Course description
The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) provides high-level training in both academic and professional areas and is one of a few in Australia designed to maximise the proportion of Psychology topics that can be studied, while also providing a variety of elective options.
In the first 3 years, two thirds of your program will be in Psychology or related areas, with the remainder selected from other areas of the University. Psychology topics include interviewing, counselling, psychological assessment and professional practice.
Placement opportunities that provide practical experience in psychological settings are also provided. No other psychology course in Australia offers these opportunities in the first 3 years.
The compulsory Honours Year consists entirely of studies in Psychology, including a major thesis. Entry to the Honours year is conditional upon meeting minimum requirements in the first three years.
If you choose not to continue with the Honours Year, you may apply to graduate with the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology).
The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) was created to prepare graduates to work as professional psychologists in clinical, educational, organisational and academic settings.
What will I study?
Refer to the program of study.
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the science of the mind; the systematic study of behaviour.
Psychologists are interested in how we learn, think and interact with others, what motivates our actions and the role personality and individual differences plays in our behaviour.
Why study Psychology at Flinders?
* Our School of Psychology is one of the most respected in its field in Australia. Our achievements in teaching and research have been formally recognised as outstanding in a number of internal and external reviews over the past decade.
* Our School's strengths are broadly located in the areas of:
o applied cognitive psychology
o clinical/health psychology
o development across the lifespan
o social psychology
o psychophysiology/neuroscience.
* Our concentration of internationally renowned researchers in fundamental areas of human cognition address issues as diverse as autism, brain function, decision making, eating disorders, eyewitness memory, human adaptation throughout the lifespan, social justice, trauma reactions and sleep disorders.
* We actively support the teaching of psychology in high schools by running workshops and seminars for students and teachers, a continuing education program for teachers, and free online learning tools.
Professional recognition
The course is accredited by the Australian Psychological Society. The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) sets the standards for accreditation of Australian psychology programs.
The integrated 4 year program incorporates the Honours-level training that is the initial requirement for registration as a psychologist in Australia. Registration then requires a postgraduate qualification or 2 years' practical experience under a recognised supervision program.
Career opportunities
What can I do with my Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree?
Study a language
Flinders also offers all students the opportunity to major in a language in conjunction with any undergraduate course. The Diploma in Language is designed to provide students with competence in a chosen language that adds greater portability to their qualifications. You will complete a total of one extra year of study and graduate with both your chosen degree and the Diploma in Language. You can apply for this at time of enrolment.
The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time), including the compulsory honours program. The course is offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences.
PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]
To qualify for the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic. This must include:
* 64.5 units of Psychology topics;
* 9 units of First Year topics taken from the major sequence options in the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) topics, as set out below;
* 34.5 units of electives, which may be selected from any topics offered by the University provided entry and course requirements are met;
* the 36-unit Fourth Year program.
At least 27 units, but no more than 45 units, of First Year topics can be included in the 144 units.
All other components (a total of 108 units) must be completed before undertaking the Fourth Year program.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
The following may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress:
* the award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion; or
* failure to achieve a GPA of 5 (an average grade of CR) in all Second Year Psychology topics attempted; or
* failure to achieve a GPA of 5.25 in all Third Year Psychology topics attempted.
PSYCHOLOGY TOPICS
First Year
PSYC1101
Psychology 1A
4.5
PSYC1102
Psychology 1B
4.5
PSYC1103
Basics of Behavioural Research
4.5
Second Year
PSYC2009
Basic Research Design and Data Analysis
6
PSYC2013
Personality and Social Psychology
6
PSYC2016
Cognition and Learning
6
PSYC2017
Human Development
6
Third Year
PSYC3001
Research Methods
3
PSYC3043A
Ethics and Professional Practice in Psychology: Part 1
3
PSYC3043B
Ethics and Professional Practice in Psychology: Part 2
3
PSYC3044
Interviewing and Counselling
6
PSYC3045
Psychological Assessment: Basic Principles
3
AND AT LEAST 9 UNITS OF OTHER THIRD YEAR PSYCHOLOGY TOPICS FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST:
PSYC3031
Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
3
PSYC3033
Development During Adulthood and Ageing
3
PSYC3036
Psychophysiology of Awareness
3
PSYC3039
Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
3
PSYC3045
Psychological Assessment: Basic Principles
3
PSYC3048
Introduction to Neuropsychology
3
PSYC3049
Human Factors: Flying Planes, Virtual Reality and Human Error
3
PSYC3050
Child Development in a Cultural Context
3
PSYC3136
Psychophysiology of Awareness (Practical) #
3
PSYC3226
Forensic Psychology
3
PSYC3227
Motivation, Cognition and Emotion
3
PSYC3229
Psychology of Trauma
3
PSYC3230
Psychology of Food, Eating and Body Image
3
PSYC3232
Social Justice
3
PSYC3233
Psychology of Work and Organisations
3
PSYC3234
The Psychology of Emotions
3
# May only be taken in conjunction with PSYC3036.
Students must complete all First Year Psychology topics before commencing studies in the Third Year of the program. In special circumstances, the Head of School may approve topics other than those specified above, including those offered by any other Faculty or institution.
