Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)

Psychology (UAC Code 753122)

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and experience, the physiological, sensory and cognitive processes that underlie it, and the profession that applies this knowledge to practical problems.  Psychologists help us to understand who we are and how we think, feel, act and change.  They aim to help people function better, and to prevent ill-health and other problems developing.  Psychologists’ clients include children, adults, couples, families and organisations.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

Domestic school leavers are assumed to have completed any two units of English.   International students are required to have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a level of 6.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.  Alternative pathways exist for mature age domestic students.

Major Study

For the major in Psychology, students complete 72 credit points of subjects, as outlined in the schedule below.  If students wish to proceed to Honours in Psychology, additional requirements must be met as noted in the Honours information below.

Honours

Honours in Psychology is a fourth year of study accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).  It is offered on a one year full-time or two year part-time basis.  Psychology Honours is a route to the postgraduate coursework or research degrees in Psychology.  It is also a partial qualification for registration as a psychologist with the Psychologist’s Registration Board of New South Wales, a post-degree supervision period also being required.

Graduates of the University of Wollongong with a major in Psychology are eligible to apply for admission to Psychology Honours provided that: they have completed an undergraduate degree curriculum with a major in psychology; they have completed PSYC348 History and Metatheory of Psychology and PSYC354 Design and Analysis (and thus any 200- level prerequisites for PSYC354); they have completed at least 76 credit points of Psychology subjects at 200- and 300- levels; they have at least a credit average for Psychology subjects at 200- and 300- levels.

Professional Recognition

To apply for registration as a professional psychologist with the Psychologists’ Registration Board of NSW it is necessary to complete an accredited 4 year course of study plus 2 years’ supervised practice.  Accreditation with the Australian Psychological Society, the national professional association, requires 6 years of approved academic study.

Other Information 
Subjects to the value of at least 90 credit points must be selected from the Health and Behavioural Sciences or Arts Schedules.  Subjects to the value of 144 credit points are required for the degree.

In addition, further credit points across 100-, 200- and 300- levels must be taken from Health and Behavioural Sciences and the General Schedules.   Students may include PSYC101 Introduction to Behavioural Sciences as an elective.