Bachelor of Psychological Science
2024 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Psychological Science |
| Deakin course code | H344 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS course code | 079316E Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| 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
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Majors
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Details of major sequences
- Third party arrangements
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Curious about what makes people think, feel and behave the way they do? Deakin's Bachelor of Psychological Science covers many aspects of human behaviour and personality. Fast-track your degree with our trimester system over two years of full-time study, all while learning from the best as Deakin is ranked #1 in Victoria for psychology course satisfaction, teaching, facilities and undergraduate employment.*
Specialise from year one with the only Victorian university to offer specialist psychology majors in an undergraduate psychology degree, so you can follow your passion early on with a major in child and family, organisational studies or forensic studies. This course prepares you for a range of careers in the fast-growing health sector or sets you up to pursue further study towards provisional registration as a psychologist. You will have the option of undertaking 140 hours of real-world experience with an industry placement strengthening your employment prospects.
Do you want to become an expert in human behaviour, personality and emotion, and join one of the strongest growth areas in the health sector?
Ranked in the top 200 in the world^, Deakin’s School of Psychology is one of the largest in Australia. Leverage our strong partnerships with industry, including collaborative activities with government agencies, public and private organisations, hospitals and other universities.
These partnerships ensure your degree remains relevant to industry and workforce needs. Embedded practical experience and employability focused coursework ensures you graduate career-ready and ahead of the pack with transferrable skills. You will be in high demand by employers who want graduates that are ready to face real-world problems with confidence.
This course recognises the importance of, and relationships between, a range of human factors you will encounter in your future career. You will explore diverse areas of psychology, including:
- behavioural and clinical neuroscience
- child and adolescent psychology
- human social behaviour
- cognitive psychology
- psychopathology
- personality and individual differences
- forensic psychology.
You will also have the opportunity to develop your counselling and coaching skills through Applied Counselling Skills core units, and/or through one of our postgraduate counselling courses.
The Bachelor of Psychological Science is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia and enables you to undertake additional study in pursuit of professional registration as a psychologist. The course is also accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
If you want to become a psychologist, this course is a pathway to a fourth year of study in the form of either our Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) or the Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced). After successfully completing a fourth year of study, you will be eligible to apply to register as a provisional psychologist. Students wishing to gain general registration can then apply to continue their studies by undertaking one of Deakin’s psychology masters or doctorate level courses. Once you have completed a masters degree you can apply for general registration.
A psychology qualification can prepare you for many diverse, exciting career paths. While some psychology graduates go on to become registered psychologists, many others will pursue roles in complementary professions or entirely different fields. Careers in psychology-related fields are always evolving, visit our careers page to discover the exciting broad range of careers that you could pursue.
Discover our psychology and mental health courses.
*Student Experience Survey 2021-2022 and Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-2023, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT).
^2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
All of the psychology courses offered at Deakin meet the requirements of the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) translating into excellent job and career opportunities for our graduates. Upon graduation from this degree, you will have gained a three-year undergraduate psychology sequence that is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and recognised for registration purposes by the PsyBA, enabling you to undertake additional study in pursuit of provisional registration.
If you are seeking to become a registered psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) as a graduate from this course you must next apply for a fourth year of study in psychology, such as Deakin's Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) or Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) to gain provisional registration, then go on to postgraduate study in psychology if you would like to pursue general registration as a psychologist.
Career opportunities
Deakin’s Bachelor of Psychological Science is the first step to pursuing a career as a psychologist. Following the completion of your bachelor’s degree, you will need to apply for an honours year, e.g. Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) or Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced). Once completed, you will be able to register as a provisional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.
You will then need to undertake further study to pursue general registration as a registered psychologist. If your passion isn’t to complete further study to become a registered psychologist, there are still many diverse career options available, including:
- careers counselling
- child protection
- counselling
- developmental psychology
- family support
- human resources management
- human services
- life counselling
- marketing and communications
- mental health rehabilitation
- not-for-profit aid
- public health
- social work.
Additional qualifications may be required for some of the careers listed here, you can find out more about roles and responsibilities, skills, qualifications and experience here.
If you choose to pursue general registration as a psychologist, after the required further study, 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.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a Police Record Check, Working With Children Check or other check. Refer to the relevant unit guide.
