MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS
Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996
Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Psychology
Psychology is the science of behaviour and the mind. The Psychology section is
part of the Department of Psychology and the School of Applied Science in the
Faculty of Science, which offers psychology courses on all campuses of the
university. Psychology studies available on the Gippsland campus include an
undergraduate major in psychology which may be included in either a Bachelor of
Arts (Psychology and Humanities) or a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences, two
fourth-year courses (an honours program and the Graduate Diploma in Counselling
Psychology), as well as higher research degrees.
Undergraduate studies
The psychology major offered by the Gippsland section of the Department of
Psychology aims to provide a comprehensive coverage of the discipline of
psychology. The Gippsland major has an emphasis on the study of human behaviour
in its social context, and its applications in clinical, organisational,
educational and other settings. The psychology major is accredited by the
Australian Psychological Society. This means that students who complete a major
in psychology will have fulfilled the first three years of the four-year
academic requirement for associate membership of the Australian Psychological
Society and will thus be eligible for an accredited fourth-year course in
psychology. Details of postgraduate courses in psychology are included in the
Faculty of Science handbook.
On completion of the major in psychology, students are expected to:
+ understand the role of empirical research and theory in progressing
knowledge in the discipline of psychology;
+ appreciate the contribution of biological processes in human and animal
behaviour, and how they interact with environmental factors;
+ have a sound understanding of the major theoretical foundations of
psychology and research results on which these are based in the major sub-areas
of perception, learning and cognition, motivation and emotion, personality,
developmental psychology and social psychology;
+ be aware of the range of applications of these theoretical foundations
in education, clinical and business settings, and a detailed basic knowledge of
at least one important area of professional psychology (such as clinical
psychology, organisational psychology, health psychology or community
psychology);
+ understand the methods of research in psychology, and be able to
demonstrate competence in research design and conduct of research and
statistical analysis to a level that will enable them to undertake an
independent research study at fourth-year level;
+ have met the academic requirements for three-year sequences in
psychology specified by the Australian Psychological Society and Victorian
Psychologists Registration Board and be qualified to enter fourth-year courses
in psychology.
Compulsory attendance requirements
Most psychology subjects include a component requiring on-campus attendance by
distance education students. This will require one full day at first and second
levels and two full days at third level. Some subjects do not require
attendance, and alternatives to attendance are available for first level and
some second-level subjects. Details will be specified for each subject.
Requirements of the major in psychology
A major in psychology in the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities) must
consist of at least nine subjects, including at least four subjects at third
level. Subject GAS2504 is a compulsory subject in the psychology major.
The major is structured into three distinct levels. The requirements of each
level must be completed before students are eligible to study at the next
level.
Level one
Students must complete the following subjects before being eligible to enrol in
second-level subjects:
+ GAS1501 Introduction to psychology A
+ GAS1502 Introduction to psychology B
Level two
Students must complete
+ GAS2504 Research methods in psychology I
and at least two other subjects at second level before being eligible to enrol
in third-level subjects.
+ GAS2501 Personality psychology
+ GAS2503 Developmental psychology
+ GAS2505 Biological psychology
Note: Students who have completed GAS2502 Social and community psychology, may
count this towards meeting level two requirements.
Level three
Students must complete at least four subjects at third level, GAS3505 is
strongly recommended.
+ GAS3502 Abnormal psychology
+ GAS3503 Organisational psychology
+ GAS3504 Cognitive psychology
+ GAS3505 Research methods in psychology II
+ GAS3506 Experimental social psychology
+ GAS3509 Experimental psychology: techniques and applications
Note: Students who have completed GAS3501 Biological psychology may count this
towards meeting third level requirements.
Psychology honours
Graduates from Gippsland and elsewhere may apply for entry to the Department of
Psychology honours program. This is a common program offered on the Clayton,
Caulfield and Gippsland campuses. Students may specify a preferred campus in
their application. Entry requirements are a BA, BBSc or BSc degree with an
accredited major sequence in psychology. An average grade of at least credit
level in the psychology major is normally required for entry into honours.
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