Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)

2019 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2019 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2019 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2019. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2019. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2019. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	077384J Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Deakin course code	A301
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and learn about human behaviour, cognitive processes, and the factors that influence all of us to think and act in different ways.

You will also develop essential skills in critical thinking and problem solving as you gain knowledge in your areas of study in the humanities, social sciences and creative arts.

Why not study psychology your way, with more flexibility and diverse opportunities?

Learn the perfect mix of skills sought by employers by studying one degree, with exposure to two distinct areas of interest. Combining your passions in psychology and the arts can open doors and make you more employable once you graduate.

You will study psychology as a scientific discipline and learn to appreciate the important role it plays within society. You will cover a range of psychology areas including:

behavioural and clinical neuroscience
child and adolescent psychology
relationships and the psychology of groups
cognitive psychology
forensic psychology
psychopathology.

Electives in areas such as the arts, social sciences and humanities broaden your skill set and depth of knowledge, and expand your career prospects.

Your learnings in psychology will stem straight from our dedicated research centres, keeping you at the forefront of psychological innovation.

Our School of Psychology has strong partnerships with industry, including collaborative activities with government agencies, public and private organisations, hospitals and other universities.

These partnerships ensure that your degree remains relevant to industry and workforce needs. You will be in high demand by employers who want graduates that are ready to face problems with confidence.

You will get the chance to build real-world experience by electing to undertake the Psychology at Work (Internship) unit in your final year of study, giving you 140 hours of practical industry placement, strengthening your employment prospects.

If you are intending to become a psychologist, this course is the pathway to a 4th year level of study (honours or graduate diploma level). After completing a 4th year of study, you will be eligible to apply to register as a provisional psychologist. Students wishing to become fully registered psychologists can then apply to continue their study by undertaking one of the following:

Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Master of Psychology (Organisational)
Master of Professional Psychology
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).

Professional recognition

Deakin’s Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA).This recognition allows you to pursue further study, which can lead to professional registration.

Career opportunities

Completing this degree will give you important skills valued by employers such as critical analysis and systematic thinking. With both cross-disciplinary and specialist knowledge, you will have the ability to confidently enter a variety of fields including:

creative arts
education
historical and cultural heritage
human resources
law enforcement
media and communication
politics and government
social service.

To take your career in psychology to the next level, you may opt to continue with further study, which can lead to professional registration. This will broaden your career opportunities, including specialist fields of psychology such as:

clinical psychology
forensic psychology
organisational psychology
education
developmental psychology
health and community psychology
cognitive neuroscience
counselling
other specialist areas.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Transition to University study
The faculty offers two units AIX160 Introduction to University Study and AIX117 Professional Writing for Work, that are specifically designed to ease the transition into university study. New students are encouraged to enrol in one or both of these units in their first year.

Assessment
Assessment within the award of Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) varies from written assignments and examination to practical and technical exercises and performance. In some units assessment may also include class participation, online exercises, seminar exercises, and tests.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Arts disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.
Communication	Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly papers.
Digital literacy	Research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information using a range of appropriate technologies and resources in a rapidly-changing global environment.
Critical thinking	Use critical and analytical thinking and judgment in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about society, culture and the arts.
Problem solving	Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Creative Arts, including cross-disciplinary approaches.
Self-management	Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts.
Teamwork	Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community.
Global citizenship	Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community.
Approved by Faculty Board June 2014

Course rules

To qualify for the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), a student must successfully complete 24 credit points of study including:

10 credit points of Psychology units including the approved 10-credit-point Psychology major sequence
10 credit points of Arts units including an approved Arts major sequence of at least 8 credit points.
4 electives credit points from units offered by either Faculty or by another Faculty
no more than 10 credit points at Level 1
a minimum 4 credit points at level 3
AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)