Handbook

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Overview

Psychology is a discipline of both scientific research and applied practice. As a science, psychology is concerned with the study of behaviour and its underlying mental and neural processes. Students gain an integrated and comprehensive education in main discipline areas, including developmental, social, cognitive, biological, physiological and abnormal psychology. The … For more content click the Read More button below. Psychology has many areas of application, especially in clinical, correctional, counselling, educational, and organisational settings. In addition, people with training in psychology pursue careers in academic research, health research, developmental disabilities and rehabilitation, ergonomics, occupational health and safety, personnel selection, training, and management, vocational guidance, and marketing. The program allows students to complete an APAC-accredited undergraduate sequence in psychology across three years. The program is designed to allow students to complete a complementary major (in a related discipline where there is a professional and/or academic rationale that supports the proposed combination). Complementary majors available outside of the Faculty of Science include behavioural economics, marketing, human resource management, criminology, linguistics and philosophy. From the Faculty of Science, students may choose a complementary major in neuroscience or vision science. Upon completion of this program students may choose to complete an additional fourth year program in psychology (Honours), subject to satisfying the entry requirements (refer to the Pathways section). The basic rules for the degree are set out under the Program Structure section of this Handbook. Students must ensure that they complete a minimum of 78 units of credit (UoC) in Psychology, a combination of PSYCxxxx core and PSYC3xxx elective courses (as defined under Program Structure). The remaining UoC may comprise of courses offered by the Faculty of Science or any other Faculty. Please consult the School of Psychology for detailed definitions of complementary majors and their appropriate program structures (refer to the Sample Programs section).

Psychology has many areas of application, especially in clinical, correctional, counselling, educational, and organisational settings. In addition, people with training in psychology pursue careers in academic research, health research, developmental disabilities and rehabilitation, ergonomics, occupational health and safety, personnel selection, training, and management, vocational guidance, and marketing.

The program allows students to complete an APAC-accredited undergraduate sequence in psychology across three years. The program is designed to allow students to complete a complementary major (in a related discipline where there is a professional and/or academic rationale that supports the proposed combination). Complementary majors available outside of the Faculty of Science include behavioural economics, marketing, human resource management, criminology, linguistics and philosophy. From the Faculty of Science, students may choose a complementary major in neuroscience or vision science. Upon completion of this program students may choose to complete an additional fourth year program in psychology (Honours), subject to satisfying the entry requirements (refer to the Pathways section).

The basic rules for the degree are set out under the Program Structure section of this Handbook. Students must ensure that they complete a minimum of 78 units of credit (UoC) in Psychology, a combination of PSYCxxxx core and PSYC3xxx elective courses (as defined under Program Structure). The remaining UoC may comprise of courses offered by the Faculty of Science or any other Faculty. Please consult the School of Psychology for detailed definitions of complementary majors and their appropriate program structures (refer to the Sample Programs section).

Program Structure

Students must complete 144 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

1. At least 78 UOC of Psychology courses
2. 54 UOC of Free Electives (see Complementary majors, below)
3. 12 UOC General Education courses

Students who do not choose to complete a complementary major complete 54 UOC of Free Electives in total.

If a student uses their Free Electives to complete a complementary major, the remaining Free Elective UOC to be completed will vary depending on the major chosen, as follows.

Majors in:

- Linguistics or Philosophy: 12 UOC of Free Electives.
- Criminology, Behavioural Economics, Human Resource Management, Management or Marketing: 18 UOC of Free Electives.
- Neuroscience: 0 UOC of Free Electives.

GEN# coded courses can only be used to fulfil the General Education requirement of the program (i.e., they cannot be used to fulfil the Free Elective requirement). Any exceptions to these rules must be approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) or nominee.

Disciplinary Component96 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 96 UOC of the following to satisfy the core requirements of this degree

Complementary majors

In addition to their core study in Psychology, students may choose to use their Free Electives to complete one of the complementary majors listed below.

Students wishing to undertake a complementary major are encouraged to declare the major as soon as possible.

Note: Students wishing to undertake a complementary major in Neuroscience or Vision Science should be aware that it may not be possible to complete their program within 144 UOC (i.e., within three years of full-time study). This may involve additional time and cost and might have visa implications for International Students.

Behavioural Economics

Human Resource Management

Level 1 Core Courses18 Units of Credit:

Level 2 Core Courses30 Units of Credit:

Level 3 Core Courses12 Units of Credit:

Level 3 Prescribed Electives18 Units of Credit:

Students must take at least 18 UOC of Level 3 Psychology elective courses with at least 6 UOC from List A and 6 UOC from List B.

