Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
Australian Catholic University
About
Psychology and exercise science share a common goal of assisting individuals and groups to optimise their functioning and performance, and the combined knowledge of these two disciplines will equip graduates of this double degree to provide high quality services to their clients.
Exercise scientists working with clinical populations and high performance athletes will benefit from the knowledge and skills gained from many core topics within psychology, including motivation, emotion, individual differences, psychological disorders, and decision making.
ACU's undergraduate psychology programs help students to acquire knowledge, assimilate conceptual understandings and develop skills of application that are valuable to the enhancement of human functioning in a broad range of professional settings.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Psychological Science will complete a sequence in psychology that is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
This sequence will ensure graduates acquire an advanced understanding of human behaviour, as well as highly regarded employability skills, including:
critical analysis and rational thinking;
ethical decision making;
scientific thinking and research capabilities;
measurement and analysis of data;
problem solving skills;
written and verbal communication;
interpersonal skills, including foundational counselling skills;
and life-long learning skills.
The Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science progresses students from foundation knowledge, understanding and skills in human anatomy, physiology and the sub-disciplines of Exercise Science, into their application in movement, exercise and sporting contexts, such as exercise testing, prescription and delivery.
Students are then progressed into authentic learning experiences in which they can integrate their evidence-based learnings and scope of practice in applied, industry-based settings.
This professional practice provides students with the opportunity to reflect upon their transition from learning to practitioner.
The course has qualifying accreditation status with Exercise and Sports Science Australia.
Our graduates will make meaningful contributions to improving the outcomes of clients, customers, colleagues and collaborators in a diverse range of settings including, but not limited to:
government departments, private sector, schools, business, and not-for-profit organisations.
Structure
| Year – Study Period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 - Semester 1 | PSYC108 Psychological practice: theory and techniques | PSYC100 Foundations of psychology | EXSC187 Growth, motor development and ageing | EXSC118 Nutrition and Exercise |
| Year 1 - Semester 2 | PSYC101 Applications of psychology | PSYC104 Research design and statistics 1 | BIOL125 Human Biology 1 | UNCC100 Self and community: exploring the anatomy of modern society |
| Year 2 - Semester 1 | PSYC200 Lifespan development (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101) | PSYC206 Research design and statistics 2 (Pre: PSYC104) | EXSC199 Psychology of Sport | EXSC118 Nutrition and exercise |
| Year 2 - Semester 2 | PSYC214 Learning and behaviour (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101, PSYC104 ) | PSYC212 Abnormal psychology (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101) | ANAT100 Anatomical Foundations of Exercise Science | EXSC120 Mechanical bases of exercise |
| Year 3 - Semester 1 | PSYC213 Individual differences (Pre: PSYC100, PSYC101, PSYC104 ) | PSYC311 Research design and statistics 3 (Pre: PSYC206) | EXSC230 Motor Control and Learning (Pre: EXSC187) | EXSC222 Functional Anatomy (Pre: ANAT100) |
| Year 3 - Semester 2 | EXSC206 Professional experience preparation (Pre: EXSC118, EXSC187, EXSC199 , BIOL125) | |||
| Year 3 - Semester 2 | EXSC242 Exercise Physiology: Adaptation to Exercise and the Environment (Pre: EXC198) | EXSC296 Health and exercise psychology (Pre: EXSC199 OR PSYC100 and PSYC101) | EXSC204 Exercise testing, prescription and delivery (Pre: EXSC198) | EXSC216 Resistance training: science and application (Pre: EXSC198) |
| Year 4 - Semester 1 | PSYC315 Brain and behaviour (Pre: PSYC200) | PSYC313 Social psychology (Pre: PSYC104, PSYC200) | EXSC394 Exercise Prescription for Health and Wellbeing (Pre: EXSC204) | EXSC220 Biomechanics (Pre: EXSC120) |
| Year 4 - Semester 2 | PSYC307 Cognitive psychology (Pre: PSYC206, and either PSYC213 or PSYC214) | PSYC314 Psychological assessment (Pre: PSYC104, PSYC213) | EXSC325 Professional practice in exercise science Community engagement (Pre: ANAT100, EXSC120, EXSC198, EXSC204, EXSC206, EXSC216 ) | UNCC300 Justice and change in a global world (Pre: UNCC100) |
Entry requirements
An applicant must 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 2) or English (Advanced) (Band 2) or EAL (Band 3)
- Recommended Studies: Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE); Mathematics plus one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
Victoria
- Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL.
*Disclaimer: The Course entry requirements above are for 2021 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Institution
