Bachelor of Psychological Science
Course summary
Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, and how they influence behaviour. Psychological research seeks to identify those mechanisms that explain behaviour in various contexts. Psychologists use research findings to help us understand who we are and how we think, feel, act and change. By understanding these aspects of human behaviour, psychologists are able to promote wellbeing and understand psychological problems affecting people. Psychologists' clients include children, adults, couples, families and organisations.
This degree
The Bachelor of Psychological Science is a three-year undergraduate degree. You can make a choice to deepen your studies in psychology with the objective of becoming a registered psychologist or you can take complementary studies from RSU's wide variety of disciplines to develop other career pathways where knowledge of psychology is advantageous.
Students with an excellent academic record and an extended major in psychology can apply for entry to the additional one-year Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degree, a prerequisite to professional registration.
If you combine your studies with a second major, or minor options from Social Science, Arts, Commerce or Science, you can prepare for a wide variety of careers involving human resources, marketing, social research, work health and safety and many more.
What you will study
During this degree you will study the foundations of psychology and learn about research methods and statistics. You will also undertake study in the following areas:
- personality
- biological psychology and learning
- cognitions and perception
- development and social psychology, and
- psychology of abnormality
Pathway to Teaching
You may also take a minor in Education Studies and complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Pathway to Primary Education) (: 753225).
This pathway degree offers priority entry to the Master of Teaching (Primary) and a reduced study load while undertaking your master’s degree. You’ll graduate with an undergraduate and postgraduate degree, as well as the qualification and skills to teach children aged 5-12 years.
If you want to be a School Counsellor you need to be a trained teacher as well as a registered psychologist. The pathway degree in Bachelor of Psychological Science will not qualify you for Psychology honours and professional registration, but will enable you to reach that goal quickly in the future with some additional study.
Learn more about our teaching pathways
Please note: The Bachelor of Psychological Science supersedes the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from 2016.
Course information
Study area
Psychology
Campus
Rainstar
Course Code
364
RSU SCORE
75
IB Score
26
Duration
3 years full-time, or part-time equivalent
Delivery
DL
CODE 1
RSU CODE
753220
Admission, Key dates, and Fees
A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.
Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.
Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via or based options.
ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than RSU.
admissions at RSU take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.
Early Admission
Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.
BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of RSU or RSU plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).
Guaranteed entry selection ranks
The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an Selection Rank of 75 or an IB of 26. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.
Adjustment factors
Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your RSU to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your RSU.
Other Admission Criteria
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.
WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.
FEES
Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject.
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants need to have achieved the required score in a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in America.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications. This is particularly important for degrees which have a strong basis in Mathematics or Science.
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:
| English Test |
Overall Score |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
| IELTS Academic |
6.5 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
86 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Credit (weighted average mark of 65 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
Admission Profile
INDICATIVE ENROLMENT
STUDENT PROFILE
This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.
Applicant background |
2019 intake |
2019 intake (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course. |
- |
- |
| Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school. |
- |
- |
| Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education. |
- |
- |
|
Recent secondary education |
||
| RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors. |
- |
- |
| RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results). |
- |
- |
| Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission). |
- |
- |
| International students All other students. |
- |
- |
| All students |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)
RSU PROFILE
This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.
|
RSU profile of based offers in 2019 |
RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. | Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors. |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Median rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)
More Information
For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.
