Undergraduate
Bachelor of Psychological Science
2021
In the Bachelor of Psychological Science, you will develop an integrated understanding of human behaviour including social-cultural perspective, motivations, health and psychopathology as well as the fundamental premise of psychology as an empirically based science.
Key study areas include:
- research methods
- abnormal psychology
- social-cultural psychology
- learning and motivation
- cognitive psychology
- the biological bases of behaviour
- introduction to forensic psychology counselling.
The Bachelor of Psychological Science will also prepare you for the Honours program, as well as postgraduate professional coursework or supervised training in psychology.
Career opportunities
Graduating from this course may lead to career opportunities in child and family services, child protection, community health and welfare, drug and alcohol, disability and rehabilitation services, health service management, research and evaluation, policy and planning, human resources management and marketing.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and prepares you for entry into an Honours year in psychology. During your studies, you can also join the Australian Psychological Society.
Credit transfers and pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
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There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
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This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Admission criteria
Admission requirements are met by one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.
- Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher.
- Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
- Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
- Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 135 (or a score of 145 if prior to May 2010).
- Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program, the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses, or other recognised tertiary preparation course.
- Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.
* After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.
Essential requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 169, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of B2. |
| Navitas Academic English (will not be accepted from 2021 onwards) | A minimum overall pass and 55% in Academic English 3. (Note: this score will not be accepted from 2021 intakes onwards). |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 60 and a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
ATAR profile
There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
Course structure
In first year, students are introduced to a range of areas in psychology while in second and third year core and specialist electives provide more in-depth study of key areas such as research methods, abnormal psychology, social-cultural psychology, learning and motivation, cognitive psychology, the biological bases of behaviour, introduction to forensic psychology and counselling.
Second and third year core and specialist electives also cover major themes in foundational knowledge and contemporary issues in psychology as well as specialist areas (eg, health psychology, alcohol and other drugs, forensic psychology, neuroscience, counselling, behavioural therapies, etc).
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type |
Credit Points |
Specific requirements |
| Common Units (2 units) |
20cp |
Common units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below.
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability (compulsory) Select Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options. |
| Core Units (15 units) |
150cp |
Compulsory Core units totalling 150 credit points as detailed below.
IAS101 Indigenous Australia (replaces IND120 from 2020 which replaced ATI120 from 2016) |
| Specialist Elective (3 units) |
30cp |
Select units totalling 30 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below.
PSY143 Traumatology - Assessment and Intervention |
| Electives (4 units) |
40cp |
Select units totalling 40 credit points may be selected from undergraduate units offered by the University. |
|
240cp |
Total Credit Points |
Students who commence in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.
Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
| Course Changes and Transitional Arrangements - 2016
Students transferring from the BPSYS course to the WPSYS1 course should note the following changes:
Discontinued Units from 2016:
Students who have completed PSY315 may still complete PSY340 as a specialist elective. Unit Title Changes
Unit Code Changes
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Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | PSY141 Introduction to Psychology B | CO |
| IAS131 Colonising Australia (replaces IND150 from 2020) | CO | CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU |
| IAS101 Indigenous Australia (replaces IND120 from 2020) | CO | CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability OR CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology |
CU |
| PSY115 Psychological Skills | CO | Elective | E |
| Year 2 | |||
| PSY247 Research Design and Analysis | CO | PSY245 Cognition and Language | CO |
| PSY208 Biological Bases of Behaviour | CO | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO |
| PSY209 Social-Cultural Psychology | CO | Specialist elective | SE |
| Specialist elective | SE | Specialist elective or Elective | E |
| Year 3 | |||
| PSY305 Theories of Personality | CO | PSY347 Advanced Research Design and Analysis | CO |
| PSY355 Applied Psychology | CO | PSY353 Abnormal Psychology | CO |
| Specialist elective or Elective | E | PSY340 Behavioural Therapies | CO |
| Specialist elective | SE | Specialist elective or Elective | E |
Students commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard load Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester (not available from 2021) |
|||
| Year 1 | |||||
| PSY141 Introduction to Psychology B | CO | PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | ||
| IAS144 Indigenous Land and Resources (replaces ATI140 from 2020) | CO | CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | ||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability OR CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology |
CU | ||||
| Elective | E | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| PSY247 Research Design and Analysis | CO | PSY245 Cognition and Language | CO | Elective | E |
| PSY208 Biological Bases of Behaviour | CO | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO | Elective | E |
| PSY209 Social-Cultural Psychology | CO | Specialist elective | SE | ||
| PSY115 Psychological Skills | CO | Elective | E | ||
| Year 3 | |||||
| PSY305 Theories of Personality | CO | PSY347 Advanced Research Design and Analysis | CO | ||
| PSY355 Applied Psychology | CO | PSY353 Abnormal Psychology | CO | ||
| IAS101 Indigenous Australia (replaces IND120 from 2020) | CO | PSY340 Behavioural Therapies | CO | ||
| Specialist elective | SE | Specialist elective | SE | ||
Students commencing in Summer Semester (from 2021 Summer Semester is no longer available for entry)
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in summer semester and enrolling in a standard load Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
Note: There is no advantage to summer semester enrolment as it will still require three years to complete the WPSYS1. Students can complete general electives in summer semester but this will not reduce the completion time.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester (not available from 2021) |
|||
| Year 1 | |||||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability | CU | ||||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | ||||
| Elective | E | ||||
| Elective | E | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| PSY140 Introduction to Psychology A | CO | PSY141 Introduction to Psychology B | CO | ||
| IAS131 Colonising Australia (replaces IND150 from 2020) | CO | PSY245 Cognition and Language | CO | ||
| IAS101 Indigenous Australia (replaces IND120 from 2020) | CO | PSY202 Developmental Psychology | CO | ||
| PSY115 Psychological Skills | CO | Specialist elective | SE | ||
| Year 3 | |||||
| PSY247 Research Design and Analysis | CO | PSY347 Advanced Research Design and Analysis | CO | ||
| PSY208 Biological Bases of Behaviour | CO | PSY353 Abnormal Psychology | CO | ||
| PSY209 Social-Cultural Psychology | CO | PSY340 Behavioural Therapies | CO | ||
| Specialist elective | SE | Specialist elective or Elective | E | ||
| Year 4 | |||||
| PSY305 Theories of Personality | CO | ||||
| PSY355 Applied Psychology | CO | ||||
| Specialist elective | SE | ||||
| Specialist elective or Elective | E | ||||
Course fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points (1.0 EFTSL) for commencing students in 2021 is AUD $28,224.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.