Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
2024 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Deakin course code | H345 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Campus note | Applicants who have completed an APAC accredited psychology undergraduate course or an APAC accredited psychology major should apply for the courses H452 Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) or H650 Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced). |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent Course available to domestic students only |
| 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. |
| 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
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Curious about how to apply the science of mind and behaviour to understand and promote mental health and wellbeing? Deakin's four-year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) has an embedded honours year, distinguishing it from our other psychology courses. Honours includes practical training preparing you for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and sets you on the pathway to general registration.
Specialise from year one with the only Victorian university to offer specialist psychology majors in an undergraduate psychology degree, allowing you to learn what you are passionate about sooner. 140 hours of professional placements provide valuable industry experience and strengthen your employment prospects. In your honours year, you will complete a group research project and learn advanced studies in counselling, psychological assessment, critical evaluation and research methods.
Do you want to become an expert in human behaviour, personality and emotion, and use those skills to help people?
Psychology is about understanding the underlying mental processes and factors behind human behaviour. This course will equip you with the skills and strategies to be able to help people, no matter which area of psychology you pursue. You will also learn from the best as we are ranked #1 in Victoria for psychology course satisfaction, teaching, facilities and undergraduate employment.*
This degree differs to our other psychology degrees such as the Bachelor of Psychological Science and the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), as it has an additional honours year embedded in the course. When you graduate, you will have the option of two distinct career paths – further study in pursuit of general registration as a psychologist, or employment in psychology-related fields that don’t require registration, such as:
- counselling
- social work
- youth work
- careers counselling
- life counselling
- mental health rehabilitation
- marketing
- social research
- human resources management
- developmental psychology.
The course’s Psychology in Practice units will ensure you graduate with work-ready skills and provide you with alternative employment pathways. Careers in psychology-related fields are always evolving, visit our careers page to discover the exciting range of careers that you could pursue.
You can pursue your interests early on with a specialist major in child and family, organisational studies or forensic studies. In addition to your chosen major sequence, you will cover a number of broad areas of psychology, including:
- behavioural and clinical neuroscience
- child and adolescent psychology
- cognitive psychology
- forensic psychology
- psychopathology
- relationships and the psychology of groups.
As a graduate, you will be eligible to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist, as well as APAC-accredited masters or doctoral-level training programs that lead to full registration as a psychologist, including:
- Master of Professional Psychology
- Master of Psychology (Clinical)
- Master of Psychology (Organisational) - plus one year of supervised practice
- Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).
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 online postgraduate counselling courses.
Ranked in the top 200 in the world^, Deakin’s School of Psychology is one of the largest and most progressive psychology departments in Australia. The school has 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. You will be in high demand by employers who want graduates that are ready to face challenges with confidence.
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
This course is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). As a graduate, you will be eligible to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist and for entry to APAC accredited master or doctoral level training programs that lead to registration as a psychologist.
Career opportunities
When you graduate, you will have the option of two distinct career paths – further study in pursuit of general registration as a psychologist, or employment in psychology-related fields that don’t require registration.
A psychology qualification can prepare you for many diverse, exciting career paths. If your passion is not 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 research.
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 are ready to take your psychology career further, the option to become a fully registered psychologist is available to graduates from this course by undertaking a masters or doctorate qualification in psychology. If you choose to pursue general 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
- mental health officer
- organisational psychologist
- rehabilitation counsellor
- sport and exercise psychologist
- youth psychologist.
The contexts in which you work may include:
- private clinics and practices
- public and private hospitals
- business corporate organisations
- schools and universities
- government departments and agencies
- community sporting clubs and institutes
- various social research organisations.
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. Refer the relevant unit guide.
Pathways
Once you have successfully completed this course, if you are interested in further study and pursing general registration as a registered psychologist, you may be eligible to apply for an accredited program such as the Master of Professional Psychology, Master of Psychology (Clinical), Master of Psychology (Organisational), or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).
