Course

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Approved Abbreviation: BPsy(Hons)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1865.1

AQF Level: 8

CRICOS Code: 106080C

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 2018 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

For Commencement Year 2017 - please refer to 1834.1 Bachelor of Psychology

The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) is a four-year degree that equips students with a thorough grounding in the scientific discipline of psychology, research skills sought after by employers, and psychological literacy that can be applied to any occupation or aspect of life. In the first three years students complete a 120 credit point core sequence in psychology, a 40 credit point psychology extension sub-major, and 80 credit points of open electives. Entry to fourth year requires a minimum academic standard. Students who do not achieve this standard will exit from the degree at the end of third year and graduate instead with a Bachelor of Psychological Studies. For students who meet the entry requirements, fourth year is an honours program consisting of a 30 credit point research thesis and 50 credit points of course work.

The degree is available for mid-year entry but entry to the fourth year 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 Undergraduate Psychology Academic Course Advisor for the program.

Study Mode
Four years full-time or eight years part-time

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 four year sequence of study in psychology.

Admission

UAC entry: A competitive ATAR; or equivalent rank for school leavers and non-recent school leavers. Applicants with completed or partially completed university degree must have achieved a GPA of 5 or above.

Additional admission requirement for International Students:

IELTS (Academic) - 6.5 overall score with a minimum 6.0 in each subtest

TOEFL Internet based test - 82 (Writing 21, Speaking 18, Reading 13 and Listening 13)

Entry to the fourth year of the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) is limited to students who have achieved an Average Admission Mark of 70+ in Level 2 and 3, including credit or higher grade in the majority of the Level 2 and Level 3 psychology units. Students who have successfully completed the first three years, but who do not achieve this standard, or do not accept a place in the Honours program, will graduate with the Bachelor of Psychological Studies.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly to the University. 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 the 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 320 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Students must complete

120 credit point core sequence in psychology, and
40 credit point Psychology Extension sub-major, and
80 credit points of elective units

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

101184

Psychology: Human Behaviour

Elective or Sub-major unit

Spring session

101183

Psychology: Behavioural Science

Elective or Sub-major unit

Year 2

Autumn session

100013

Experimental Design and Analysis

101684

Brain and Behaviour

101680

Perception

Elective or Sub-major unit

Spring session

101678

Motivation and Emotion

101676

Human Learning

101683

Social Psychology

Elective or Sub-major unit

Year 3

Autumn session

101689

Advanced Research Methods

101682

Developmental Psychology

Elective or Sub-major unit

Spring session

101681

Abnormal Psychology

101677

Cognitive Processes

Elective or Sub-major unit

Psychology Extension Sub-major (40cp)

SM1124

Psychology Extension

Students must choose 40 credit points from the following list of pool units.

101182

Behaviour and Environment

101193

Health Psychology

100015

History and Philosophy of Psychology

101189

Introduction to Logical Thinking

101190

Introduction to Research Methods

102530

Mental Health Workforce Training

101679

Personality

102606

Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness, Resilience and Wellbeing

102350

Psychology and the Online World

102399

Psychology, Crime and Law

100023

Psychology of Language

101557

The Individual in Society

Students may study additional units from this pool as electives.

At the end of the 3rd Year, students who successfully complete 240 credit points may exit and graduate with 1835 Bachelor of Psychological Studies.

1835 Bachelor of Psychological Studies

Major and Sub-major Elective Spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved major (80 credit points) or sub-major (40 credit points).

Search for majors and sub-majors

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

Indigenous Australian Studies Major

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

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

MyStudentRecords (MySR)

Honours Fourth Year (80 Credit points)

Degree rules for exit and / or progression after 3rd year in the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours).

Entry into the embedded Honours 4th year is limited to students who have completed the first three years of the program and have obtained an Average Admission Mark of 70+ in Level 2 and 3 units (including open electives) with a majority of Credit or higher grades in Level 2 and 3 psychology units.

Students who have successfully completed the first three years, but who do not achieve this standard, or do not apply for Honours, will graduate with the Bachelor of Psychological Studies.

For advice, prospective students and current students should contact the Psychology Honours/Fourth Year Academic Course Advisor.

Psychology-Year4-ACA@westernsydney.edu.au

For students progressing to the embedded Honours year, the course structure is as follows:

Full-time Embedded Honours Pathway

Please note: Students must enrol in 102528 Psychology Research Thesis and 100983 Research Methods Seminar in both 1H and 2H sessions in order to receive final grades and credit points.

1H session

100983

Research Methods Seminar

Please note: in 2021 unit 100983 will be offered in Autumn and Spring sessions rather than 1H and 2H.

102528

Psychology Research Thesis

Autumn session

101541

Advanced Topics in Psychology

101247

Counselling and Consultation

2H session

100983

Research Methods Seminar

Please note: in 2021 unit 100983 will be offered in Autumn and Spring sessions rather than 1H and 2H.

102528

Psychology Research Thesis

Spring session

101420

Theory and Practice of Psychological Assessment and Intervention

Part-time Embedded Honours Pathway

Please note: Students must enrol in 102528 Psychology Research Thesis and 100983 Research Methods Seminar in both 1H and 2H sessions in order to receive final grades and credit points.

Year 1

1H session

100983

Research Methods Seminar

Please note: in 2021 unit 100983 will be offered in Autumn and Spring sessions rather than 1H and 2H.

Autumn session

101247

Counselling and Consultation

2H session

100983

Research Methods Seminar

Please note: in 2021 unit 100983 will be offered in Autumn and Spring sessions rather than 1H and 2H.