Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws

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.

Overview

Students may enrol in a double degree course with the Bachelor of Laws.  Study in another academic discipline allows students to recognise how law functions in social, economic, technical, environmental and scientific contexts.  The Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws degree provides an opportunity for students to combine their interest in law with behavioural sciences.

For the first year of the double degree, students enrol in law subjects prescribed in the table listed below.  The first year of the LLB must be completed full time, except where approval is given on equity grounds.  In the following four years of the degree, students enrol in subjects from the Law, Psychological Science and General schedules.

Entry Requirements

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

Course Learning Outcomes

A number of the course learning outcomes in each of these degrees complement and consolidate outcomes in the partner degree.  Applied across two discipline areas, the outcomes are achieved at a broader and more comprehensive level.

The outcomes which are common and consolidated in this double degree ensure that on successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Apply ethical principles to a range of contexts.
2. Apply critical analysis to complex issues.
3. Investigate, evaluate and interpret research sources and their application to different disciplines.
4. Communicate effectively to a range of audiences through a range of mediums. 

Please refer to the Undergraduate Course Handbook page of each individual degree for a comprehensive list of course learning outcomes.

Course Structure

Students who enrol in the Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws must complete each of the following to the value of 270 credit points:

1. 140 credit points of all compulsory Law subjects as outlined in the table below;
2. 40 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws Elective Law Schedule;
3. 78 credit points of Psychology subjects in accordance with the table below;
4. a minimum of 12 credit points of elective subjects from the Psychological Science degree or General Schedule.

Note:  Students in this degree are not required to take LHA 101. 

Majors

Majors are NOT available in the Bachelor of Psychological Science - Bachelor of Laws double degree program.

Honours

Law

High achieving students, enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws double degree, are eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB Hons) (Course Code 351).    

Academic requirements and credit transfer information for the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Course Code 351) are available from the Course Finder.

Students accepted into the LLB (Hons) will be transferred out of their double degree and into a concurrent enrolment comprising the LLB (Hons) and their non-law degree.  Students will then complete the LLB(Hons) course structure including the Year 4 honours subjects LLB 400 Legal Research Methodology and LLB 401 Legal Research Thesis.

A student who successfully transfers into the LLB (Hons) program but does not meet the minimum performance standards required for the award of Honours will be permitted to transfer back to the Bachelor of Laws double degree in which they were enrolled immediately prior to the transfer into the Honours course, and will be awarded credit to the Bachelor of Laws for the number of credit points passed in the Honours degree.

As an alternative, students who have completed all requirements for their LLB double degree with a weighted average mark of 70% in their LLB subjects are eligible to apply for entry to the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)(Graduate Entry)(course code 359), which is a standalone honours program. Students who enrol in this LLB (Hons) must complete the subject LLB 448 Research Honours in Law (48cp).  Entry must be approved by the School of Law in consultation with the LLB Honours Coordinator.  The School of Law shall not approve entry into this course unless the Coordinator has agreed, in consultation with the student, on the program of study that will form the basis of the course curriculum for the degree.

Psychology extension for honours eligibility.

Students who complete an extended program in psychology are eligible to apply for the one year honours program to confer the Bachelor of Psychological Science with honours.  To see the requirements for the extended psychology program, and for entry into the honours program, please go to the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) Handbook page.  The extended Psychology program will require students to exceed the normal total credit point requirements for the degree.  Students should carefully plan their sequence of study and, if necessary, seek academic advice.

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

Bachelor of Laws

The UOW Bachelor of Laws (single LLB or in combination with another degree) is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) as satisfying the academic requirements necessary for admission to practise as a lawyer.  On completion of the Bachelor of Laws, a student who wishes to practise as a barrister or solicitor must also undertake some form of professional practical training, the requirements for which vary between each state and territory of Australia.

In New South Wales, a student who intends to qualify for admission to practise as a legal practitioner is required to undertake a practical legal training (PLT) course accredited by the LPAB, followed by or incorporating a period of practical experience in a law-related setting.  Practical experience gained by students in LLB 397 Legal Internship may be counted towards this practical experience requirement (eg ANU and College of Law will recognise days completed as part of LLB 397). Graduates should check with their PLT provider. A list of LPAB accredited PLT courses can be found on the LPAB website.

Students who intend to practice as lawyers after admission should obtain further information about restricted practice and the mandatory continuing legal education requirements from the Law Society of New South Wales. Students who intend to practice as barristers after admission will be required to read with a senior barrister for a period of time and to undertake the Bar Readers' Course before being qualified to take briefs on their own account. Further information is available from the

Bachelor of Psychological Science

The Bachelor of Psychological Science and the additional honours year (Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)) are 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 of University study 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: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au