- 2017

Undergraduate

Minor / Extended major

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2017 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook.

Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the component of any bachelors double degrees.

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Managing faculty

Faculty of Arts

Offered by

South Africa School of Social Science

Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Maria Damianova; maria.damianova@monash.edu

Location

South Africa

Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. It is a broad scientific discipline that includes investigations of the brain, learning, memory, reasoning, decision making, language, developmental and social processes, personality, and mental health and well-being. It is also concerned with practical and ethical applications of psychological research to the profession. The Psychology major is research-led and based on the scientist-practitioner model of education whereby you will learn about psychology within a scientific perspective.

This major and minor in psychology is suitable for students who have an interest in psychology or for whom the study of psychology complements their other expertise. (Note: It is not the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited pathway to becoming a specialist psychologist in Australia.)

Registration

Prospective students should note that the minimum requirements for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a psychologist (clinical, counselling, industrial, research, or educational) include completion of a directed master's degree in psychology, full-time approved internship of 12 months duration, as well as a successful completion of the National Examination of the Professional Board for Psychology. In addition, the HPCSA requires completion of community service in some specialisations.

Availability

Psychology is offered in the Bachelor of Social Science at Monash South Africa as a major or minor.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:

  1. describe and discuss theories and research in the core discipline areas of psychology - perception, cognition, learning, motivation, emotion, language, social and biological bases of behaviour, abnormal psychology, lifespan development, individual differences, history and philosophy of psychology, testing, assessment, intercultural and indigenous psychology
  2. describe and discuss the ethical standards and legislative frameworks governing research and practice in psychology, and demonstrate an appreciation of the role of ethics in maintaining the integrity of the profession.

Units

Minor requirements (24 points)

No more than 12 points may be credited to the minor at level 1.

Students complete:

  1. Two level 1 units (12 points):
    • AZA1019 Psychology: Introduction 1A
    • AZA1020 Psychology: Introduction 1B
  2. Two additional units (12 points) listed under the major. It is highly recommended that students complete a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit

Extended major requirements (60 points)

No more than 12 points may be at level 1 and at least 24 points must be completed at level 3.

Students complete:

  1. Two level 1 units (12 points):
    • AZA1019 Psychology: Introduction 1A
    • AZA1020 Psychology: Introduction 1B
  2. Four level 2 units (24 points):
    • AZA2015 Biological and cognitive psychology
    • AZA2455 Child and adult development
    • AZA2490 Research assessment
    • AZA2495 Social and community psychology
  3. Four level 3 units (24 units):

Free electives

In addition to the major or minor, the following recommended units can be completed as free electives in Part C. of 4086 Bachelor of Social Science:

  • AZA2460 Industrial and organisational psychology
  • AZA3360 Psychotherapy and counselling

Relevant courses

Successful completion of the minor or extended major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*

  • 4086 Bachelor of Social Science

Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor by using 24 points of their free electives.

* Students cannot complete both the minor and extended major in the same area of study.