Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours Psychology)

The honours program builds on an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited undergraduate psychology degree and provides an opportunity for advanced study and research.

Domestic Students

The honours program comprises eight units, which can be completed in full-time or part-time study mode.

Core units include PYH401 Advanced Research Methods, PYH402 Counselling Psychology and PYH407 Research and Professional Development Seminar. There is one elective unit. Students can be chose from Cognitive and Neuropsychology or Social and Developmental Psychology as their elective. Core units require 3 contact hours per week, and electives are offered in intensive formats.

This course also includes a research component, which entails an individual thesis. PYH400-1to4 Thesis is undertaken in modules throughout the program. Initially students complete a research plan, which sets out the rational and methodology of the project. This is followed by data collection, analysis and writing-up the research thesis. Contact hours for the research component are as required by the project and supervisor.

International Students

The honours program comprises eight units, which can be completed in full-time or part-time study mode.

Core units include PYH401 Advanced Research Methods, PYH402 Counselling Psychology and PYH407 Research and Professional Development Seminar. There is one elective unit. Students can be chose from Cognitive and Neuropsychology or Social and Developmental Psychology as their elective. Core units require 3 contact hours per week, and electives are offered in intensive formats.

This course also includes a research component, which entails an individual thesis. PYH400-1to4 Thesis is undertaken in modules throughout the program. Initially students complete a research plan, which sets out the rational and methodology of the project. This is followed by data collection, analysis and writing-up the research thesis. Contact hours for the research component are as required by the project and supervisor.

Prerequisite

A completed recognised bachelor degree in psychology completed within the past ten years with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 5.0 (on QUT's 7-point scale).

The degree must be accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as an entry point into an honours program; e.g.Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) at QUT.

Applicants with overseas qualifications must provide certification from the Australian Psychological Society stating their degree is equivalent to APAC-approved, three-year training in psychology. Please note APS advises the average processing time is 8 weeks, therefore applicants with overseas qualifications need to seek certification by no later than July.

Additional entry requirements

• A grade of at least 4 (on a 7-point scale) for each of the APAC-accredited second and third year psychology units listed below.
• A grade point average of at least 5.3 across all attempts of the listed APAC accredited second- and third-year psychology units listed below.
• Successful completion of an APAC-accredited advanced statistical analysis unit at third-year level.

The required APAC-accredited second and third year psychology units at QUT are:

• PYB202 Social and organisational psychology
• PYB203 Developmental psychology
• PYB204 Cognition and perception
• PYB210 Research design and data analysis
• PYB304 Physiological psychology
• PYB306 Psychopathology
• PYB309 Individual differences and assessment
• PYB350 Advanced statistical analysis.

Similar APAC-accredited subjects are required for studies completed at another institution.

Selection process

Entry to this course is competitive as places are limited. All applications will be considered in two groups of:

• QUT's Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) single and double degree graduates; and
• All other applicants.

Eligible applicants are selected in order of merit based on their APAC accredited second and third year psychology units GPA.

Closing date

Closing date is 30 September. Applications received after this date will not be considered. Applications for the next intake will open 1 July.

Applicants will be notified of their application outcomes in mid-December. 

Careers and outcomes(DOM,INT)

Graduates of the fourth-year psychology course have skills that can be applied to a variety of professional areas and may choose career paths in government health services, with private psychology practices, or alternatively in a range of other disciplines including business, justice and administration.

To pursue a career as a registered psychologist, you must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. Currently this involves a fourth year of study in psychology plus two years of supervised work experience* or two years of further study.

Professional recognition(DOM,INT)

The honours program provides an APAC-accredited fourth year of training. Graduates of this course are eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Further study of either two years of supervised work experience or the completion of an appropriate higher degree (e.g. Master of Clinical Psychology or Master of Psychology - Educational and Developmental) will allow graduates to be fully accredited and able to obtain registration from the Psychology Board of Australia.

Possible careers

• Administrator
• Aged Services Worker
• Aid Work Manager
• Change Manager
• Community Worker
• Counsellor
• Critical Incident or Disaster Response Manager
• Disability Services Worker
• Family Services Officer
• Government Officer
• Guidance Officer
• Health Information Manager
• Health Services Manager
• Higher Education Worker
• Human Resource Developer
• Human Resource Manager
• Human Services Practitioner
• Information Officer
• Manager
• Program Evaluator
• Psychologist
• Public Health Officer
• Public Servant
• School Counsellor
• Social Scientist
• Youth Worker