00
  • How OUA works
  • Advice
13 673600
Sign inCreate account
  1. Home
  2. Degrees

Undergraduate SWI-PSY-DEG-2023

Bachelor of Psychological Sciences

Recognised by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

This accredited degree is the first step in becoming a professional psychologist. Study statistics, research methods, personality, and abnormal psychology. Work in health and allied industries, or keep studying towards a psychologist qualification.

Available loans

Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)

Total subjects

24

Price

From

$24,903

Study method

100% Online

Assessments

100% online

CSP Available

Yes

Credit available

Yes

Applications Close

  • 13 Aug 23
  • 12 Nov 23
Swinburne University logo

Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

Learn more about Swinburne.

Explore Swinburne courses.

QS Ranking 2023

18

Times Higher Education Ranking 2023

22

  • 2023

Degree details

What you'll learn

Psychological Disorders

Explore different psychological abnormalities and disorders.

Social Psychology

Explain and predict people’s behaviour in social situations.

Development

Understand the processes involved in psychological growth and how people change with age.

Cognition

Examine cognitive processes, including perception, attention, memory and learning.

Personality

Learn about the major approaches psychologists use to understand personality.

On successful completion of this Course students will be able to :

  1. Systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to inform their knowledge and conceptual understandings in psychology
  2. Formulate arguments that are fit for purpose and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theories and evidence in psychology
  3. Critically analyse information to generate creative solutions to solve complex problems in the area of psychology
  4. Define and integrate theoretical principles and apply these in their disciplinary areas of expertise
  5. Apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, individually and in collaboration with others
  6. Interpret and communicate ideas, problems and arguments in modes suitable to a range of audiences using a range of media
  7. Coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas in local and international context
Career opportunities

Psychiatric Technician

Help mentally or emotionally impaired patients cope with the challenges of everyday life.

Mental Health Support Worker

Coordinate group counselling sessions and provide peer support for people suffering mental illness who are pursuing recovery through the sharing of lived experience.

Youth and Welfare Services Worker

Provide support to children and families in a range of settings, including child protection, youth work, drug and alcohol work.

Juvenile Justice and Corrections Officer

Care for young offenders in both prison and court contexts and in the community.

Community Services and Development Officer

Provide support for adults in settings such as employment service, disability, and housing.

Counselling Psychologist

Assess and evaluate the problems of patients and assist them in overcoming personal issues.

Sports Psychologist

Help athletes and sporting teams deal with the psychological pressures of their sport.

Family Therapist

Work as part of a treatment team to provide counselling and therapeutic support to families navigating crisis, who in many cases have experienced significant disadvantage.

Professional recognition

The degree is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Entry requirements

Higher education

Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Secondary education

Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

VCE Pre-requisites

  • Applicants must meet the associated minimum ATAR score
  • Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL

Work and Life

Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience and appropriate English language skills, or a suitable Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result, will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

Credit for previous study or work

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for credit.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.

Description

Psychology examines what makes us do the things that we do by seeking to understand personality, psychological disorders and the effects of social situations on our behaviour. You will learn about cognitive processes including memory, perception and attention, and how we change as we age.

Coursework will equip you with skills to design research projects and analyse behaviour.

Graduates who wish to practice as a psychologist will need to undertake further study in psychology, as required by the Psychology Board of Australia. If you are interested in a career that uses the theories and scientific methods of psychology, but qualifying and running a clinical practice is not for you, consider our Bachelor of Social Science with a Major in Behavioural Science. 

Degree structure details

Recommended Study Pattern

Course Units

Learning and Communicating Online (COM10003)

Brain and Behaviour (PSY10007)

Fundamentals of Psychology (PSY10008)

Introduction to Research Methods (PSY10005)

Cognition and Human Performance (PSY20006)

Social Psychology (PSY20016)

Psychology Project (PSY30003)

Psychology of Personality (PSY30008)

Analysis of Variance and Regression (STA20006)

Foundations of Statistics (STA10003)

Developmental Psychology (PSY20007)

History and Philosophy of Psychology (PSY30013)

Abnormal Psychology (PSY30010)

Plus there’s a selection of electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Professional Placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant Professional degree exists. International students who successful gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant Professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying. Placements are not available to OUA, Sarawak and other partner students.

Students who undertake a 12 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:

  • Four [4] Core Units of Study (50 credit points);
  • Eight [8] units of study from the Psychological Sciences discipline major (100 credit points);
  • Four [4] units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points);
  • Ten [10] units of study comprising an Advanced Minor, and/or Minor and/or or electives (125 credit points)

Students who elect to undertake a 6 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 337.5 credit points comprising:

  • Four [4] Core Units of Study (50 credit points);
  • Eight [8] units of study from the Psychological Sciences discipline major (100 credit points);
  • Two [2] units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points);
  • Ten [10] units of study comprising an Advanced Minor, and/or Minor and/or electives (137.5 credit points).

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Psychological Sciences, students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

  • Four (4) core units of study (50 credit points)
  • One (1) online core unit of study (12.5 credit points)
  • Eight (8) Psychology discipline major units of study (100 credit points)
  • Twelve (12) or Eleven (11) units of study* (137.5 to 150cp) comprising a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor/s and/or electives

Only for students completing this course online through OUA or SOL. Students may not complete more than 150 cps (normally 11 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

  • Contact us
  • About us
  • OUA Blog
  • Media centre
  • Partnerships
  • Universities
  • Your career
  • FAQ and glossary
  • Work with us
  • Courses
  • MBA online
  • Partner Hub

Open Universities Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

  • Accessibility statement
  • Cookies
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Site map
  • Terms of use

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation.

© Open Universities Australia 2023. All rights reserved.