Bachelor of Psychological Science

1. Acquire, assess, and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts
2. Collect, analyse, and evaluate information and ideas and solve problems using a scientific approach
3. Demonstrate awareness of cultural differences and show sensitivity to the diversity across people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, when applying knowledge and skills of psychology
4. Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate effectively in written and oral formats
5. Distinguish appropriate values and ethics in psychology
6. Employ interpersonal skills and teamwork

As a graduate, you'll have flexible pathways toward careers that include:

• Clinical psychologist
  • Assess people's psychological state.
  • Diagnose and develop a management plan for treatment and recovery.
  • Manage caseloads and referrals.
  • Counsel patients, document sessions, report to management and liaise with government departments when necessary.
• Public health worker
  • Use your knowledge and expertise to support your patients and their communities.
  • Monitor people's health, inform, educate and empower people to improve their quality of life.
  • Document cases and develop strategies to solve health problems.
• Rehabilitation worker
  • Work with people suffering from addiction and help them achieve meaning and stability in their lives.
• Youth worker
  • Work with youth to help them stay healthy, happy and well adjusted.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Psychological Science is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Professional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia will require an APAC-accredited fourth year and additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree as well as an application to the professional body. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Psychological Science may apply for membership with the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Membership may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.

Higher education via OUA

Successful completion of two of the following four Open Access Pathway subjects:

• PSY1BAM Introductory psychology: brain and mind
• PSY1SFP Scientific foundations of psychology
• PSY1PAC Introductory psychology: people and culture
• PSY1APP Applied psychology

Secondary education

Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites

Work and Life

Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:

• are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)
• have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or
• do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.

Refer to the La Trobe University STAT page for further information.

La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.

Note: Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.

Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:

Credit may be granted for relevant subjects. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:

1. Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
2. Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
3. Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.

*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit

Understand the human mind and how it drives behaviour.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Psychological Science will prepare you for a career as a professional psychologist, or in a psychology-related field across industries from clinical psychology to human services and marketing.

Elective subjects with a choice of minor sequences in human relationships and neuroscience gives you the flexibility to work towards the career you want. 

You'll learn:

• Analytical, research and communication skills
  • Learn skills that are essential to your future career in psychology.
• Clinical and health psychology
  • Gain an understanding of how to help people cope with mental and physical disorders.
• Developmental and social psychology
  • Understand how environmental factors contribute to peoples' psychological makeup.
• Psychological assessment, intervention and research
  • Become familiar with methods to understand and measure people's psychological state.
  • Learn when and how to intervene and how to conduct research.

Recommended Study Pattern

This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field. 

Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period.   Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.

Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.

Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:

LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module

ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Psychological Science, students must complete 24 subjects (360 credit points) as follows:

• 12 core subjects
• 12 elective subjects

Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:

LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module

ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education

Choose your subjects

Electives

Students may wish to complete a course related minor sequence consisting of 4 subjects (60 credit points) from the following minors:

• Neuroscience
• Human Relationships