Bachelor of Psychology with Honours

The Bachelor of Psychology with Honours is our premier course designed for high-performing students who are aiming for a professional career in Psychology.

It is an accredited, integrated, four-year Honours course that requires a high ATAR for initial entry [Rule (a)];

or admission only to the Honours year, based on a completed three-year Bachelor degree that includes a three-year sequence in Psychology that has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council [Rule (b)]*.

However you can also transfer to this course from other courses, such as the Bachelor of Psychological Science, with sufficient grades in first and second year Psychology.

Course Aims

The Bachelor of Psychology with Honours provides an accredited four year degree in psychology. In the first three years this involves a thorough grounding in the core areas of psychology, plus an opportunity to explore specialist areas, while also allowing the student to study other areas of interest. Students then complete an Honours program, allowing them to the proceed on to postgraduate studies, apply for supervision with a registered psychologist and apply for provisional registration as a psychologist, or otherwise undertake areas of employment requiring more than just three years of academic training in psychology.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: demonstrate advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge of the core topics of Psychology, including: abnormal psychology, biological bases of behaviour, cognition, information processing and language, individual differences, testing and assessment, learning, lifespan development, motivation and emotion, perception, social psychology, history and philosophy of psychology, intercultural diversity and indigenous psychology; describe, apply and evaluate the different research methods used by psychologists and demonstrate practical skills in psychological research design and data analysis; conduct studies to address psychological questions, including: frame research questions; undertake literature reviews; formulate testable hypotheses; operationalise variables; choose an appropriate methodology; make valid and reliable measurements; analyse data, interpret results, and write research reports using American Psychological Association (APA) structure and formatting conventions; critically evaluate psychological literature, question claims that arise from myth, stereotype, pseudoscience or untested assumptions, and recognise and defend against the major fallacies of human thinking; demonstrate effective oral communication skills in various formats (eg debate, group discussion, presentation) to share or impart psychological knowledge; demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical and empirical bases underpinning the most widely used psychological assessments and evidence-based approaches to psychological interventions and apply the basic skills of psychological interviewing; evaluate and practise the principles of ethical behaviour in research and professional practice, in accordance with the Australian Psychological Society's Code and Guidelines, as well as the Australian 'National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce'; and demonstrate a capacity for independent learning to sustain life-long personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology.

Graduate Attributes

Knowledge of a Discipline Graduates will possess an in-depth body of required knowledge in psychology and have a well-developed understanding of the key principles, practices and boundaries of the discipline. This is ensured through the study of core units. Specialisation is then provided through a range of listed units at 300-level psychology, plus additional opportunity for studying in cognate disciplines in any area of the university (elective units). Further specialisation is then achieved in an individual research project and reading units at 400-level. Information provided within each unit embeds current global knowledge within the discipline of psychology. Communication Skills Graduates will have well-developed communication skills which are taught, assessed and practised through written assignments and face-to-face (or online equivalent) tutorial and laboratory sessions that are required in all psychology units (both core and listed). The development of this skill continues at 400-level with seminars and units in professional practice. Problem Solving Most of the 200/300-level psychology units include data collection in order to address an issue in the literature. The onus is then on the student to generate a research report providing a solution to that issue. This becomes a key focus at 400-level when an individual research project is required to address a specific empirical problem. Information Literacy Through the writing of essays and research reports students develop the skills with which to discover and process relevant information and to present it in a coherent fashion. This skill comes to the fore at 400-level whilst engaged in the individual research project and reading units. Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility Graduates will be taught to understand and practise the highest standards of ethical behaviour associated with the discipline. They will understand and be open-minded about social, cultural and linguistic diversity in Australia and the world, and appreciate their ethical responsibilities towards colleagues, research subjects, the wider community and the environment. The issue of ethics is explicitly integrated during data collection and a range of other activities within psychology units. Lifelong Learning All psychology units within this degree develop the student's skills in identifying and accessing information that is relevant to their needs, through both library searches and the internet. This skill empowers students to continue accessing new information as required. Independence and Collaboration Graduates will be encouraged to learn and work independently, and where appropriate, to work collaboratively. Graduates will have well developed group participation skills and the ability to work collaboratively achieved through on-campus and online interactive teaching strategies, where they will learn the importance of participating in discussions in a professional, respectful and ethical manner.