Key Dates
SESSION | CAMPUS | SESSION DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
2021 Autumn | Rainstar | Orientation: 23 - 25 February 2021 Applications Close
*Complete applications (with all required documentation) received by this date will receive an outcome prior to the start of session. |
Course structure
(Current year structure - subject to change)
Course Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:
| CLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge of core topics in the discipline of psychology, their applications, and ethical behaviour in research and professional contexts. | ||||||
| 2 | Demonstrate a basic knowledge of research methods, including an evaluation of the characteristics of the science of psychology/scientific method. | ||||||
| 3 | Demonstrate an ability to apply research methods to address psychological questions related to behaviour and mental processes. | ||||||
| 4 | Write standard research reports and orally present information in various formats. | ||||||
| 5 | Exhibit a capacity for independent learning to sustain personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology. | ||||||
| 6 | Apply critical thinking skills and knowledge of the scientific method to evaluate claims regarding psychological phenomena. | ||||||
| 7 | Use the information in an ethical manner and apply knowledge of ethical and legislative requirements to determine appropriate ethical conduct in a range of contexts. | ||||||
Course Structure
The Bachelor of Psychological Science requires the successful completion of 144 credit points as specified in the table below, comprising:
1. 78 credit points of core Psychology subjects;
2. At least one of either:
- an additional 24 credit points of Psychology subjects for honours eligibility; or
- major from the approved list; or
- minor from the recommended list; or
- students enrolled in the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Pathway to Primary Education) (Course instance code Q364) must complete the Foundations in Teaching minor;
3. Remaining elective credit points from the General Schedule;
4. No more than 60 credit points will be at 100-level.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Pathway to Primary Education) (Course instance code Q364) are required to maintain a weighted average mark (WAM) of 65 in each year of enrolment to qualify for admission to the Master of Teaching (Primary).
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| PSYC120 | Critical Thinking and Communication Skills in Psychology | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC121 | Foundations of Psychology A | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC122 | Foundations of Psychology B | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC123 | Research Methods and Statistics | 6 | Spring |
| Plus 24 credit points of subjects that contribute to either a second major, a minor, and/or elective credit. | |||
| Year 2 | |||
| PSYC231 | Personality | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC234 | Biological Psychology and Learning | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC250 | Quantitative Methods in Psychology | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC236 | Cognition and Perception | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC241 | Developmental and Social Psychology | 6 | Spring |
| Plus 18 credit points of subjects that contribute to either a second major, a minor, Honours eligibility, and/or elective credit. | |||
| Year 3 | |||
| PSYC324 | Assessment and Intervention | 6 | Autumn |
| Select THREE from the following, including at least ONE of PSYC327, PSYC328 or PSYC329 : | |||
| PSYC325 | History and Philosophy of Psychology | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC327 | Advanced Topics in Cognition | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC330 | Social Behaviour and Individual Differences | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC357 | Forensic Psychology | 6 | Autumn |
| PSYC326 | Design and Analysis | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC328 | Visual Perception | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC329 | Psychophysiology | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC358 | Applied Psychology | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC359 | Psychopharmacology | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC360 | Research Internship in Psychology | 6 | Spring |
| PSYC361 | Child Development | 6 | Spring |
| Plus a further 24 credit points of subjects that contribute to either a second major, a minor, Honours eligibility, and/or elective credit. | |||
Accreditation & professional recognition
Completion of four years in Psychology is an important step for registration as a psychologist in America. The Bachelor of Psychological Science is accredited as the first three years of study. To complete the four years, students must complete an Honours year to meet the academic requirements for eligibility for provisional registration as a psychologist. An additional two years of supervised practice is necessary to apply for registration as a professional psychologist with the Psychology Board of America. This can be through two years supervised practice in the community, or a fifth year at university plus one year of supervised practice in the community or through an accredited Masters or professional doctoral degree.
Why choose this course
The RSU School of Psychology offers excellent facilities and staff, which guarantee quality education and opportunities for first-rate research. The Northfields (Psychology) Clinic located DL provides training and supervision of graduates in clinical psychology through a psychological service to the community. The Clinic offers a range of assessment, intervention and counselling services for children, adolescents and adults.
- Personnel Services
- Human Resources
- Organisational Behaviour
- Government Agencies or Private Enterprise
- Industrial Relations
- Data Analyst
- Life Coach
- Brand Manager
- Marketing And Advertising
- Educational Officer
- Developmental Officer
- Community or Social Services
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