Not all elective topics are avalable every year.
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) students who choose not to continue with the honours program may wish to graduate at the end of their third year with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) degree. These students will be required to apply for permission to graduate with the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) degree. To qualify for this degree they will need to have completed a minimum of two levels of a Behavioural Science cognate sequence and have completed more than 75 units of the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree. Academic counselling should be sought and permission may be granted to vary the course rule to permit such graduations.
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE MAJOR SEQUENCE OPTIONS
Students must choose a minimum of 9 units of First Year topics from one of the following areas:
Biological Sciences
BIOL1101
Evolution of Biological Diversity
4.5
and either
BIOL1102
Molecular Basis of Life
4.5
or
BIOL1112
Biology and Society
4.5
Computer Science
COMP1101
Information Communication Technology 1A
4.5
COMP1102
Computer Programming 1
4.5
Criminal Justice
CRIM1003
Crime and Criminology
4.5
CRIM1004
Criminal Justice System
4.5
Students who have completed CRIM1001 but not CRIM1002 and now want to undertake a Criminal Justice major cannot take CRIM1003 and CRIM1004. Such students may take SOCI1007 Crime, Deviance and Social Control: Introduction to Sociological Ideas (4.5 units). Alternatively, they may take upper level topics only (all 6 units). In the latter case, they would in fact complete a total of 34.5 units.
Students who have completed CRIM1002 but not CRIM1001 can enrol in either CRIM1003 or CRIM1004.
Students who have completed CRIM2001 but neither CRIM1001 nor CRIM1002 can still take CRIM1003 but not CRIM1004. Such students may take SOCI1007 Crime, Deviance and Social Control: Introduction to Sociological Ideas (4.5 units). Alternatively, they may take upper level topics only (all 6 units). In the latter case, they would in fact complete a total of 34.5 units.
Disability Studies
DSRS1201
Perspectives of Disability and Rehabilitation
4.5
and one of:
DSRS1202
Lifespan Development
4.5
DSRS1206
Health Issues and Disability
4.5
DSRS1209
Human Diversity
4.5
DSRS1210
Interpersonal and Group Skills
4.5
DSRS1211
Introduction to Neurological Rehabilitation
4.5
Education Studies
EDUC1101
Key Educational Ideas
4.5
EDUC1201
Ways of Explaining Education
4.5
Health Studies
HLTH1003
Legal Ethical Aspects and Health Care
4.5
HLTH1004
Human Bioscience
4.5
Legal Studies
LEGL1001
Australian Legal System
4.5
LEGL1003
Contemporary Legal Issues
4.5
Management
BUSN1001
Accounting for Managers
4.5
BUSN1005
Introduction to Management
4.5
Neuroscience
BIOL1101
Evolution of Biological Diversity
4.5
BIOL1102
Molecular Basis of Life
4.5
Philosophy
Two of:
PHIL1001
What is Philosophy?
4.5
PHIL1010
Mind and World
4.5
PHIL1030
The Individual and Society
4.5
PHIL1060
Critical Reasoning
4.5
Public Policy Studies
POLI1003
Australian Politics: A Comparative Study
4.5
and one of the following:
INTR1007
Australia and the World
4.5
POLI1004
Modern Political Thought
4.5
POLI1005
Australian Politics: Aboriginal Issues and Immigration
4.5
POLI1008
Politics Through Film
4.5
POLI1009
Government, Business and Society
4.5
Sociology
Two of:
SOCI1002
Introduction to Social Analysis
4.5
SOCI1004
Youth, Consumerism and Social Identity: An Introduction to Sociology
4.5
SOCI1005
Emotions, Bodies and Society: An Introduction to Sociology
4.5
SOCI1006
Media, Culture and Society: An Introduction to Sociology
4.5
SOCI1007
Crime, Deviance and Social Control: An Introduction to Sociological Ideas
4.5
SOCI1009
Many Societies, One World: An Introduction to Sociology
4.5
Women's Studies
WMST1001
Sex, Gender and Identities in Australia*
4.5
WMST1002
Gender, Power and Change: Introducing Feminist Debates**
4.5
or one of the above topics plus one First Year from any Arts major or minor sequence in the BA
4.5
* Students taking WMST1001 may not enrol in WMST2005.
** Students taking WMST1002 may not enrol in WMST2007.
FOURTH YEAR PROGRAM
PSYC7000
Psychology Honours Thesis (Part 1 and Part 2)
18
PSYC7056
Research and Practice in Psychology (Part 1 and Part 2)
9
PSYC7058
Contemporary Issues in Psychology
6
and one of the following topics:
PSYC7041A
Sleep and Arousal Disorders
3
PSYC7059A
Applications of Psychology
3
