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Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)

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Overview

Studying psychology will provide you with knowledge and skills that will improve your ability to understand and explain human behaviour and relationships. The psychology major provides specialised study in developmental psychology, cognition, social psychology, personality, design and measurement, psychological measurement and abnormal psychology. You will complete a variety of research projects and develop critical real-world project management, research design and report-writing skills.
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Duration3 Year/s
Campus and intakes  Calendar
Hawthorn (ex-Lilydale) -Semester 1, Semester 2
Course codeL05210
CRICOS code043872G
Fees*A$23,950 (annual for 2013)*
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
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Course in detail

On this page: course description, course structure, major specialisations and units of study.

Course description

Studying psychology will provide you with knowledge and skills that will improve your ability to understand and explain human behaviour and relationships. The psychology major provides specialised study in developmental psychology, cognition, social psychology, personality, design and measurement, psychological measurement and abnormal psychology. You will complete a variety of research projects and develop critical real-world project management, research design and report-writing skills.

Course structure

There are course restrictions and rules that must be considered when selecting units and specialisations. It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with these rules before selecting specialisations.
All programs consist of a total of 24 units (300 credit points). Each unit normally carries 12.5 credit points. In each year, eight (8) units normally constitute a full-time load and four (4) units normally constitute a part-time load.
Capstone Units
Capstone Units utilise real-world, authentic activities in the form of project-based learning. Projects may be externally sourced industry and community projects, competitions, research-based projects or internally developed project briefs.
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, all Swinburne undergraduate students must complete a compulsory unit of study, Careers in the Curriculum. CIC is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects.
CIC has been developed by Swinburne Careers and Employment who provide advice and feedback on completing job applications and undergoing interviews, directed at obtaining graduate employment. It is a one semester compulsory unit usually undertaken in second year.
Students will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' employability skills.
Student Workload
The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) program operates under a student workload model based on eight (8) units of study for a full-time academic year. Total student contact hours per unit, including lectures, classes, tutorials and computer laboratory sessions, will normally be approximately 12 hours per week during the academic semester (Winter and Summer Term have the same number of contact hours but compressed in time).

Major specialisations

Professional Major in the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)
Psychology
Co-Majors (8 units)
Students may choose a co-major from any of those offered in the Business, Communication and Social Science programs or from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the Swinburne co-majors page for more information.
Social Science Co-majors (8 units):
Media Studies
Public Relations and Society
Sociology
Business Co-Majors (8 units):
Accounting
Advertising *Business
Business Analysis/eCommerce
Business Public Relations
Finance
Human Resource Management
International Business
Management
Marketing
Tourism Management
Communication Co-Majors (8 units):
Media Communication
Public Relations
 
Other Co-Majors (8 units):
External Studies

Minors (4 units)
Students may choose a minor from any of those offered in the Business, Communication and Social Science programs or from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the Swinburne minors page for more information.
Social Science Minors (4 units): 
Applied Statistics
Applied Statistics Advanced
Business in Society
Global Social Communication
Indigenous Studies
Media Studies
Public Relations and Society
Social Media
Social Science Advertising
Sociology
Business Minors (4 units):
Accounting
Advertising *Business
Business Analysis/eCommerce
Accounting
Business Law
Business Public Relations
Business Studies
Economics
Finance
Human Resource Management
International Business
Management
Marketing
Tourism Management
Communication Minors (4 units):
Media Communication
Public Relations
Social Media
Other Minors (4 units):
Electives Plus
External Studies
IBL Minor (domestic students only)

Units of study

The Psychology Professional Major comprises the sixteen (16) units following units: 
LSY100 Psychology 100
LSY101 Psychology 101
LCR102 Foundations of Statistics
LSS101 Understanding the Modern World
LCL101 Academic Literacies: Learning and Communication Practices (formerly LCL100 Learning and Communication Behaviour)
LIN101 Indigenous Australian Experiences
LPR100 Professional Communication Practice
LSS102 Explorations in Sociology
LSY200 Cognition and Human Performance
LSY201 Developmental Psychology
LSQ200 Design and Measurement 2
LSQ300 Design and Measurement 3
LSY300 The Psychology of Personality
LSY304 Abnormal Psychology
LSY307 Social Psychology
LSY332 Major Project A (Psychological Measurement Project)
LCE001 Careers in the Curriculum
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Graduate outcomes

On this page: aims and objectives, career opportunities and professional recognition.

Aims and objectives

The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) aims to enable students to:
  • develop learning skills in an interdisciplinary environment;
  • communicate effectively in writing, orally and electronically;
  • experience a breadth of disciplinary studies and intellectual processes;
  • study combinations of units that enable students to undertake further studies leading to professional accreditation in psychology;
  • use technology in a way that supports learning and vocational aspirations;
  • develop a regional and international outlook in relation to learning;
  • understand the cross-cultural issues of interdisciplinary study and teams;
  • develop the personal qualities and attitudes needed for professional success;
  • identify and understand the fundamental values that inform critical issues and decision-making.

Career opportunities

The Psychology major can lead to employment in the fields of human resources, marketing, advertising, education and research. Further studies in areas of professional psychology can lead to a wide range of career opportunities such as clinical, counselling, organisational, forensic, developmental, health, human factors and sports psychology.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) includes a major sequence in Psychology which is currently accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
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Course experience

On this page: IBL (industry based learning) and Swinburne Abroad.

Industry learning

Industry-Based Learning is an optional program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment relevant to their studies as part of their degree. Industry-Based Learning gives students practical experience to add to their academic studies, and is a proven advantage in the graduate job market. All Industry-Based Learning placements are subject to availability of places. For further information visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/spl/ibl  

The optional year of Industry-Based Learning in Australia is not available to international students. However international students may be able to participate in IBL in another country, subject to the approval of the relevant Swinburne IBL Manager and appropriate immigration approval.

Swinburne Abroad

Swinburne Abroad provides students with an international learning experience as part of their degree. Students can receive credit for their overseas studies by undertaking an external studies co-major or minor allowing students to study up to one year full time overseas and not extend the time to complete their Swinburne program.
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Entry requirements

This course has academic and English language requirements.

Academic requirements

To assess eligibility for entry to Swinburne, visit the Academic Entry Requirements page.

English language requirements

Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70%; OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18. Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

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Apply

On this page: how to apply, course fees, scholarships and find out more.

How to apply

Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

Course fees*

A$23,950 (annual for 2013)

*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Scholarships

A range of scholarships is available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

Find out more

Enquire online: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/international/enquiry

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Phone:
+613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

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