Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour. It is a very diverse discipline and encompasses many aspects of human behaviour. Psychology is concerned with the way we behave in groups as well as individual behaviour patterns; it is concerned with the way we act as well as the way we think and it is concerned with our interaction with the physical world as well as our interaction with others.

School of Psychology website

Studying Psychology

Psychology is offered either as a specialised four year Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) degree, or as a major in the Liberal Studies, Science, Arts, or Economic and Social Sciences degrees. Students can also study psychology as part of a number of combined degrees.

When undertaking a Science, Arts, or Economics degree students study psychology alongside other subjects from these faculties, choosing to study one or two years of psychology or to go on to a third year and major in psychology.

In most circumstances students also major in a second subject. Students who perform well enough may then progress to Honours. Psychology can also form part of the major in neuroscience.

What will you study?

FIRST YEAR PSYCHOLOGY
First year psychology offers an introduction to the main topics and methods of psychology, and is the basis for advanced work. It is also of interest to those who require only a basic understanding of psychology and don’t wish to study psychology in second and third year.

The unit usually covers the following areas: subject matter and methods of psychology; basic statistics and measurement; behavioural neuroscience; social psychology; personality theory; human development; human mental abilities; learning, motivation and applied psychology; visual perception; cognitive processes.

Second year psychology

Second year psychology deals with material on both basic and complex psychological processes and may include the following topics:

• statistical and research methods for psychology
• personality theory
• differential psychology
• brain and behaviour
• social psychology
• cognitive processes
• developmental psychology

THIRD YEAR PSYCHOLOGY
In third year, BSc and BPsych students may devote their full year to the study of psychology, by studying eight separate units of study. However, a minimum of four units of study (five for the Bachelor of Psychology) is required for students wishing to proceed to a fourth year of psychology. These must include Advanced Statistics (for Psychology Honours), and at least one of:

• Cognition, Language and Thought
• Learning & Behaviour
• Behavioural & Cognitive Neuroscience
• Perceptual Systems
• 
  Other third year topics may include:
• Intelligence & Human Reasoning
• Social Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• History & Philosophy of Psychology & Psychiatry
• Communication & Counselling
• Advanced Statistics for Psychology

Honours

Entry into Honours depends on meeting progression rules and performing well enough to get into the quota. Honours requires the completion of course work, and provides research training in individual research projects, which students complete under the supervision of a member of staff. Successful completion of the Honours program allows students of sufficient merit to progress to postgraduate study.

Other career opportunities

As well as forming the base for a career as a psychologist, study in psychology also provides the training for graduates to obtain jobs in areas such as medical and health research, market research, marketing, human resources, teaching, hospitals, government, recruitment selection, the Defence Forces and the public service.

Employers appreciate the training given in basic psychology and research methods at this University. Recent research has shown that employers are looking for graduates with a range of skills and abilities, especially across disciplines. Abilities developed while studying Psychology, for example computer analysis, report writing, data interpretation, and presentation skills are particularly valuable.