Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Justice Studies

A double degree increases your career prospects and maximises your employability. A double degree can help you build a unique set of skills that will help you stand out in a competitive employment market. When you graduate from a double degree you will receive a separate degree certificate (also called a testamur) for each component course. 

Higher education via OUA

Successful completion of any 4 OUA open access subjects of study at the equivalent AQF level, unless otherwise specified

Higher education

• Applicants must have completed UTAS University Preparation Program or an equivalent enabling program offered by another Australian university; OR
• Applicants must have completed the equivalent of at least two subjects of study (equivalent to 25 UTAS credit points); OR
• Completed DUS (Diploma of University Studies) any pathway or equivalent. 

Secondary education

ATAR: 65 or higher

VET studies

Successful completion of certificate IV or higher

Work and Life

Domestic Applicants with work and life experience: If you have not successfully completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have extensive or sustained work experience.

The University of Tasmania grants credit and recognition of prior learning that may include formal and/or informal prior learning. More information is available here. https://www.utas.edu.au/study/apply/admission-requirements/recognition-of-prior-learning

This is a shell program used for the administration of four-year Double Degree programs. Students will enrol in the shell program and complete the requirements of both constituent programs. program content, rules and entry requirements are those for the constituent programs. Constituent programs include all those with 300 credit points, of which at least 100 credit points are electives.

Bachelor of Psychological Science

Psychology, the study of human behaviour, impacts every environment in which humans live, work, cooperate and communicate. Whether it’s in the classroom or the courtroom, the family home or the extremes of Antarctica, in Tasmanian communities or international relations, psychology plays a role.

If you want to develop knowledge and skills that will enrich your personal and professional life, or your goal is to become a research scientist, counsellor or registered psychologist, the Bachelor of Psychological Science provides the perfect foundation. When you study the science of psychology you will learn about the biological and psychological principles of human behaviour, and will develop the transferable skills of critical thinking, communication and problem solving that are vital everywhere people interact. These include:

• Counselling
• Criminal justice
• Neuroscience
• Health services support e.g. drug and alcohol, cancer, disability, rehabilitation
• Aged, family and child services
• Probation and parole services
• Policy and planning
• Business
• Marketing
• Education
• Public affairs
• Human resources, and numerous other areas

Bachelor of Justice Studies

The world needs passionate change leaders, now more than ever. Whether you choose to protect natural resources, protect the world’s most vulnerable, lead emergency response teams or participate in foreign aid, becoming a ‘justice practitioner’ starts with a Bachelor of Justice Studies.

Learn about justice issues affecting the places where you live, work, play and study and how they connect to wider regional, national and international concerns. You will be exposed to interdisciplinary expertise and world leading experts in a unique program that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to improve justice policy and practice. Prepare yourself to address perceived injustice issues that cross a range of societal, criminal, indigenous and environmental areas.

Discover the nature of justice, harm and morality, and consider the efficacy of formal (laws, regulation, policing) and informal (organised protest, community, non-profit and volunteer organisations, online platforms) channels for achieving justice. 

Turn your passion into action with research-led learning experiences across different justice scenarios. Learn to interrogate a range of complex justice issues including domestic and international crime, environmental threats such as climate change, domestic violence, international terror, humanitarian crises, and species extinction. 

Throughout the degree you will be asked to consider ethical issues related to the representation of Indigenous communities, histories and events. You will explore issues important to Indigenous people and produce analytical and fair work that pursues social justice for all Indigenous experiences, both in terms of how these experiences are represented in and by criminal and social justice.

In an environment where government and non-government organisations are now partnering together to overcome justice problems, as a graduate you will be prepared for a diverse choice of career options. Gain experience and network through work-integrated learning opportunities and exchange programs across more than 100 locations globally. Develop your skills to work in and across national government agencies, international government and non-government organisations, and the non-profit volunteer and community sector.

Imagine working for an international organisation like the United Nations, Amnesty International, Australian Human Rights Commission, and Australian Red Cross, within the Police, Department of Justice or Correctional Services. 

Develop your research, analytical and communication skills through presentations, essays and report writing. You will be able to assess justice scenarios such as IRAQ reports and community resilience audits and reflect on the learnings of work-placed activities with offenders and in the juvenile justice settings.

Available fully online across Australia, and on-campus from Hobart. Our degree works with you, your family, your career, and your lifestyle.

Recommended Study Pattern

In a 4 year double degree you will complete a total of 400 credit points comprising 200 credit points from each course. The requirements of each course, such as majors and core subjects, are specified below. For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended:

Bachelor of Psychological Sciences:

Year 1

• TAS-PSY111 Transferable Skills in Psychology
• TAS-PSY112 Brain and Behaviour
• TAS-PSY124 Mental Health and Individual Differences
• TAS-PSY125 Psychological Processes

Year 2

• TAS-PSY207 Social Psychology
• TAS-PSY211 Research Skills in Psychology
• TAS-PSY223 Health and Psychological Wellbeing
• TAS-PSY224 Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience

Year 3

• TAS-PSY302 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
• TAS-PSY305 Clinical Psychology
• TAS-PSY311 Advanced Research Skills in Psychology
• TAS-PSY312 Forensic Psychology

Year 4

• TAS-PSY324 Psychological Assessment and Intervention
• TAS-PSY325 Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience
• TAS-PSY331 Psychology of Language
• TAS-PSY336 Human Behaviour in Extreme Environments

Bachelor of Justice Studies:

Completion of 6 introductory subjects from the schedule below: 

• TAS-HGA101 Sociology: Understanding the Social World
• TAS-HGA107 Crime and Criminal Justice
• TAS-HIR101 Introduction to International Relations
• TAS-HPP102 Justice in Practice
• TAS-HPP103 Justice in Theory
• TAS-HSP101 Introduction to Emergency Management

Completion of 6 intermediate subjects from the schedule below:

• TAS-HGA259 Crime and Deviance
• TAS-HGA280 Social Research
• TAS-HPP216 Key Concepts in Social Justice
• TAS-HPP217 Critical Indigenous Policy
• TAS-HPP222 Modern Political Ideologies
• TAS-HSP235 Emergency Management Cycle

Completion of 4 advanced subjects from the schedule below:

• TAS-HAB308 Indigenous Justice Issues
• TAS-HGA332 Working With Offenders
• TAS-HGA344 Green Criminology and Environmental Crime
• TAS-HIR304 Order, Violence and Justice

Award Requirements

Satisfactory completion of 32 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 4-9 years from commencement.

Exit Points

Students may exit the course with:

• Any exit award applicable for one of the constituent courses; or

• An award for only one of the constituent courses

Students will not be able to continue in the Double Degree if they elect to pursue the second constituent course after exiting from the first. Students will be transferred to the constituent course they wish to pursue.