Programs of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering
Bachelor of Psychological Science (BVBBSW)
- Enquiries: (02) 6024 9895 – Psychology
- Fax: (02) 6024 9867
- Email: psych.aw.@latrobe.edu.au
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (BPsySc) is a coherent program of core areas of study in psychology that includes other units, such as biological and social aspects of behaviour deemed desirable to a broad education in behavioural science.
The course prepares students for careers in a range of settings including personnel, management, and mental health and human services. It is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
It is important to emphasise that the Bachelor of Psychological Science does not qualify a graduate to work as a psychologist. Further education, training and supervised experience is required for registration as a professional psychologist with the Psychologists’ Registration Boards of Victoria and New South Wales, and also for membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Course structure
The BPsySc may be undertaken in three years of full-time or equivalent part-time study. Students intending to study part-time should note that this means enrolling in a lesser workload, rather than studying after hours, as BPsySc units are not available as evening classes.
The degree requires the completion of 360 credit points, consisting of 120 credit points accrued from units taken at each of the first, second and third-year levels.
An additional requirement is that students must successfully complete a minimum of 150 credit points of psychology units across the three years of the degree, with no less than 120 credit points of psychology accrued from units at second and third-year level.
Note that the four third-year psychology units PSY3ANA, PSY3CDB, PSY3CFA, and PSY3SCB (each worth 20 credit points) will be available in alternate years. PSY3CFA and PSY3SCB will be available in 2008, PSY3ANA and PSY3CDB will be available in 2009.
Units taught by the School of Psychological Science and which are normally components of the degree are PSY1PYA, PSY1PYB, PSY1BNA, PSY1BNB, PSY2PYA, PSY2PYB, PSY3PYA, PSY3PYB, PSY3RSA and PSY3RSB.
(Full details of the units offered by the School of Psychological Science are available in the unit handbooks produced by the School in February of each year and the School website at www.latrobe.edu.au/psy).
First year (120 credit points)
Core units (75 credit points)
| Teaching period | Unit code | Credit points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Psychology A | PSY1PYA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Psychology B | PSY1PYB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Statistics for Psychology | STA1PSY | 15 |
| Either | |||
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to Behavioural Neuroscience A | PSY1BNA | 15 |
| and | |||
| TE-SEM-2 | Introduction to Behavioural Neuroscience B | PSY1BNB | 15 |
| or |
any other first-year biological science units totalling not less than 30 credit points.
Electives (45 credit points)
At least 30 credit points must be chosen from other units available at the campus.
The remaining 15 credit points would normally be selected from other science units. However, with the approval of the Course Adviser, students may choose units offered by other Faculties.
Second year (120 credit points)
Core units (40 credit points)
| Teaching period | Unit code | Credit points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Psychology A | PSY2PYA | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Psychology B | PSY2PYB | 20 |
Electives (80 credit points)
Second/third-year level units to the value of 80 credit points chosen from units offered by any department.Highly Recommended units:
| TE-SEM-1 | Applied Neuroscience A1 | PSY3ANA | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Counselling and Family Psychology A | PSY3CFA | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Cognitive and Developmental Psychology B1 | PSY3CDB | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Social and Community Psychology B | PSY3SCB | 20 |
Third year (120 credit points)
Core units (80 credit points)
| Teaching period | Unit code | Credit points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Psychology | PSY3PYA | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Research Project A | PSY3RSA | 20 |
| TE-SEM 2 | Psychology | PSY3PYB | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Research Project B | PSY3RSB | 20 |
Electives (40 credit points)
Students choose third-year level units for which prerequisite requirements have been met
Highly Recommended units:
| TE-SEM-1 | Applied Neuroscience A1 | PSY3ANA | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Counselling and Family Psychology A | PSY3CFA | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Cognitive and Developmental Psychology B1 | PSY3CDB | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Social and Community Psychology B | PSY3SCB | 20 |
- Key: 1 Not available in 2008.
Honours
Students who perform at a high standard may apply to undertake a further year of psychology study in honours (PSY4HNA and PSY4HNB), which is a prerequisite for most postgraduate courses of study. Following the successful completion of the honours year, these students will graduate with a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours). The honours course is presently offered only at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus although students from the Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga campus may apply.