Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
2021 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2021 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) |
| Course Map | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2021. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| 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
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
Course overview
Study the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and gain insight into why people think, feel and behave the way they do. At the same time, you will also open the door to a world of opportunity through your study in the 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
- human social behaviour
- cognitive psychology
- forensic psychology
Our School of Psychology is one of the largest in Victoria. It 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. The Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) is also recognised for registration purposes by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
As a student in the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), you will also choose an area of study in the Arts from over 28 disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, communication, languages, and the creative arts to build your future-focused degree.
You will develop specialist knowledge in your chose Arts discipline and learn how to apply critical, creative and strategic thinking to real-world issues.
You will also develop essential skills in communication, critical thinking and problem solving that you will take with you into your futures.
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
All of the psychology courses offered at Deakin meet the requirements of the PBA and the Australian Psychological Society (APS), translating into excellent job and career opportunities for our graduates. Deakin’s Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Career opportunities
As a Deakin Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) graduate you will develop some of the most important skills a student can gain at university.
Through your study in the Arts you will build valuable and transferable career skills, making you highly employable within many industries. The range of disciplines on offer also lets you follow your passion and develop the specialist skills to pursue the career you want. You will be able to take your degree into a range of careers, including:
- Administration
- Advertising
- Business
- Communication
- Community services
- Criminal justice
- Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM)
- Government
- Human rights
- Journalism
- Media
- Not-for-profits
- Performing and Visual Arts
- Photography
- Policing
- Policy development
- Politics
- Public relations
- Publishing
- Research
- Tourism
Following the completion of your major in psychology, taking the next step towards becoming a psychologist involves applying for an honours year (e.g. Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)). Once completed, you’ll be able to register as a provisional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.
If your passion isn’t to complete further study to become a registered psychologist, there are still many diverse career options available, including:
- child protection
- counselling
- family support
- human services
- marketing
- not for profit aid
- public health
- social work
If you choose to pursue full registration as a psychologist, you may find employment in a variety of roles, including:
- clinical psychologist
- cognitive neuroscientist
- counsellor
- criminal psychologist
- educational and developmental psychologist
- family therapist
- forensic psychologist
- health and community psychologist
- organisational psychologist
- rehabilitation counsellor
- sport and exercise psychologist
- youth psychologist
These positions can be found in:
- private clinics and practices
- public and private hospitals
- corporate organisations
- schools and universities
- government departments and agencies
- sporting clubs and institutes
- social research organisations
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.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.
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 6 credit points at level 3 or above
- AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
Course structure
Level 1
| AAI018 | Academic Integrity |
| HPS111 | Introduction to Psychology: Fundamentals of Human Behaviour |
| HPS121 | Introduction to Psychology: Individual and Social Development |
Level 2
| HPS201 | Psychology Research Methods (Introductory) |
| HPS202 | Child and Adolescent Development |
| HPS203 | The Human Mind |
| HPS204 | Human Social Behaviour |
Level 3
| HPS301 | Psychology Research Methods (Intermediate) |
| HPS307 | Personality |
| HPS308 | Psychopathology |
| HPS310 | Brain, Biology and Behaviour |
Work experience
Students have the opportunity to undertake preparation for work units and/or internship units as electives in this course through either the Faculty of Arts and Education or the School of Psychology.
Arts major sequence
Refer to A300 Bachelor of Arts handbook course entry for list of Arts majors on offer.
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
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.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
There are options for WIL and study tours across many of the SHSS courses.
Research and research-related study
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.