Course

Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)

Approved Abbreviation: BSocSc(Psy)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1711.2

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 082919G

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2015 or later.

Commencement Year 2014 - 1711.1 Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)

The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) combines a broadly-based program in the social sciences with an undergraduate sequence in psychology that is a foundation for anyone wishing to go on to further study to become a psychologist. Psychology is the field of inquiry that uses scientific techniques and methods to understand and explain behaviour and experience. As a profession, it involves the application of psychological knowledge to practical problems in human behaviour. The degree also equips students with the interdisciplinary and specialist skills and knowledge that a new graduate would need on entering the workforce or proceeding to advanced study. To allow for personal and occupational interests, students are able to choose electives in the social sciences sub-majors offered in this degree.

The degree is available for mid-year entry but entry to a fourth year in Psychology is always at the commencement of the calendar year. Students entering in mid-year without advanced standing should have a sequence of units approved by the Academic Course Advisor for the program.

Western Sydney University Online students: Please refer to Western Sydney University Online website for Course Advice.

https://online.westernsydney.edu.au/

Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time. (Note: Bankstown/Liverpool students enrolled in this course will be required to attend both Bankstown (Psychology units) and Liverpool (Social Science units) campuses in order to complete this course).

Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) on the basis that it meets all the APAC Accreditation Standards (June 2010) for a three year sequence of study in psychology.

Admission

UAC entry: A competitive ATAR; or equivalent rank (using non-proximate indicators of success) for school leavers and non-recent school leavers.

Western Sydney University Online students: Prospective online students apply for admission to this course directly through WSU Online. A student’s eligibility will be assessed according to the existing admission criteria.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to Western Sydney University via the International Office. International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

All students must enrol in and complete:

  • 40 credit points of Bachelor of Social Science core units
  • 120 credit points of Psychology core units
  • 40 credit points of Social Science sub-major units
  • 40 credit points of elective units

A minimum of 60 credit points of Level 3 units must be successfully completed within the degree.

Recommended Sequence - Bankstown/Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith campuses

Note: Bankstown/ Liverpool students enrolled in this course will be required to attend both Bankstown (Psychology units) and Liverpool (Social Science units) campuses in order to complete this course.

Recommended Full-time Sequence - On-campus

Start Year Entry

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

101557The Individual in Society
101551Understanding Society
101184Psychology: Human Behaviour

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

Spring session

102815Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies
102170People, Place and Social Difference
101183Psychology: Behavioural Science

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

Year 2

Autumn session

100013Experimental Design and Analysis
101680Perception
101684Brain and Behaviour

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

Spring session

101678Motivation and Emotion
101676Human Learning
101683Social Psychology

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

Year 3

Autumn session

101689Advanced Research Methods
101682Developmental Psychology

One sub-major unit

And one elective unit

Spring session

101681Abnormal Psychology
101677Cognitive Processes

One sub-major unit

And one elective unit

Recommended Full-time Sequence - On campus

Mid-Year Entry

Year 1

Spring

102815Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies
102170People, Place and Social Difference
101183Psychology: Behavioural Science

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

Autumn

101557The Individual in Society
101551Understanding Society
101184Psychology: Human Behaviour
100013Experimental Design and Analysis

Year 2

Spring

101678Motivation and Emotion
101676Human Learning
101683Social Psychology

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

Autumn

101680Perception
101684Brain and Behaviour

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

And one elective unit or sub-major unit

Year 3

Spring

101681Abnormal Psychology
101677Cognitive Processes

One sub-major unit

And one elective unit

Autumn

101689Advanced Research Methods
101682Developmental Psychology

One sub-major unit

And one elective unit

Sub-majors

Bankstown/Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith campus students must select from one of the following sub-majors

Note: Not all sub-majors are available on all campuses. Please check availability.

SM1099Child and Community
SM1091Criminology and Criminal Justice
SM1093Geography and Urban Studies
SM1097Heritage and Tourism
SM1148Indigenous Studies
SM1102Peace and Development Studies
SM1147Social Research
SM1094Sociology

Recommended Elective Unit Options - Psychology

101182Behaviour and Environment
101193Health Psychology
100015History and Philosophy of Psychology
101189Introduction to Logical Thinking
101190Introduction to Research Methods
102530Mental Health Workforce Training
102906Personality
102350Psychology and the Online World
102399Psychology, Crime and Law
100023Psychology of Language
102606Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness, Resilience and Wellbeing

Equivalent Unit

The unit listed below counts towards completion of a recommended elective for students who passed this unit in 2021 or earlier.

101679 - Personality

Recommended Sequence - Western Sydney University Online

Full-time

Year 1

Trimester 1

101557The Individual in Society
101551Understanding Society
102170People, Place and Social Difference

Trimester 2

101900Working with Communities
101183Psychology: Behavioural Science
101184Psychology: Human Behaviour

Trimester 3

100013Experimental Design and Analysis
101680Perception
101684Brain and Behaviour

Year 2

Trimester 4

101676Human Learning
101678Motivation and Emotion
101683Social Psychology

Trimester 5

101682Developmental Psychology
101689Advanced Research Methods
101681Abnormal Psychology

Trimester 6

101677Cognitive Processes

And two sub-major units

Year 3

Trimester 7

Two sub-major units

And one elective unit

Trimester 8

Three elective units

Recommended Sequence - Western Sydney University Online

Part-time

Year 1

Trimester 1

101557The Individual in Society
101551Understanding Society

Trimester 2

102170People, Place and Social Difference
101900Working with Communities

Trimester 3

101183Psychology: Behavioural Science
101184Psychology: Human Behaviour

Year 2

Trimester 4

100013Experimental Design and Analysis
101680Perception

Trimester 5

101684Brain and Behaviour
101676Human Learning

Trimester 6

101678Motivation and Emotion
101683Social Psychology

Year 3

Trimester 7

101682Developmental Psychology
101689Advanced Research Methods

Trimester 8

101681Abnormal Psychology
101677Cognitive Processes

Trimester 9

Two sub-major units

Year 4

Trimester 10

Two sub-major units

Trimester 11

Two elective units

Trimester 12

Two elective units

Sub-majors

Western Sydney University Online students must select from one of the following two sub-majors

SM1099Child and Community
SM1091Criminology and Criminal Justice

Recommended Elective Unit Options for the Online Mode - Psychology

101182Behaviour and Environment
101193Health Psychology
102350Psychology and the Online World
100023Psychology of Language

Equivalent Core Unit

The Core Unit listed below counts towards completion of this course for students who passed this unit in 2020 or earlier.

101900 - Working with Communities

Sub-major Elective Spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved sub-major (40 credit points).

Search for sub-majors

Western Sydney University offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Sub-major

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Students can apply for an elective sub-major via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)



Western Sydney University Copyright © 2004-2016 ABN 53 014 069 881 CRICOS Provider No: 00917K Contact Us | Disclaimer | Emergency Help |