Level 3 Prescribed Electives List A

Level 3 Prescribed Electives List B

Free Electives18 Units of Credit:

Maximum Level 1 UOC

Free electives

General Education12 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 12 UOC of General Education courses.

This requirement is satisfied for students who complete one of the optional complementary majors from outside the Faculty of Science.

Students not taking a complementary major must choose GEN# coded courses (excluding those with a GENS prefix), courses substituted for General Education, or a combination of both to fulfil the General Education requirement of this program.

any General Education course

Excluded General Education Courses

Program Constraints

Maturity Rule

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Sample Programs

To access sample program(s), please visit:

Psychological Science Degree Templates

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

UNSW Students may be granted Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) which may or may not reduce the amount of learning required to achieve a degree at UNSW. Generally, RPL is only granted based on the completion of tertiary-level studies, but in exceptional circumstances may also include non-formal or informal learning such as professional experience. RPL will not be granted based on partly completed tertiary courses. All applications for RPL at UNSW are subject to UNSW Recognition of Prior Learning (Coursework Programs) Policy and Procedures. Students seeking credit for courses completed at another university are required to submit documentary evidence (course outlines, academic transcripts) to support their application, and to nominate the course(s) for which they seek credit. In addition, the following conditions apply for all UNSW Science programs (including the Science component of dual award programs): Specified course credit, i.e. credit granted for an exact or near exact equivalence to a course at UNSW, will not be granted when more than 7 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Where this time period is shorter it will be stipulated in the individual rules for the relevant program. Unspecified course credit (e.g. General Education or free electives) will not be granted when more than 10 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Students may only receive credit of up to a maximum of 50% of the coursework component of their Science program, excluding Honours. For most undergraduate programs this will be 72 UOC. For dual award programs that include a Science component, it will be a maximum of 50% of the Science component of the dual degree, excluding Honours. Credit for the other program will be assessed by the Faculty that administers that program. Applications for RPL will only be assessed for students who have accepted a place to study in a UNSW Science program. Students must formally apply for RPL unless they become a UNSW student as part of a formal Articulation Agreement. Applications for RPL should be made as early as possible in the student’s program. Students who are readmitted into a Science program after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, will not necessarily retain credit for all units completed at UNSW prior to the absence if the date of completion of the units of study is greater than the 7 and 10-year rules outlined in points 1 and 2 above. In these cases, the credit retained will be decided by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) in consultation (when necessary) with the Program and/or Course Authority.

Special Admission Requirements

Other

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Domestic Students

International Student

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Progression rules are in accordance with university policy.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Similar Program

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) - BPsych(Hons)3632 - Psychology (Honours)

Related Double Degree

Bachelor of Psychological Science - BPsychSc
Bachelor of Laws - LLB4722 - Psychological Science / Law

Honours Pathway

Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) - BPsychSc(Hons)4518 - Psychological Science (Honours)

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Australian Psychology Accreditation Council

Professional Recognition

Enrolled students are eligible to become a Student Subscriber of the Australian Psychological Society (www.psychology.org.au).

Career Opportunities

Psychologist in clinical, correctional, counselling, educational, organisational settings; academic research; developmental disabilities and rehabilitation; ergonomics; health research; marketing; work health and safety; personnel selection; training; management; vocational guidance. Additional examples include roles in public affairs, education, business, sales, service industries, health and biological sciences.

Recognition of Achievement

University Medal

Award of Pass with Distinction

The Award of Pass with Distinction is awarded when a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award Pass with Distinction except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

For more information, please visit:

Current Students Pass With Distinction

Additional Information

Science Handbook Rules and Editions

Students must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year they commence their studies with the Faculty of Science.

Students who transfer from another UNSW Faculty into Science (for example, from a Bachelor of Arts into a Bachelor of Science) must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year of their transfer.

Students who are readmitted to UNSW after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, must satisfy the program rules in the Handbook published in the year of their readmission. In addition, these students may be subject to restrictions on which courses taken at UNSW may be counted on their return. In some cases, students returning from an unapproved absence may be required to repeat courses. See the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) section above for more details. Students who take approved leave or deferment will follow the Handbook for the year of their original commencement unless otherwise approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students

Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)

International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Psychological Science

3435

144 Units of Credit

Overview

Program Structure

Program Constraints

Enrolment Disclaimer

Sample Programs

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Special Admission Requirements

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

Associated Programs

Similar Program

Related Double Degree

Honours Pathway

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Professional Recognition

Career Opportunities

Recognition of Achievement

Additional Information

Program Fees

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions