Bachelor of Psychology

Upon completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

be able to understand and apply the core topics of psychology with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including: the history and philosophy underpinning the science of psychology and the social, cultural, historical and professional influences on the practice of psychology; individual differences in capacity, behaviour and personality ; psychological health and well-being; psychological disorders and evidence-based interventions; learning and memory; cognition, language and perception; motivation and emotion; neuroscience and the biological bases of behaviour ; lifespan developmental psychology; social psychology; culturally appropriate psychological assessment and measurement; research methods and statistics

1. be able to critically evaluate theory and research in psychology and communicate this information in appropriate written and oral format
2. be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology
3. be able to apply the knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
4. be able to demonstrate a capacity for independent learning to sustain personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology
5. be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate and work effectively as part of a team
6. be able to investigate substantive individual research questions in psychology using an evidence-based approach and complete a research thesis
7. be able to demonstrate fundamental psychological knowledge, interpersonal communication and interview skills, within a range of socially and culturally diverse clients
8. be able to demonstrate basic assessment strategies in situations appropriate to psychological practice and knowledge of psychometric theory and principles of the construction, cultural considerations, implementation and interpretation of some of the more widely used standardised psychological test instruments
9. be able to explain how psychological intervention strategies can be applied in a range of cultural and social contexts

Explore human behaviour while gaining an understanding of people's wellbeing with the Bachelor of Psychology from Charles Sturt University. Psychologists can be both health professionals and scientists, undertaking research and gaining insights into human behaviour and mental processes. Our four-year Bachelor of Psychology is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council as a four-year sequence of study in psychology. Further study and training will be required to pursue your career as a psychologist.

The Bachelor of Psychology can be studied on campus in Bathurst or Port Macquarie, this course is also available to study completely online.

The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) may also be used as a pathway to the Bachelor of Psychology for students who do not meet the initial entry requirements, as the ATAR (or equivalent) for entry is lower.

Recommended study pattern

The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) is a combined course. Students are admitted into the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and depending on their GPA will either continue to the honours degree or transfer into the Bachelor of Psychology pass course.

Bachelor (Honours) - Credit Points: 256

The course consists: • seventeen (17) core psychology subjects • one (1) core sociology subjects • a minor of six (6) subjects from a cognate discipline, one of which must be a Level 3 subject; • four (4) electives and • two (2) dissertation subjects

Essential set - Credit Points: 184

Core - Credit Points: 104

Level 100 to Level 300. Students undertaking the course complete all subjects

PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1 (8)

PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2 (8)

PSY114 First Nations Australians and Psychology: An Introduction (8)

PSY115 An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning (8)

PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (8)

PSY204 Psychological Testing (8)

PSY208 Biopsychology (8)

PSY221 Developmental and Social Psychology (8)

PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (8)

PSY304 Psychopathology (8)

PSY305 Psychology of Personality (8)

PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods (8)

PSY310 Learning and Cognition (8)

Core - Credit Points: 8

Sociology subject

SOC101 Understanding the Social World (8)

Minor - non-standard - Credit Points: 48

Students must take a minor of six subjects, at least one of which must be at Level 300, in one of the discipline areas listed below. All minor sequences are available by online education and some are also available internally at some campuses. • Biology • English • History and Politics • Human Resource Management • Information Technology • Justice Studies • Law • Management • Marketing • Mathematics and Statistics • Philosophy • Social Welfare • Sociology Note: Students who choose Sociology as a minor complete five sociology subjects (one of which must be a Level 300 subject) in addition to the core sociology subject (SOC101); they will need to choose four electives. Details of the subjects included in each of these minors may be obtained from ask@csu.edu.au. On-campus students may have to complete some or all subjects in their chosen minor via online delivery. Students may take any six subjects from one of the areas listed provided they meet the prerequisites/assumed knowledge requirements and include at least one Level 3 subject. A minor in another discipline may be taken with the approval of the Course Director: email ask@csu.edu.au.

XUN008 Unrestricted elective (8)

XUN008 Unrestricted elective (8)

XUN008 Unrestricted elective (8)

XUN008 Unrestricted elective (8)

XUN008 Unrestricted elective (8)

XUN008 Unrestricted elective (8)

Minor - Credit Points: 32

Minor: English (32)

Restricted Electives - Credit Points: 32

Choose four (4) subjects from the list below with at least one (1) subject at level 300.

LIT124 Children's Literature (8)

CLT209 Media and Culture (8)

IKC202 Indigenous Australians and Literatures: Critical Endeavours (8)

LIT212 World Literature (8)

LIT220 Writing for Stage and Screen (8)

LIT221 Creative Writing (8)

LIT224 Literature for Teens and Young Adults (8)

LIT225 Reading the Past into the Present (8)

LIT226 Romanticism: (R)evolution of the Self (8)

LIT301 Modernism (8)

LIT302 Australian Voices (8)

LIT303 The English Novel (8)

LIT318 Digital Futures: Questioning Texts in Literature and Philosophy (8)

WRT301 Life Writing (8)

OR

Minor: Justice Studies (32)

Restricted Electives - Credit Points: 32

Choose four (4) subjects from the list below with at least one (1) subject at level 300.

JST110 Criminal Justice in Society (8)

HCS205 Child Abuse and Child Protection (8)

HCS310 Mental Health (8)

JST201 Criminal Law and Criminology (8)

PHL202 Ethics (8)

PHL209 Justice and Punishment (8)

SOC205 Social Research (8)

SPE211 Foundations in Social Policy (8)

JST318 Human Rights and Social Justice (8)

JST320 Drugs, Crime and Society (8)

SOC308 Community Analysis (8)

OR

Minor: Sociology (32)

Restricted Electives - Credit Points: 32

Choose SOC102 or SOC108 and three (3) subjects from the list below with at least one (1) subject at level 300.

SOC102 Social Inequality (8)

OR

SOC108 Sociology Of Health And Health Care (8)

HST262 Historical Sociology: Migration and Human Relocation (8)

POL210 Politics, Identity and the Self (8)

SOC203 Sociology of Youth (8)

SOC205 Social Research (8)

SOC212 Class, Global Capitalism and Social Change (8)

SOC215 Gender, Family and Society (8)

SOC226 Rural Communities, Global Challenges (8)

SOC301 Policy, Power and Social Action (8)

SOC308 Community Analysis (8)

Restricted Electives - Credit Points: 24

The three electives (four if the minor is in Sociology) can be chosen from any of the discipline areas listed above or from the following psychology electives:

PSY211 Psychology of Crime (8)

PSY214 Health Psychology (8)

PSY218 Psychology of Addiction (8)

PSY313 Psychology and the Legal System (8)

PSY316 Psychology of Stress and Trauma (8)

PSY320 Balgargal: Indigenous Cultural Immersion Experience (8)

Elective set - Credit Points: 88

The elective subject set consists of subjects that will allow students to meet course requirements, chosen from any subject of the University.

Electives - Credit Points: 24

The three electives (four if the minor is in Sociology) can be chosen from any of the discipline areas listed above or from the following psychology electives:

Electives - Pass Strand - Credit Points: 64

Pass Strand [This progression is only available for transferring students who commenced the Bachelor of Social Science (Psych) program before 2021] Progression into the pass strand requires a Grade Point Average (GPA) of between 5.0 and 5.49 calculated across Level 2 and 3 core psychology subjects (9). Students who satisfy these criteria will complete:

PSY404 Psychological Assessment (8)

PSY421 Psychological Interventions (8)

PSY429 Contemporary Topics in Psychology (8)

PSY474 Counselling Skills (8)

PSY472 Psychology Research Thesis 1 (16)

PSY473 Psychology Research Thesis 2 (16)

Electives - Honours Strand - Credit Points: 64

Progression into the honours strand requires a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 calculated across Level 2 and 3 core psychology subjects (9). Students who satisfy these requirements, and whose application to transfer into the Honours strand is successful, will complete:

PSY404 Psychological Assessment (8)

PSY421 Psychological Interventions (8)

PSY429 Contemporary Topics in Psychology (8)

PSY474 Counselling Skills (8)

PSY470 Psychology Honours Dissertation 1 (16)

PSY471 Psychology Honours Dissertation 2 (16)

Bachelor of Psychology - Credit Points: 256

The pass strand comprises: • seventeen (17) core psychology subjects • one (1) core sociology subject • a minor of six (6) subjects from a cognate discipline, one of which must be a Level 3 subject • four (4) electives and • two (2) research thesis subject

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $34,460

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

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Bachelor of Psychology

Have completed at least 8 subjects or more of a Bachelor (or higher) level qualification with a GPA of 5.0.Applicants who do not meet the entry requirement for the Bachelor of Psychology may be eligible for entry into Charles Sturt's Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology). This course is identical to the first three years (equivalent full-time) of the Bachelor of Psychology. There is an established course transfer pathway between the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and the Bachelor of Psychology in the third year.

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Admission into the Honours stream requires a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 calculated across Level 2 and 3 core psychology subjects (9).

A completed High School Certificate (or equivalent) with at least minimum required ATAR (including adjustment factors)

Minimum CSU English Language Proficiency Requirements apply.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit for current competencies will be granted to eligible applicants.