Pathways
The Bachelor of Psychological Science can be used as a pathway to general registration as a psychologist by undertaking a fourth year of study in psychology (an honours year or Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) followed by a masters degree such as Deakin's Master of Psychology (Clinical), Doctor of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Organisational) (the only course of its kind in Victoria), or Master of Professional Psychology.
Registration as a Psychologist
The current requirements for registration as a provisional psychologist include the completion of four years of academic study of psychology that is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). The academic program usually consists of an approved undergraduate psychology sequence – such as Deakin’s Bachelor of Psychological Science – followed by an approved fourth year of study (such as Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) or honours in psychology).
Following successful completion of an approved fourth-year of psychology study, you may apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
In order to gain full registration, provisional psychologists must then complete either two years of supervised practice, or a minimum two years of further study, which may include: Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Organisational), Doctor of Psychology or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (with supervised practice completed outside the degree).
Note: This course is currently accredited as at the date of publishing.
Psychology major sequence in other degrees
In addition to the Bachelor of Psychological Science, psychology may be studied as a three-year major sequence in the following degrees: Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Bachelor of Marketing (Psychology) or Bachelor of Human Resource Management (Psychology). These sequences are designed as terminal studies in psychology to complement other studies within an award.
The 10 credit point undergraduate psychology sequence prepares students for postgraduate training towards becoming a practicing registered psychologist. To practice as a psychologist students must complete an undergraduate degree with a major sequence in psychology followed by a fourth year of study in psychology (an Honours in Psychology or a Graduate Diploma of Psychology) that are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Integrate theoretical knowledge of the discipline of psychology in relation to: health, social, cognitive, methodology, neuroscience, development, and personality. Demonstrate appropriate communication, counselling, and research methods skills. |
| Communication | Communicate psychological knowledge and arguments effectively using the most appropriate means utilising clear, discipline appropriate, coherent and well-developed communication skills. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal communication and interview skills in situations appropriate to psychological practice. This includes active listening, clarifying and reflecting, effective questioning, summarising and paraphrasing, developing rapport, appropriate cultural responsiveness and empathic responding. |
| Digital literacy | Utilise online technologies to interact with others, access research and evaluate empirical evidence; and create and disseminate psychology-relevant content. |
| Critical thinking | Identify and critique the factors that contribute to the development of unhealthy mental processes and behaviours, develop arguments, reports, or commentaries based on empirical research and apply the results to affect healthy behaviour change in oneself or others, and; apply the skills required to affect healthy behaviour change in oneself and in others in diverse contexts. |
| Problem solving | Apply knowledge of the scientific method when addressing problems related to behaviour and mental processes; design, plan, and conduct research that addresses these problems; and apply analytic and statistical skills to interpret the results and validity of research. |
| Self-management | Engage in independent learning as a reflective practitioner to sustain personal and professional development in the changing world of the science and practice of psychology; and manage resources, timelines and other constraints to achieve quality and timely outcomes. |
| Teamwork | Collaborate and communicate psychological principles and practices effectively in interdisciplinary teams to work and learn in a range of environments including communities of practice, research and professional practice. |
| Global citizenship | Embody the values and attitudes of the scientist-practitioner; apply ethical and professional responsibilities to local and global communities, apply knowledge and skills in culturally appropriate and inclusive ways. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science students must pass 24 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 16 credit points of core units including:
- 4 credit points of Foundations of Psychology units
- 8 credit points of Psychology Essentials units
- 4 credit points of Psychology in Practice units
- 2 credit points of psychology course electives
- 6 credit points which may comprise of:
- 6 credit points of course elective units
- 6 credit points of open elective units
- 1 psychology major (6 credit points)
- a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
- a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Note:
- Following completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Science students intending to become psychologists must successfully apply for and complete a level-4 Honours year or the level-4 Graduate Diploma of Psychology.
Majors
The following majors are available within the Bachelor of Psychological Science
Warrnambool students wishing to undertake these majors must enrol in the online offerings of the units.
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
Course structure
Core units
Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2023 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2023 can refer to previous online Handbooks.
