Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology

• General
• Objectives
• Admission requirements
• Unsatisfactory progress
• Course structure

General

Caulfield campus

Coordinator: Ms Christine Ffrench

Objectives

This course offered by the Caulfield section of the Department of Psychology has been designed to:

• develop knowledge and skills fundamental to applied psychology;
• give first-hand experience in a field of applied psychology;
• help students to explore their own interests and capacities in that field;
• prepare students to undertake higher degrees in applied psychology;
• develop students' skills in presenting oral and written reports, and in leading small group discussion;
• deepen students' understanding of professional responsibilities, standards of performance, legal requirements and ethical issues;
• meet the requirements of the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria for registration as a probationary psychologist;
• meet the requirements of the Australian Psychological Society for Associate Membership.

Admission requirements

A degree and an accredited major in psychology with 70 per cent average or better.

Unsatisfactory progress

Students who do not pass at least half of the subjects taken in the year of enrolment will be liable for exclusion.

Course structure

The course as currently accredited, comprises six semester subjects of study. These subjects may be completed in one year of full-time study or on a part-time basis, usually over two years. The sequence in which subjects are undertaken may be varied (within timetabling constraints) according to the experience, interests, career plans and enrolment status (full or part-time) of individual students, in consultation with the graduate diploma course leader. It is not advisable for a student to attempt the research project before undertaking APY4030, the multivariate data analysis subject. The six subjects, which are described in the chapter `Subjects', are:

• APY4010 Advanced psychological assessment and classification
• APY4020 Changing behaviour
• APY4030 Multivariate data analysis
• APY4040 Professional placement I
• APY4050 Professional placement II
• APY4060 Applied research project

APY4030 requires class attendance of two hours per week for two semesters. APY4040 and APY4050 involve thirty days attendance in a psychology placement setting. Placements are arranged by the department. In addition, there are fortnightly seminars of two hours duration in which ethical, professional and legal issues are addressed.

APY4060 requires the student to design and carry out an applied research project. Fortnightly seminars are held and each student is obliged to see his or her supervisor approximately once a week in order to facilitate the successful completion of the project.

The typical class attendance time for full-time students is eight hours a week and for part-time students varies between two and six hours per week depending on the combination of subjects. Part-time students usually undertake APY4010, APY4020 and APY4030 in the first year, and APY4040, APY4050 and APY4060 in the second year.

Prospective students are advised that the structure of the course is being reviewed in light of new guidelines from the Australian Psychological Society and may be changed slightly. However, the general objectives of the course will be maintained and the workload will not be increased.