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Introduction to Majors

A major is the main subject area that you choose to study in your degree. You will study courses up to Stage III level in this subject.

As well as gaining skills, knowledge and experience in your chosen area, you will learn how to think creatively, solve problems and communicate effectively, all essential skills to help you thrive in any career you choose.

Please see the main programme link below to see further details for the programme.

Subject Overview

Psychology helps us to understand how people behave, learn, think, feel and interact with the world around them. Study in psychology will introduce you to a range of exciting topics such as the brain, human development, mental health, the development of relationships, evolution, social processes, culture and sustainability.

You will also learn research skills, including both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The School of Psychology has strong expertise in areas such as clinical psychology, social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, child development, learning and behaviour, communication, critical and feminist psychology, indigenous psychologies, and community psychology.

You can study Psychology as a major in the Bachelor of Science (BSc), a specialisation in the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) (BAdvSci(Hons)) or a major in the Bachelor of Arts (BA).
Some of the topics you’ll study include:
- Cognitive science
- Human neuroscience
- Learning and behaviour
- Mind, brain and behaviour
- Perception and cognition
- Psychology and gender
- Social psychology

As a BSc Psychology student you’ll study a variety of approaches to the discipline, ranging from the quantitative to the qualitative and personalised, and the theoretical to the practical.
Modern psychologists base their theories on observable and repeatable behavioural data, ranging from counts of simple behaviour in animals to verbal reports of emotions and feelings in humans. As a result, practical work in the laboratory or field is an essential part of your major.
As part of your major you’ll complete a capstone course, PSYCH 399 Communicating Psychology, where you’ll work independently and in small groups to communicate psychological ideas and research using a range of media, including grant proposals, podcasts and print.

Main Programme

Potential Careers

Psychology is a versatile subject that can take you into many different career paths. You could work in the fields of mental health, justice, cognitive or behavioural science, research, industry and marketing, education or counselling. You can also work within a business environment that uses psychological tests, statistical analyses, or survey and questionnaire development or employs people with organisational psychology skills. Staff recruitment, human resources, personnel training and evaluation are areas in which many psychology graduates are employed.

Research careers can be developed in many aspects of psychology including neural function, neuropathology and cognitive science. Some postgraduate degrees in psychology will prepare you to work as a registered psychologist in applied fields such as clinical psychology or applied behaviour analysis.

Many avenues open up to graduates with training in psychology. Registered psychologists work in many aspects of mental health care and clinical psychology.
Jobs are available in the business environment involving the use of psychological tests, statistical analyses, or survey and questionnaire development. Staff recruitment, personnel training and evaluation are also areas that employ a lot of psychology graduates. Research careers can be developed in neural function and cognitive science.
Jobs related to Psychology
- Clinician
- HR specialist
- Mental health practitioner
- Psychologist
- Researcher
- Staff recruiter

Plan Schedule / Plan Rules

Complete 120 points comprising:

  • 30 points for all Stage I Compulsory Courses, and
  • 15 points for all Stage II Compulsory Course , and
  • 15 points from Stage II Psychology Elective Courses, and
  • 15 points from Additional Stage II Elective Courses, and
  • 30 points from Stage III Psychology Elective Courses, and
  • 15 points from Additional Stage III Elective Courses

Stage I Compulsory Courses

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

Stage II Compulsory Course

Complete 15 points for ALL of the following:

Stage II Psychology Elective Courses

Complete exactly 15 points from the following:

Additional Stage II Elective Courses

Complete exactly 15 points from the following:

Stage III Psychology Elective Courses

Complete exactly 30 points from the following:

Additional Stage III Elective Courses

Complete exactly 15 points from the following:

Disclaimer

Please note that while regulations and programme rules for future academic years may be displayed or made available in advance, they remain subject to change. Official, final approved programme regulations for the upcoming academic year will be available when the University Calendar is published in late October of the preceding year. Any information available prior to Calendar publication should be treated as provisional.

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