Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

The course information on this page is for new students commencing their degree in 2016 only. 

Students should follow the rules and requirements for the year that they commenced their course. The online course information for years prior to 2016 are available from the Archives link in the menu.

Students should also review current subject availabilities via the Subject Descriptions link in the menu.

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Abbreviation:

BPsyc(Hons)

UOW Course Code:

354

CRICOS Code:

084845D

Total Credit Points:

192

Duration:

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Social Sciences

Intake Session(s):

Autumn

Delivery Mode:

On-campus

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 753230

Additional Information:

Course Finder

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 (Honours) is a four year undergraduate Honours degree accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). The degree is a route to Postgraduate coursework or research degrees in Psychology. It is also a partial qualification for registration as a Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, a post degree supervision period also being required. 

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate advanced theoretical and technical knowledge of core topics in the discipline of psychology and their applications, including knowledge of the theoretical and empirical bases underpinning the construction, implementation, and interpretation of widely used cognitive and personality assessments, and evidence-based psychological interventions.
  2. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of research methods, knowledge of how the science and practice of psychology is influenced by social, historical, professional and cultural contexts, and knowledge of ethical behaviour in research and professional contexts.
  3. Demonstrate an advanced ability to apply research methods to address psychological questions related to behaviour and mental processes.
  4. Analyse critically, evaluate and transform information from research literature and other sources to complete a range of activities.
  5. Produce advanced written work that demonstrates analysis and synthesis of information, and novel problem solving to complex problems, and orally present information in various formats.
  6. Exhibit a capacity for independent learning to sustain personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology.
  7. Demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgment, adaptability and responsibility in applying critical thinking skills and knowledge of scientific method to evaluate and investigate claims regarding psychological phenomena.
  8. Use information in an ethical manner and apply knowledge of ethical and legislative requirements to determine appropriate ethical conduct in a range of contexts.
  9. Examine scientific methods and knowledge that complement an appreciation of psychology as a scientific discipline. 

Course Structure

The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) requires the successful completion of 192 credit points of subjects in accordance with the tables below.

No more than 60 credit points in total may be taken at 100-level.

For students entering at the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at 100-level, continuation in the course requires an average result of at least 75% at the end of 100-level, a cumulative average of at least 75% for 100 and 200-level subjects at the end of 200-level, and a cumulative average of at least 75% for 200 and 300-level subjects at the end of 300-level in the psychology subjects approved for the degree.

Students who do not maintain this level of academic achievement will be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Psychological Science.

100-Level to 300-Level Course Program 

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
PSYC120 Critical Thinking and Communication Skills in Psychology 6 Autumn
PSYC121 Foundations of Psychology A 6 Autumn
PSYC122 Foundations of Psychology B 6 Spring
PSYC123 Research Methods and Statistics 6 Spring
Select ONE of the following five subjects:
GEOG121 Human Geography I: Life in a Globalising World 6 Autumn
GEOG122 Human Geography II: Living in a Material World 6 Spring
BIOL103 Molecules, Cells and Organisms 6 Spring
SCIE101 Modern Perspectives in Science 6 Spring
STS 112 The Scientific Revolution 6 Spring
Plus 18 credit points from the Faculty of Social Science or General Schedule.*
Year 2
PSYC231 Personality 6 Autumn
PSYC234 Biological Psychology and Learning 6 Autumn
PSYC250 Quantitative Methods in Psychology 6 Autumn
Plus ONE 6 credit point subject selected from the Faculty of Social Science or General Schedule.*
PSYC236 Cognition and Perception 6 Spring
PSYC241 Developmental and Social Psychology 6 Spring
PSYC251 Psychology of Abnormality 6 Spring
Plus ONE 6 credit point subject selected from the Faculty of Social Science or General Schedule.*
Year 3
PSYC347 Assessment and Intervention 8 Autumn
PSYC348 History and Metatheory of Psychology 8 Autumn
PSYC354 Design and Analysis 8 Spring
Select THREE subjects from the six subjects below, including at least ONE of PSYC345, PSYC349 or PSYC352 .
PSYC345 Advanced Topics in Cognition 8 Autumn
PSYC349 Visual Perception 8 Spring
PSYC352 Psychophysiology 8 Spring
PSYC350 Social Behaviour and Individual Differences 8 Autumn
PSYC355 Forensic Psychology 8 Autumn
PSYC356 Topics in Applied Psychology 8 Spring

* Students are encouraged to broaden their studies with non-psychology electives, or a minor from the General Schedule of Minors.

Honours

400-Level Course Program  

To be eligible to proceed to 400-level (Year 4) and undertake the Honours program, students must have:

  1. Completed all 144 credit points outlined in 100-level to 300-level course program above; and
  2. Maintained a cumulative average of at least 75% for 200 and 300-level psychology subjects listed in the table above.

The Honours grade will be calculated in accordance with Method 1. For further information refer to General Course Rules Section 8.

The Honours program is made up of 48 credit points as outlined below:

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 4
PSYC410 Honours Empirical Thesis 24 Annual
PSYC407 Theory and Methods 8 Autumn
PSYC408 Psychological Assessment: Principles and Applications 8 Autumn
PSYC409 Psychological Intervention: Principles and Applications 8 Spring

Candidates intending to complete Honours as part-time students will generally do PSYC407 , PSYC408 and PSYC409 in the first year, and PSYC410 in the second year.

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Professional Recognition/Accreditation

The four year Bachelor of Psychology is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council as a four year sequence for the purposes of provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.  An additional two years of supervised practice is necessary to apply for general registration.  This can be through two years supervised practice in the community or a fifth year at University plus one year of supervised practice in the community or an approved Masters degree.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: ssc@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 14 April, 2016