Bachelor of Psychology

Overview

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.

The Bachelor of Psychology offered by the University of Wollongong is a four year undergraduate Honours degree accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).  The Bachelor of Psychology is a route to Postgraduate coursework or research degrees in Psychology.   It is also a partial qualification for registration as a Psychologist with the Psychologists’ Registration Board of New South Wales, a post degree supervision period also being required.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

Domestic school leavers are assumed to have completed at least 2 units of English at HSC level.  International students are required to have achieved an IELTS score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Course Requirements

For students entering at 100-level, continuation in the course requires (in the psychology subjects approved for the degree), an average result of at least 70% at the end of 100-level, a cumulative average of 70% for 100 & 200-level subjects at the end of 200-level, and a cumulative average of 70% for 200 & 300-level subjects at the end of 300-level.

Course Program

In addition, a further 42 credit points across 100, 200 and 300 levels must be taken from the Health and Behavioural Sciences, Science or General Schedules. Students may include PSYC101 Introduction to Behavioural Science as an elective.

400-Level
Students will study in either the Honours or Non-Honours stream.  Places within the Honours stream are limited, therefore entry will be on a competitive basis.   All students who do not successfully gain entry into Honours will be enrolled in the Non-Honours stream provided they have satisfied the credit level performance to remain in the program.

Honours
The Honours program is made up of:

1. an empirical thesis, consisting of a supervised research project and presented as a 9000 to 12,000 word thesis:
2. a research seminar;
3. an advanced methodology subject (21%), in turn consisting of 2 seminars:

Psychology Honours Theory*, and Topics in Data Analysis;

1. Contemporary Issues for Professional and Research Psychologists GHMC988;
2. one of a range of specified postgraduate psychology subjects*;
3. the Honours Meeting.

* A minor theoretical thesis is available in place of Psychology Honours Theory seminar and the Psychology Postgraduate subject.

Candidates intending to complete Honours as part-time students will generally do advanced methodology, GHMC988 and the theoretical thesis or optional postgraduate subject in the first year, and the empirical thesis and research seminar in the second.

Non-Honours
This program is made up of:

1. A research project, consisting of a 9,000 word supervised thesis;
2. Social Psychology and Health Psychology GHMC984;
3. Contemporary Issues for Professional and Research Psychologists GHMC988;
4. Principles and Practices of Psychological Assessment GHMC985;
5. Advanced Abnormal Psychology GHMC989;  and
6. Child and Adolescent Psychology GHMC978.

Professional Recognition

Our degrees are set up to meet the requirements of external bodies such as the APS and the NSW Registration Board, but for information about these professional bodies, their regulations, and about post university practice as a psychologist, please contact these bodies directly.