 48-point non-APAC accredited psychology major can be completed in selected single or double degree courses and may be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for that course, but is not APAC-accredited and will not permit entry to fourth-year or honours programs in psychology at Monash.

Progression to honours

The 60-point APAC-accredited major, when studied within an accredited course is the only sequence leading to further study at honours and postgraduate levels at Monash.

Units

APAC-accredited 60-point major

Students complete ten 6-credit-point units (nine core units and one elective unit) from the lists below.

Core units

• PSY1011 Psychology 1A
• PSY1022 Psychology 1B
• PSY2031 Developmental and biological psychology
• PSY2042 Cognitive and social psychology
• PSY2051 Research design and analysis
• PSY3032 Abnormal psychology
• PSY3041 Psychological testing, theories of ability and ethics
• PSY3051 Perception and personality
• PSY3062 Research methods and theory

Elective units

• PSY2112 Organisational psychology (Malaysia only)
• PSY3120 Introduction to counselling
• PSY3130 Health psychology
• PSY3150 Contemporary social psychology
• PSY3180 Human neuropsychology: Developmental and neurodegenerative disorders
• PSY3190 Addiction studies
• PSY3230 Psychological foundations of the law
• PSY3240 Psychology of music
• PSY3250 Positive psychology
• PSY3260 Advances in psychology, mental health and neuroscience
• PSY3270 Neuroscience of cognition behaviour
• PSY3280 The neuronal basis of consciousness

Standard 48-point major and 24-point minor

Students complete units from the above list of core and elective units as indicated in the managing faculty entry for the course in which they are completing their psychology units, minor or major. Refer to the index of psychology areas of study by facultypsychology areas of study by faculty (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/psychology/).

For information about unit choices contact ug.psych@monash.edu.