Bachelor of Psychological Science

Charles Darwin University (CDU)

Type of institution: University/Higher Education Institution
Level: Undergraduate
CRICOS: 00300K

In the Bachelor of Psychological Science, you will develop an integrated understanding of human behaviour including social-cultural perspective, motivations, health and psychopathology as well as the fundamental premise of psychology as an empirically based science. Key study areas include: research methodsabnormal psychologysocial-cultural psychologylearning and motivationcognitive psychologythe biological bases of behaviourintroduction to forensic psychology counselling.The Bachelor of Psychological Science will also prepare you for the Honours program, as well as postgraduate professional coursework or supervised training in psychology.

Structure

In first year, students are introduced to a range of areas in psychology while in second and third year core and specialist electives provide more in-depth study of key areas such as research methods, abnormal psychology, social-cultural psychology, learning and motivation, cognitive psychology, the biological bases of behaviour, introduction to forensic psychology and counselling. Second and third year core and specialist electives also cover major themes in foundational knowledge and contemporary issues in psychology as well as specialist areas (eg, health psychology, alcohol and other drugs, forensic psychology, neuroscience, counselling, behavioural therapies, etc).A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.Unit typeCredit PointsSpecific requirementsCommon Units(2 units)20cpCommon units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below.CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability (compulsory)Plus either:CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology ORCUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability (new title from 2016)Select Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options.Core Units(15 units)150cpCompulsory Core units totalling 150 credit points as detailed below. IAS101 Indigenous Australia (replaces IND120 from 2020 which replaced ATI120 from 2016)PSY115 Psychological SkillsPSY140 Introduction to Psychology APSY141 Introduction to Psychology BPSY202 Developmental PsychologyPSY208 Biological Bases of BehaviourPSY209 Social-Cultural PsychologyPSY245 Cognition and LanguagePSY247 Research Design and AnalysisPSY305 Theories of PersonalityPSY340 Behavioural Therapies (new title from 2016)PSY347 Advanced Research Design and AnalysisPSY353 Abnormal PsychologyPSY355 Applied Psychology (new title from 2016)Plus either:IAS131 Colonising Australia (replaces IND150 from 2020 which replaced ATI150 from 2016)ORIAS144 Indigenous Land and Resources (replaces ATI140 from 2020) Specialist Elective(3 units)30cpSelect units totalling 30 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below.PSY143 Traumatology - Assessment and InterventionAOD201 Alcohol and Other Drugs StudiesPSY211 Introduction to Forensic PsychologyAOD301 Counselling/Interventions in Alcohol and Other DrugsPSY390 Counselling (new title from 2016) Electives(4 units)40cpSelect units totalling 40 credit points may be selected from undergraduate units offered by the University.  240cpTotal Credit PointsStudents who commence in or after 2013No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or aboveStudents should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.Course Changes and Transitional Arrangements - 2016 Students transferring from the BPSYS course to the WPSYS1 course should note the following changes:an increase in core units from 10 to 15 (150 cp)a reduction in specialist electives from 4 to 3 (30 cp)a reduction in electives from 8 to 4 (40 cp)Discontinued Units from 2016: Unit CodeUnit TitlePSY308Behavioural NeuropsychologyPSY315Learning and Motivation Students who have completed PSY315 may still complete PSY340 as a specialist elective. Students who have not completed PSY315 should complete PSY340 as a core unit. Students who have completed PSY308 prior to 2016 may count this unit towards a specialist elective. Unit Title Changes Unit CodePrevious TitleNew Title (2016)CUC100Academic LiteraciesAcademic Literacies Through Exploring SustainabilityPSY340Introduction to Behavioural TherapiesBehavioural TherapiesPSY355Health PsychologyApplied PsychologyPSY390Introduction to CounsellingCounselling  Unit Code Changes  Previous Unit CodeNew Unit Code (2016)Unit TitleATI120IND120Indigenous People, Society and CultureATI150IND150Colonising Australia   

Subjects

  • Society and Welfare Studies

Standard entry requirements

Admission requirements are met by one of the following:Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher.Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 135 (or a score of 145 if prior to May 2010).Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program, the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses, or other recognised tertiary preparation course.Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.* After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.

Study information

CampusFeesEntryMid year intakeAttendance
Casuarina International: $28,224 No
  • Full-time : 3 years
  • Part-time : 6 years
CDU Online International: $28,224 No
  • Full-time : 3 years
  • Part-time : 6 years

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