The Department of Psychology is developing a new common curriculum across all campuses. In its curriculum development the department has endorsed the view of the Australian Psychological Society that training in the discipline occurs within the context of the scientist-practitioner model. A student does not decide to become either a scientist or a practitioner; rather, professional practice is embedded within the scientific perspective. This is the philosophy underlying the decision to create a core curriculum, with students then being in a position to make informed choices about psychology-related careers and further training at the fourth year and postgraduate level.
Students completing their degree in psychology will have:
The Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Science consists of three sections: Caulfield, Clayton and Gippsland. Psychology programs are taught at all three campuses. The department offers subjects for students who intend to specialise in psychology by completing a major sequence in the subject, with the option of proceeding to a degree with honours, or into postgraduate programs of study. Caulfield offers evening as well as day classes, and at Gippsland psychology studies can be undertaken on-campus or through the distance education study mode.
Unless otherwise specified, all psychology programs offered by the department are accredited by the Australian Psychological Society and approved for registration purposes by the Psychologists' Registration Board of Victoria.
The Department of Psychology's new common curriculum commenced in 1997 when the common first-year psychology program was introduced on all campuses. In 1998 the common second-year will be introduced. Third-year subjects will remain specific to each campus in 1998, and the common third-year program will commence in 1999.
Students wishing to take a major in psychology will complete the following semester-length subjects in sequence:
See notes below for each campus.
In third year students must complete three six-point core subjects (APY3010, APSY3020, APY3040) and one six-point elective subject (APY3030, APY3050, APY3060, APY3070, APY3080 or APY3090).
Students must complete both core subjects PSY3011 and PSY3022 (twelve points each).
Students must complete at least four subjects at third-year level from GAS3502, GAS3503, GAS3504, GAS3505, GAS3506, GAS3509 (six points each). GAS3505 is strongly recommended, and is a prerequisite for entry to the honours year in psychology. Students who have completed GAS3501 may count this towards meeting level-three requirements.
1998 is the last year in which the non-laboratory sequence will be offered. In 1998 only PSY3031 (Advanced contemporary psychology I) and PSY3042 (Advanced contemporary psychology II) will be offered to students with the prerequisites of PSY1011, PSY1022, PSY2011 or PSY2031, and PSY2022 or PSY2042. Students should note that the sequences PSY2031 and PSY2042 and PSY3031 and PSY3042 are not accredited by the Australian Psychological Society, will not allow for registration as a psychologist, and do not lead on to honours in psychology.
This course will replace enrolment in single psychology subjects. Entry will be open to graduates who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline. Selection will be based on academic merit, in particular, academic merit in the final year of study. The course structure is identical to the undergraduate major sequence in psychology. Details of the Graduate Diploma in Psychology are included elsewhere in this handbook.
Students completing a degree with a major sequence in psychology will be eligible to apply for entry to a fourth year in psychology through an honours year, the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Caulfield) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (by distance education mode at Gippsland). Masters and doctoral degrees are available by coursework and/or research after completion of a fourth year of study in psychology.
Caulfield section: telephone 9903 2691
Clayton section: telephone 9905 3968
Gippsland section: telephone 9902 6766