Major Overview

Description

Note: this major is only available to re-enrolling students.

Are you interested in how we learn, remember and think? Have you ever wondered how we control our movements? Psychologists are interested in how and why people behave the way they do. Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour, and is a challenging and wide-ranging discipline. The Psychological Science major will provide you with a scientific understanding of our psychological processes and the relationship of these processes to brain function. You will also develop an understanding of how these psychological processes are affected by ageing, brain damage and disease. Students hoping to pursue further study at postgraduate level leading to professional accreditation as a psychologist should complete the Psychology double major. During the major you will be exposed to sensitive topics (e.g. depression, suicide, trauma, eating disorders). You will also be required to demonstrate skills across a variety of different formats and contexts (e.g. written assessments, participation in practical work, contribution to group discussions, oral presentations), and so it is important to carefully consider whether you are able to cope with the demands of a psychology major and whether there is anything that would impact upon your ability to complete the requirements of the major.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological processes and their relationships with neurobiology
  2. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the scientific method in psychology
  3. demonstrate critical thinking in psychology including an appreciation of the use of the scientific method to study psychological processes
  4. demonstrate skills in the analysis and presentation of quantitative data
  5. demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills
  6. work effectively as a team member in solving problems
  7. apply high-level critical thinking, teamwork and communication skills required for employment and further studies related to psychology.
Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Incompatibilities

MJD-PSYSO Psychology in Society

Courses

Psychological Science can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

No study plans found for this major. See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain None
S2 PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context None

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take the following unit:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 PSYC2203 Research Methods and Analysis in Psychology I
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A PSYC2215 Cognitive Psychology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC3315 Cognitive Psychology
S1 PSYC2217 Cognitive Neuroscience
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC3317 Cognitive Neuroscience

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A PSYC3301 Intermediate Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
and Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
and Unit(s) PSYC2203 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology
S2 PSYC3310 Psychology: Specialist Research Topics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
and Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
and Unit(s) PSYC2203 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points with at least 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A PSYC3308 Psychology: Atypical Development
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
and Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
and Unit(s) PSYC2203 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC2208 Psychology: Atypical Development
N/A PSYC3317 Cognitive Neuroscience
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
and Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
and Unit(s) PSYC2203 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC2217 Cognitive Neuroscience
Degree-specific major units

If required, take one unit to the value of 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 PSYC3309 Industrial and Organisational Psychology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
and Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
and Unit(s) PSYC2203 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC2209 Industrial and Organisational Psychology
N/A PSYC3312 Psychology and Social Behaviour
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
and Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
and Unit(s) PSYC2203 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC2212 Psychology and Social Behaviour
N/A PSYC3313 Psychology: Lifespan Development
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
and Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
and Unit(s) PSYC2203 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC2213 Psychology: Lifespan Development