Science, Technology and Engineering

School of Psychological Science

Albury-Wodonga Campus

Bachelor of Behavioural Science (BBSc)

The School of Psychological Science offers the three-year major sequence in psychology at the Albury-Wodonga campus, which forms the core of the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (BBSc) degree, accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Approximately 35 to 40 students are accepted into BBSc program at Albury-Wodonga each year.
The BBSc is a coherent program of studies in psychology and other units considered central to a broad education in behavioural science. As well as completing a major sequence in psychology, students study units related to the biological and social aspects of behaviour. The course prepares students for a variety of jobs in related fields and for further education and professional training in a range of areas of psychology.

Course structure
The BBSc may be undertaken in three years of full-time study, but can also be completed on a part-time basis. Students intending to study part-time should note that this means enrolling in a lesser workload, rather than studying after hours, as BBSc units are not available as evening classes.

At Albury-Wodonga campus the core psychology lectures are presented by direct videoconference link from the metropolitan campus in Bundoora. More than 20 staff members at the Bundoora campus cover all major topics in the discipline, and hence the whole range of topics is available to Albury-Wodonga students. The lectures are supported by seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes conducted by four full-time staff of the School of Psychological Science on campus. In addition, inter-campus visits by both students and staff maintain regular contact between campuses.

Psychology topic areas
Students take Psychology at each year level and Behavioural Neuroscience in first year, and can choose from a range of elective units from the following areas that suit their interests and career aspirations: arts and humanities, business, education, biological sciences, and health and human services.

The range of topics covered by the psychology lecture series includes: brain-behaviour relationships; growth and development; individual differences; mental life; social processes; history of psychology; perception; cognitive and moral development; higher-order processes; abnormal psychology; behavioural neuroscience; ethics; neuropsychology; organisational, health and community psychology; psychological assessment; counselling and psychotherapy; psychiatric rehabilitation; and psychological research methods.

Students who perform at a high standard in the BBSc are eligible to apply for the BBSc (Honours) program and would then graduate with a BBSc (Hons). The honours coursework component is presently offered only at the Bundoora campus, but this is timetabled to allow regional students to attend one day per week for 13 weeks during first semester. The honours thesis component can be supervised by staff at the Albury-Wodonga campus. Many local students have successfully completed the honours program.

Becoming a registered Psychologist
It is important to emphasize that the BBSc degree alone does not qualify a graduate to work as a psychologist. Further education, training and supervised experience is required for registration as a psychologist with the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria and also for membership of the Australian Psychological Society.

Credit for previous study
Credit may be available for previous tertiary studies. Students applying for credit must provide curriculum details from course handbooks as well as a copy of their academic transcripts.

Costs
Students are required to pay a General Service Fee (GSF) to the university upon enrolment. The fee for this year can be found at http://www.latrobe.edu.au/study/fees.html .

The University administers Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) on behalf of the Federal Government. Commonwealth supported students may be eligible for HECS-HELP assistance. Detailed information on HECS- HELP is available at http://www.goingtouni.gov.au .

More detailed information on fees is available in the University Campus Guide or from Student Administration - phone (02) 6024 9791. A range of scholarships is also available to commencing students.

Entry requirements
As this course is highly competitive and there are limited places available, academic achievement is highly regarded in the selection process. Qualified applicants from schools in Northern Victoria and Southern NSW will receive a regional bonus and will have their ENTER/UAI scores adjusted accordingly.

There are no prerequisite studies for the BBSc. Students in the "middle-band" receive bonuses for biology, health & human development, information technology, mathematical methods, specialist mathematics, psychology or any science units. For details, see the VTAC and UAC guides.

The BBSc also offers places through the special entry scheme (i.e., mature age entry). To find out what the enter score was for this year click in the following link and look at Behavioural Science: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/study/enters.html

Application procedures
All candidates must apply through either the Victorian or NSW tertiary admissions centres. Application forms are obtainable from VTAC and UAC.

VTAC Course code 20551
UAC Course code 187005

The closing date for all applications is usually the end of September each year.

Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)
40 Park Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205

Telephone 1300 364 133

Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (NSW & ACT)
3 Rawson Street
Auburn, NSW 2144

Telephone (02) 9330 7200

Further Information
For further course information, please contact:

School of Psychological Science
La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga Campus
PO Box 821
Wodonga VIC 3689

Telephone: (02) 6024 9895; Fax: (02) 6024 9867
E-mail: psych.aw@latrobe.edu.au