Course Structure
^ Foundations of Psychology unit
* Psychology in Practice unit
# Psychology Essentials unit
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HPS104 | Foundations of Psychological Science ^ |
| HPS105 | Foundations of Psychological Practice ^ |
| HPS111 | Introduction to Psychology: Human Behaviour ^ |
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| HPS121 | Introduction to Psychology: Individual and Social Development ^ |
| HBS110 | Health Psychology (Behaviour Change) * |
| HPY107 | Psychology At Work (Preparation) * |
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| HPS203 | Cognitive Psychology # |
| HPS204 | Social Psychology # |
| HPY210 | Applied Counselling Skills (Introductory) * |
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| HPS201 | Psychology Research Methods (Introductory) # |
| HPS202 | Developmental Psychology (Child and Adolescent) # |
plus two psychology course electives, electives or psychology major units
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HPS301 | Psychology Research Methods (Intermediate) # |
| HPS310 | Biological Psychology (Brain and Behaviour) # |
plus two psychology course electives, electives or psychology major units
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| HPY306 | Applied Counselling Skills (Intermediate) * |
| HPS307 | Personality Psychology # |
| HPS308 | Psychopathology # |
plus one psychology course elective, elective or psychology major unit
Note: for Psychology 4th year admission (Honours or equivalent), students are assessed on the WAM of Psychology Essentials
Course electives
Psychology Course Electives
Two credit points from:
Trimester 1
| HPS209 | Cross Cultural and Indigenous Psychology |
| HPS302 | Developmental Psychology (Adult) |
| HPS325 | Health Psychology (Addiction) |
| HPS328 | Psychology At Work (Internship) |
Trimester 2
| HPS206 | Forensic Psychology |
| HPS226 | Health Psychology (Chronic Illness) |
| HPS304 | Social Psychology (Advanced) |
| HPS395 | Biological Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) |
Work experience
As part of this course you will have the option of undertaking 140 hours of industry placement through elective units, and our core employability-orientated units ensure you graduate work-ready. Applied Counselling Skills core units also allow you to develop your counselling and coaching skills.
Details of major sequences
Forensic Studies
Campus
Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online.
Warrnambool students must enrol in the Online offerings of these units
Waurn Ponds (Geelong) students: some of the units are offered at Waurn Ponds and some at Waterfront. Travel between campuses may be required.
Unit set code
MJ-H000040
Overview
This major brings together complementary units from criminology and psychology for students to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of crime and criminal justice issues, structures and procedures of the criminal justice system, designing criminological research, and how psychological knowledge is applied in legal and criminal matters, including understanding comorbidities such as addiction.
Units
| ACR101 | Introducing Crime and Criminology |
| ACR102 | Introducing Crime and Criminal Justice |
| ACR201 | Issues in Criminal Justice |
| ACR302 | Criminology Research |
| HPS206 | Forensic Psychology |
| HPS325 | Health Psychology (Addiction) |
Child and Family
Campus
Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Warrnambool students must enrol in the Online offerings of these units
Waurn Ponds (Geelong) students: some of the units are offered at Waurn Ponds and some at Waterfront. Travel between campuses may be required.
Unit set code
MJ-H000041
Overview
This major brings together complementary units from within Health and Social Development and Psychology with a particular focus on the health and development of the family system and its members. It will be of particular interest to those wanting to work supporting children and/or families in the community.
Units
| HSH105 | Understanding Families and Health |
| HSH206 | Human Development and Healthy Families |
| HSH207 | Socio-Economic Status and Health |
| HPS202 | Developmental Psychology (Child and Adolescent) |
| HPS302 | Developmental Psychology (Adult) |
| HPS304 | Social Psychology (Advanced) |
Organisational Studies
Campus
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Warrnambool students must enrol in the Online offerings of these units
Unit set code
MJ-H000042
Overview
This major brings together fundamental units from the disciplines of Management and Human Resource Management, to give students a grounding in organisational behaviour, recruitment and training, and change management. Students will also gain skills in counselling, mediation and negotiation.
Units
| MMM132 | Management |
| MMH230 | Fundamentals of Human Resource Management |
| MMH250 | Workplace Conflict Resolution |
| MMM240 | Organisational Behaviour |
| MMH349 | Employment Relations |
| MMH356 | Change Management |
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Third party arrangements
Nature of third party arrangements
Deakin College offers a subset of first year subjects of the degree as part of the Diploma of Health Sciences. Students who complete the Diploma with a WAM of at least 50, can gain entry into H344 Bachelor of Psychological Science with credit for core and other units already completed, enabling them to enter at second year level of the degree.
Quality assurance arrangements
The units offered by Deakin College are those offered as part of H344 Bachelor of Psychological Science. Quality assurance is as for the rest of H344 Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.