M5003 - Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced - 2017

This course will provide students with advanced knowledge in specific areas of the science and practice of psychology. Specifically, students will expand their knowledge of psychological assessment and intervention, ethics of psychological research and practice, careers, professional development and employability, and research methods and statistics, as part of an online learning community. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to broaden their understanding of clinical and developmental neuroscience, and explore contemporary applications of psychology.

Students also undertake a supervised research project, which provides training in both discipline-specific and generic research skills. The project will increase students' understanding of theoretical and methodological aspects of research, and develop their analytic, research and communication skills, and forms the basis of a research paper presented at the end of the course.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

1. investigate and critically evaluate theories, research and current issues 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. contribute to discipline knowledge through research, including critical review of scientific literature, identification of research problems, design and conduct of research, application of statistical analyses to evaluate research outcomes, and clear communication of findings according to the professional requirements of the discipline
3. evaluate 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
4. recognise the importance of the relationship between knowledge of the scientific discipline of psychology and the application of this knowledge in the practice of psychology, and to demonstrate this understanding across a number of applications of the discipline
5. demonstrate the skills required to maintain professional competence by keeping up with recent developments and contemporary issues in the field and appreciate the importance of ongoing professional development and training and demonstrate a foundation knowledge in a selected range of related discipline areas that complement the theoretical and practical application of psychology
6. explain the transferable skills and knowledge specific to the discipline of psychology and demonstrate the application of these psychology-related attributes for professional or highly skilled workplace settings and/or further learning.

Refer to the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) (https://www.psychologycouncil.org.au/) website.

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Core units, Part B. Research units and Part C. Elective units. All students complete all parts.

Part A. Core units

These units will address core issues in modern psychology, along with ethics and evidence-based approaches to psychological assessment and intervention. Building a strong foundation in your understanding of psychology and neuroscience will enable you to appreciate the major challenges in psychology today and in the future. These units will also provide you with the ability to identify and enhance specific employability skills acquired throughout the undergraduate study of psychology.

Part B. Research units

These units will develop your understanding of scientific methodology, statistics, and their application in psychology. You will learn to critically evaluate contemporary claims relating to human behaviour and mental processes and apply your understanding to a generation of new research questions. You will design, conduct, analyse and communicate your own novel and scientifically rigorous study, investigating a current research topic.

Part C. Elective units

These studies will enable you to further develop your knowledge of psychology through a choice of electives covering contemporary topics in the field - such as mental health and illness, or developmental clinical psychology.

The course comprises 48 points structured into three parts: Part A. Core units (18 points), Part B. Research units (24 points) and Part C. Elective units (6 points).

All units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/maps/map-m5003.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Part A. Core units (18 points)

Students complete:

• PSY4405 Ethical and professional issues in psychology
• PSY4406 Psychological assessment and intervention
• PSY4407 Psychology in industry - Pathways to employment

Part B. Research units (24 points)

Students complete:

• PSY4401 Psychology research project - Statistics and research design for professional psychology
• PSY4402 Psychology research project - Literature review
• PSY4403 Psychology research project - Methodology and data collection
• PSY4404 Psychology research project - Research report
• PSY4400 Psychology research project: Final grade (0 points)*

* This unit will be taken concurrently with PSY4404.

Part C. Elective units (6 points)

Students complete one of the following:

• PSY4408 Perspectives in clinical and developmental neuroscience
• PSY4409 21st century applications of psychology

Students complete a research project (24 points) that can provide a pathway to a higher degree by research.

A four year sequence is required for further postgraduate study (e.g., PhD, DPsych) and to practice as a clinical psychologist. In order to practice as a psychologist, you must meet the requirements of the Psychology Board of AustraliaPsychology Board of Australia (http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/). The academic requirement for registration is a university degree including four years progressive study in psychology. By satisfying Victorian registration, students will comply with the registration requirements of other states in Australia.