Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
+ a fundamental understanding of major principles in behavioural science;
+ detailed knowledge of a range of areas and theoretical issues drawn from the biological, social and cognitive aspects of the discipline;
+ been exposed to a broad cross-section of topics relevant to contemporary applied and professional psychology;
+ a good understanding of research and evaluation methods in psychology;
+ developed skills in the application of statistical techniques;
+ acquired competence in applying psychological tests.
Courses accredited by the Australian Psychological Society, and approved for registration purposes by the Victorian Psychological Council and the Psychologists' Registration Board are offered at Clayton, Caulfield, Gippsland and Peninsula campuses.
The Gippsland section offers its program through two degrees available both on the Gippsland campus and by distance education. The section is part of the School of Applied Science. The Bachelor of Behavioural Science is offered by the Faculty of Science, and details of this course are included in the Gippsland section of this handbook. The psychology major sequence is also included in the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Humanities), details of which are provided in the Faculty of Arts handbook. Subjects offered by the Gippsland section may be included in other degree programs with permission.
It should be noted the first-year programs taught in the three sections are regarded as equivalent in terms of being able to progress to higher-year subjects.
Subjects are available full-time and part-time on Caulfield and Peninsula campuses. Evening classes are offered on Caulfield campus only.
First-year subjects, APY1010 and APY1020, provide a general introduction to psychology as a science, with practical work programs to augment the material provided in the lectures. In second year, APY2010 provides a core program in developmental psychology supplemented by study modules in physiological psychology, and research design. This subject is offered in first semester. In the second semester, APY2020 offers programs of study in personality, social psychology and research design.
There is no choice of subjects in first and second years, and subjects must be completed in the order APY1010, APY1020, APY2010, APY2020.
In third year, the subjects offered develop the applied nature of psychology in several different fields. APY3010 deals with psychology in the industrial setting, with programs of study in psychological assessment and classification, education and training, and vocational development. APY3020 deals with organisational behaviour and human factors. Students must also complete APY3040, the central themes of which are theory, research and experimental methods in psychology. A sequence in psychology consists of APY3010, APY3040, APY3020 and one of APY3030, APY3050, APY3060, APY3070, APY3080, APY3090 or APY3100 (subject to approval)
Entry to the honours year APY4000 is by application and requires at least an average of a credit in third-year psychology subjects.
Further information may be obtained from the Caulfield/ Peninsula section - telephone 9903 2247.
The section also offers a non-laboratory course in psychology for students specialising in another subject for whom a sound knowledge of psychology is either required or desirable, and for those who have a general interest in the content and methods of contemporary psychology.
+ PSY1011 Foundations of psychology
+ PSY1022 Processes and applications of psychology
+ PSY2011 Cognitive psychology and the origins of behaviour I
+ PSY2022 Cognitive psychology and the origins of behaviour II
+ PSY3011 Advanced experimental psychology I
+ PSY3022 Advanced experimental psychology II
Each of these semester-long subjects must be taken in the order listed and each is examined at the end of the semester in which it is undertaken.
The subjects in the first two semesters (PSY1011 and PSY1022) are carefully designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to contemporary psychology emphasising its empirical origins and character, and its biological and social foundations. The subjects in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth semesters (PSY2011, PSY2022, PSY3011 and PSY3022) are designed to develop and extend the introduction in the first and second semesters. At the second-year level, subjects are unitised, with separate lecture and laboratory units.
Entry into the second-year sequence will be subject to a quota, and a quota may also apply to the third-year sequence.
The laboratory course in psychology, with its strong emphasis on the experimental study of mental processes and behaviour and on quantitative procedures, is well suited to students who have completed a science-oriented program in the final years at school, particularly in year 12.
Completion of the laboratory sequence with at least a credit grade in PSY3011 and PSY3022 is necessary to qualify for entry into PSY4000 (Psychology honours). PSY4000 is undertaken over two semesters and involves an introduction to independent research in psychology and instruction in advanced aspects of modern psychology.
While laying a firm foundation for a professional career in psychology, the laboratory sequence is not intended to equip the student fully with professional skills and knowledge for psychological practice. In this regard the course is in accord with all other courses in psychology in Australia leading to a first degree in psychology.
Further information about these undergraduate programs may be obtained from the Clayton section - telephone (03) 9905 3968.