About Psychology (BPsych, BA)
What makes you, me, our whole society tick? Psychology is the systematic study of human behaviour and experience. It involves basic research, as well as the application of research in clinical, organisational, community, and other contexts. There are many distinct aspects of psychology, including the study of thinking and remembering, neurological processes, personality, health and illness, development across the life-span, and the interactions within and between groups. As a Psychologist you can play a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of individuals, organisations and communities.
As a Psychology student at Murdoch you will be exposed to a thorough coverage of all aspects of the discipline of psychology, including the study of abnormal, developmental, social, cognitive, learning, and perceptual processes. The course differs from psychology courses at other universities in its relative emphasis on the applied, developmental, and social aspects of psychology. In addition to studying specific content areas, you will also learn how to conduct quantitative and qualitative research and how to apply basic practical research, reporting, and analytical skills to psychological issues.
What can I do with my Psychology degree?
On graduation, you will have acquired knowledge and a broad set of skills that makes you highly employable across a wide range of fields. Murdoch Psychology graduates are employed in hospitals, schools, prisons, community groups, government health and welfare departments, and a host of other areas. Many of our students also go on to further education in Psychology or related areas.
Professional Recognition
All the Psychology courses at Murdoch are fully accredited by the Australian Psychological Society, and leads to registration with the State Registration Board. Please note that the Registration Board requires further supervised experience following graduation, or a postgraduate qualification in Psychology, before conferring full registration status.
How to apply:
Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.
Domestic student applications:
If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
International student applications:
If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
Course Details
|
|
| Length |
4 years full-time internal study or part - time equivalent.
Please note that international students can only study full-time |
| International fee information |
$19,750 indicative annual fee |
| Location |
South Street Campus |
| Murdoch course code |
B1103 (BPsych); B1104 (BA) |
| TISC Code |
MUS9C (Category 1)
MUS8C (Category 2) |
| TER cut off for 2008 |
70.45 or country equivalent |
| STAT score required |
>145 |
| Information on course units |
Link to handbook entry |
Recommended TEE Subjects
The following recommended subjects will provide you with a useful background if you are interested in studying in the area of Health Sciences:
- Maths,
- Chemistry,
- Physics
- Biology.
We don’t have prerequisite subjects for any of our courses as we are a strong promoter of a well rounded education. However, remember that you will also need to demonstrate competence in English, normally through passing either English or English Literature or by getting a sufficiently high score in ESL.
Course Structure
Year 1
Foundation Unit
All new first year students take a Foundation Unit. These are designed so you have some idea what’s going on, because, let’s face it, you’ve never been to uni before!
Core Units
You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.
- Introduction to Psychological Science
- Introduction to Applications of Psychology
- Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
General Electives
You must take these units to have enough units to graduate. General Electives give you the flexibility to learn from a variety of different areas.
Select four units offered by the University, subject to individual unit prerequisites
Recommended Double Majors
To take a double major, students simply take the core units from another major in place of their general elective units. Further details on double majors are available in the Prospectus.
Some recommended double majors are:
What are my Career Options?
As a Murdoch Psychology graduate, your employment outlook is excellent, especially if you combine it with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your Murdoch degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. The following are some professions to consider, including extra majors that will improve your prospects of achieving them.
| Profession |
What they do |
Suggested double majors |
| Ordained Minister / Priest / Spirituality Counsellor |
These Counsellors are able to empathise with people of different belief systems and different cultural groups. They are able to understand the dynamics of social justice and equity and appreciate the significance of the spiritual experience. |
Theology
Philosophy
Community Development |
| Social Worker |
This job is for those with a strong desire to help improve people’s lives. Social Workers help people function the best way they can in their environment, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. They often deal with people who face a life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, a serious illness, a disability, or substance abuse. |
Theology
Australian Indigenous Studies
Community Development
Gender and Cultural Studies
Sociology |
| Correctional Treatment Specialist |
In jails and prisons, Correctional Treatment Specialists evaluate the progress of inmates. They also work with inmates, probation officers, and other agencies to develop parole and release plans. Their case reports are provided to the appropriate parole board when their clients are eligible for release. In addition, they plan education and training programs to improve offenders’ job skills and provide them with coping, anger management, and drug and sexual abuse counselling either individually or in groups. They usually write treatment plans and summaries for each client. Correctional Treatment Specialists working in parole and probation agencies perform many of the same duties as their counterparts who work in correctional institutions. |
Theology
Security Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Sociology
Australian Indigenous Studies
Legal Studies
Criminology |
| Mental Health Counsellor |
Mental Health Counsellors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote optimum mental health. They are trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address a wide range of issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital or other relationship problems. Mental Health Counsellors often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counsellors. |
Philosophy
Community Development
Theology
Sociology |
| School Counsellor |
School Counsellors at all levels help students to understand and deal with social, behavioural, and personal problems. These counsellors emphasise preventive and developmental counselling to provide students with the life skills needed to deal with problems before they occur and to enhance students’ personal, social, and academic growth. |
Education
Community Development
Gender and Cultural Studies |
| Research Psychologist |
Research Psychologists investigate the physical, cognitive, emotional, or social aspects of human behaviour. Psychologists in health service provider fields provide mental health care in hospitals, clinics, schools, or private settings. Psychologists employed in applied settings, such as business, industry, government, or nonprofits, provide training, conduct research, design systems, and act as advocates for psychology. |
Masters of Psychology |
|
| |
Interested in this? Check out these other courses.
|
|