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. The academic program usually consists of an approved undergraduate psychology sequence followed by an approved fourth-year of study, such as Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology 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. Deakin’s Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) can lead directly to provisional registration provided the honours year is completed within this four-year course.
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, 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.
Alternative exit
Bachelor of Psychological Science (H344)
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 understanding of advanced knowledge (theoretical, empirical and practical) in the areas of psychological assessment, counselling, advanced research methods and research practice. |
| Communication | Communicate psychological knowledge and arguments effectively using the most appropriate means utilising clear, discipline appropriate, coherent and well-developed communication skills. Convey complex psychological knowledge and ideas to laypeople and professionals. 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 | Apply advanced skills to select appropriate digital tools to source, interpret, adapt, collate, analyse and disseminate discipline specific information in psychology to a variety of audiences relevant to pre-professional practice of psychology. |
| 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. Competence in the design and conduct of research, and skills to critically evaluate, synthesise and integrate complex scientific evidence. Application of knowledge to assessment, counselling and case management to demonstrate evidence-based pre-professional practice in the field of psychology. |
| Problem solving | Respect and use critical and creative thinking, sceptical inquiry and the scientific approach to solve problems related to research and applied skills (psychological assessment, counselling and case-management) in the field of psychology. |
| 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 high-quality and timely outcomes. |
| Teamwork | Collaborate and communicate psychological principles and practices effectively in interdisciplinary teams, in a variety of contexts with diverse ethnic and cultural partners and 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. Demonstrate, report and apply ethical principles to understand how to work productively in the field of psychology within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts by collaborating and communicating in a self-reflective, culturally sensitive, and inclusive manner. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) students must pass 32 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
- 8 credit points of Psychology Honours units
- 6 credit points, which may comprise of:
- 6 credit points of course electives or open electives
- 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.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a place in the Psychology Honours program, students will have:
- Completed the first 3 levels of the course (i.e., they will have achieved 24 credit points)
- achieve a minimum of 65% in Psychology Research Methods (Intermediate)
- achieve a minimum of 80% or above across the Psychology Essentials units (8 units including Psychology Research Methods (Intermediate)). Entry will also be determined by the availability of supervisors and resources.
The 80% cut-off may vary, depending on the availability of Honours places. Students who meet the selection cut-off, and successfully complete the Honours year, will graduate with one-degree H345 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). Failure to meet the above WAM requirements will result in an alternative exit from H345 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) with a degree of H344 Bachelor of Psychological Science provided the student meets the course requirements of H344. Students who have taken an alternative exit of H344 Bachelor of Psychological Science may apply for entry to the less competitive fee-paying alternative to Honours: H650 Graduate Diploma of Psychology. Students who do not wish to complete the honours year may also opt for the H344 Bachelor of Psychological Science alternative exit.
Karolinska Institute exchange students must enrol in HPS435X Research Project A (Karolinska Exchange) and HPS436X Research Project B (Karolinska Exchange).
Majors
The following majors are available within the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
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.
^ Foundations of Psychology unit
* Psychology in Practice unit
# Psychology Essentials unit
^^ Psychology Honours 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
Level 4 - Trimester 1
| HPS431 | Principles of Psychological Assessment ^^ |
| HPS432 | Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis ^^ |
| HPS435 | Research Project A ^^ |
Level 4 - Trimester 2
| HPS433 | Applied Counselling Skills (Advanced) ^^ |
| HPS434 | Psychology Research Methods (Advanced) ^^ |
| HPS436 | Research Project B ^^ |
Note: for Psychology Fourth year admission (Honours or equivalent), students are assessed on the weighted average mark (WAM) of Psychology Essentials.
Karolinska Institute exchange students must enrol in:
| HPS435X | Research Project A (Karolinska Exchange) ^^ |
| HPS436X | Research Project B (Karolinska Exchange) ^^ |
Elective units
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
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 |
| HPS206 | Forensic Psychology |
| ACR302 | Criminology Research |
| HPS325 | Health Psychology (Addiction) |
Child and Family
Campus
Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
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
Unit set code
MJ-H000043
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
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.