Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)

2016 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Professional recognition
• Course rules
• Course structure

Course overview

An honours year in psychology is useful for both those pursuing a career as a psychologist, and those preparing for postgraduate study.

During the honours year, students who have previously completed a relevant undergraduate degree learn a range of psychological assessment methods, plus get an understanding of the process of formulating psychological opinion in casework. The research and analytical skills you develop in your honours year will strengthen the quality of your research projects, and become indispensable tools in your future career.

Possible career options include work in mental and general hospitals and clinics, business and industry, education, the criminal justice system, media, marketing, sport and research. If you choose to pursue full registration as a psychologist, you may find employment in a variety of settings including clinical, forensic, organisational, educational, health, sport and many other specialist areas.

This course is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia 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

Professional recognition

This course is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia and is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Note: This course is currently accredited as at the date of publishing.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) students must attain 8 credit points.

Psychology Honours consists of two components: coursework and a thesis. The coursework component (consisting of classes and seminars) contributes 50% to the final grade of Honours awarded. Part-time students must complete the course work component in Year 1 of their course. As required by the accreditation guidelines of the Australian Psychological Society, the course work covers:

• counselling, ethical and professional skills
• research methods, and
• psychological assessment

For further details of the coursework component, see the unit description for HPS425 and HPS426.

The thesis component (see HPS427 and HPS428) contributes 50% to the final grade of honours awarded. The thesis is a write-up (current length approximately 9000 words) of an individual research project based on an original piece of empirical research. A range of types of data (qualitative, quantitative, subjective, objective) and a range of data-collection settings and methodologies can be used as the basis of the thesis component.

The thesis is submitted in two parts:

• a 4000 word literature review submitted mid-year and
• a 5000-word report on the empirical component submitted in October.

The literature review and empirical report section of the thesis typically contribute 15% and 35% respectively to the final mark for the thesis component. Both sections are marked by two independent markers.

Attendance and presentation at the annual School Fourth Year Conference is a hurdle requirement. Students enrolled in the CLOUD online mode have the option to attend or undertake an alternative assessment.

Course structure

Core units

Trimester 1

Trimester 2