Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences : Guide to courses

12. Psychology as a major

Table of Contents

 12. Psychology as a major

The University of Melbourne offers psychology as an area of major study, rather than as a single degree on its own. Psychology may be studied through undergraduate programs run by a number of faculties, including Arts, Science and Economics and Commerce. Many students undertaking combined degrees study psychology to complement their specialisation since it is considered as either a humanities or science major.

The advantage of studying psychology as an area of major study is that students can complete a three-year accredited major in psychology, leaving the way open to a career as a psychologist, and at the same time complete a broader discipline, such as science. This gives students the opportunity to choose a career in a number of different areas.

Students who are not interested in completing an accredited major in psychology may still wish to undertake individual psychology subjects to complement their studies in other areas. For example, a student undertaking an Economics or Commerce degree could study psychology to further develop skills in the areas of marketing or management.

Students may enrol in any number of psychology subjects, however, to complete a major in psychology at least 125 credit points must be undertaken. A psychology major can be undertaken through a number of different courses:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)

• Bachelor of Science (BSc)

• Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)

• or through many combined degree courses.

Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce degree complete a major in psychology with 100 credit points because they are exempt from 512-220 Quantitative Methods for Psychology 2 on the basis of having completed 316-206 Quantitative Methods 2 or 316-205 Introductory Econometrics, and are permitted to count 512-320 Research Methods 3 as Commerce points.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce (Management) degree are also exempt from 512-220 Quantitative Methods for Psychology 2, and are permitted to count either 512-320 Research Methods 3 or 512-322 Industrial/Organisational Psychology 3 as Commerce points.

 12.1. Course objectives

Level 1 Psychology subjects are designed to give students an overview of the study of psychology and provide grounding in the methodology of the discipline. Introductory Experimental Psychology 1 introduces students to behavioural neuroscience, learning and cognition, perception, and research design and descriptive statistics. Introductory Social, Developmental and Clinical Psychology 1 covers the areas of human development, individual differences, social psychology, clinical psychology, and inferential statistics

Level 2 and 3 Psychology subjects identify separate objectives. A Psychology major provides students with the opportunity to critically examine basic psychological concepts and theories in the areas of biological bases of behaviour, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, sensation and perception, and social psychology. Students also have the opportunity to develop skills in research methodology and data analysis. In the third year, students choose at least one elective which allows them to study an area of interest in depth.

 12.2. Course structure

Students have the flexibility to study any number of subjects in psychology, as long as the prerequisites and corequisites of subjects are met. A major study in psychology, accredited by the Australian Psychological Society, consists of eight compulsory subjects and at least two elective subjects (a minimum of 125 credit points).

Compulsory subjects
Level 1		Points
	512-120 Introductory Experimental Psychology 1	12.5
	512-121 Social, Develop. & Clinical Psychology 1	12.5
Level 2
	512-220 Quantitative Methods for Psychology 2	12.5
	512-221 Developmental Psychology 2	12.5
	512-222 Behavioural Neuroscience 2	12.5
	512-223 Personality and Social Psychology 2	12.5
	512-224 Cognitive Psychology 2	12.5
Level 3
	512-320 Research Methods 3	12.5

Electives - level 3 subjects
Group 1		Points
	512-322 Industrial/Organisational Psychology 3	12.5
	512-323 Prof. Applications of Psychology 3	12.5
	512-345 Environmental Psychology 3	12.5
Group 2
	512-330 Human Psychophysiology 3	12.5
	512-335 Advanced Cognition 3	12.5
	512-345 Environmental Psychology 3	12.5
	512-350 Brain, Cognition and Behaviour 3	12.5
	512-360 Personality and Social Psychology 3	12.5
	512-370 Cognitive and Neurological Development 3	12.5
	512-380 Personal and Social Development 3	12.5

Students choose one subject only from Group 1 and at least one other subject from Group 2.

Normally, a full-time student undertaking a major in psychology completes:

• In first year, the two compulsory level 1 subjects;

• In second year, either three or four compulsory level 2 subjects;

• In third year, the remaining compulsory level 2 subjects, the compulsory Level 3 subject, and at least two elective level 3 subjects.

Students must note that subject 512-220 should be undertaken in their second year, as it is a corequisite or prerequisite for all level 2 subjects.

 12.3. Transitional students

Students who have completed any undergraduate psychology subjects before 1999 will be considered as transitional students. To complete a major study in Psychology as a transitional student, you must:

If you have completed Psychology 1,

• complete all level 2 and level 3 compulsory subjects, and at least one level 3 elective subject;

If you have completed Psychology 2,

• complete the two level 3 compulsory subjects, and at least two level 3 elective subjects.

As part of the course planning process, any psychology level 3 enrolments must be approved initially by the Department of Psychology before a student's enrolment can be confirmed.

Any psychology subject changes made during the year must first be approved by the Department of Psychology on the appropriate form available from the Department.

 12.3.1. Subject exclusion list

Under the new course structure, if a student has completed a third year psychology subject before 1999, they may be ineligible to undertake some of the new level 3 subjects. Before enrolling into any level 3 subjects, these students should seek approval from the Department of Psychology to ensure that they have not previously completed a similar unit under the old course structure.

 12.4. Mid-year entry

Students who commence their undergraduate degree in Semester 2 can apply to the Department of Psychology for permission to undertake the level 1 subject 512-120 Introductory Experimental Psychology 1 in conjunction with the Level 2 subject 512-220 Quantitative Methods for psychology 2 in Semester 1 of the following year, in order that they can complete their Psychology major within the three year period. Written authorisation from the Department of Psychology must be obtained prior to the concurrent enrolment of these subjects, and is normally only given to students who have performed well in 512-121 Introductory Social, Developmental and Clinical Psychology 1.

Status:                   Official 2001
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