Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Laws
Australian Catholic University
About
The Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Laws combines the study of human behaviour with the study of the law.
This double degree is designed to produce well-rounded graduates ready for legal practice and a range of professional careers in an increasingly global environment.
As a graduate you can pursue a range of legal careers including private practice as a solicitor or barrister;
legal officer in the public sector;
in-house counsel for a wide range of organisations including corporations, regulatory authorities and NGOs.
You will be well placed to develop specialist legal practice in a wide range of fields including forensic psychology;
litigation;
terrorism studies;
and industrial law and management.
The program combines the study of human behaviour with the study of law.
The Psychological Science component enhances the student’s specialist knowledge by providing a comprehensive understanding of psychology, including behavioural and mental processes.
It offers an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) sequence in psychology.
As part of this degree you complete 80 hours of pro bono work (after your first year), providing you with firsthand experience of the legal system while allowing you to contribute to the common good.
Structure
| Year – Study Period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 - Semester 1 | LAWS104 Foundations of law and legal research | LAWS105 Contract Law | PSYC108 Psychological practice: theory and techniques | PSYC100 Foundations of psychology |
| Year 1 - Semester 2 | LAWS107 Introduction to Australiani public law | LAWS108 Commercial Law (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS105) | PSYC101 Applications of psychology | PSYC104 Research design and statistics 1 |
| Year 2 - Semester 1 | LAWS106 Criminal Law and Procedure | LAWS206 Torts (Pre: LAWS104) | PSYC200 Lifespan development (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101) | PSYC206 Research design and statistics 2 (Pre: PSYC104) |
| Year 2 - Semester 2 | LAWS200 Business Organisations | LAWS213 Legal Community Engagement (Pre: LAWS104) | PSYC213 Individual differences (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101, PSYC104 ) | PSYC212 Abnormal psychology (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101) |
| Year 3 - Semester 1 | LAWS314 Statutory interpretation | LAWS205 Property (Pre: LAWS104) | PSYC311 Research design and statistics 3 (Pre: PSYC206) | PSYC214 Learning and behavior (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101, PSYC104 ) |
| Year 3 - Semester 2 | LAWS201 Civil procedure and alternative dispute resolution (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS105, LAWS206 ) | LAWS204 Land law (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS205) | PSYC307 Cognitive psychology (Pre: PSYC206, PSYC214) | UNCC100 Self and community: exploring the anatomy of modern society or PHCC102 Being Human or PHCC104 Ethics and the Good Life |
| Year 4 - Semester 1 | LAWS304 Evidence (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS106) | LAWS421 Legal ethics and professional responsibility (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS106) | UNCC300 Justice and change in a global world (Pre: UNCC100, PHCC102, PHCC104 ) or PHCC320 The Just Society | PSYC315 Brain and behavior (Pre: PSYC200) |
| Year 4 - Semester 2 | LAWS419 Constitutional law (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS107) | LAWS420 Equity and trusts (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS105, LAWS205 ) | LAWS403 Legal theory (Pre: LAWS104) | PSYC314 Psychological assessment (Pre: PSYC104, PSYC213) |
| Year 5 - Semester 1 | LAWS418 Administrative law (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS107) | LAWS404 International law (Pre: LAWS104, LAWS107) | Law elective 1 (Pre: LAWS104) | PSYC313 Social psychology (Pre: PSYC104, PSYC200) |
| Year 5 - Semester 2 | Law elective 2 (Pre: LAWS104) | Law elective 3 (Pre: LAWS104) | Law elective 4 (Pre: LAWS104) | Law elective 5 (Pre: LAWS104) |
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent:
New South Wales
- Prerequisites: English (Standard)(Band 3) or English as an Additional Language (EAL) (Band 4)
Victoria
- Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 25 in any other English.
*Disclaimer: The Course entry requirements above are for 2021 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Institution
