Extended Major Overview

Description

Psychology is a fascinating and diverse area of study that touches upon many aspects of daily life, seeking to answer questions about how and why people behave the way they do. The Psychology extended major will help you develop a scientific understanding of human thoughts and behaviours, the psychological processes underlying these and the relationship of these processes to brain function. You will find an emphasis on the measurement of psychological abilities, how these develop through the lifespan and on the processes that govern the relationships between people and groups in a multicultural society. You will also develop an understanding of how psychological processes are affected by ageing, brain damage and disease.

In comparison to the single-major of psychology, the extended major in psychology helps students gain group experience conducting research to answer psychological questions, as well as an understanding of the application of psychology in business settings. Students completing the extended major will also gain some understanding of Indigenous heritage, experience, and knowledge, as well as possibly Indigenous health and well-being (depending on option units selected).

The Psychology extended major is a three-year undergraduate sequence in psychology, accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Completion of this major will allow students to apply for further study in Psychology leading to professional accreditation as a psychologist.

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 selected psychological processes, their development, and the relations between them
  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 consistent with expectations in the professional discipline of psychology
  6. work effectively as a team member in solving problems
  7. demonstrate a knowledge of appropriate cultural responsiveness in the application of 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 and to pursue as many areas of interest as you can during your course of study. At the same time, we know that many of you value the University's guidance and assistance in planning your enrolment throughout your course, so we offer the following suggestions for your consideration as possible avenues to broaden your degree.

Recommended units:

MKTG1204 Consumer Behaviour

INDG2300 Indigenous Knowledge: Mind, Body and Spirit

PUBH2203 Foundations of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

AHEA3301 Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Recommended minors:

Data Science

Applied Statistical Learning

Biological Anthropology

NB: Do always remember that there is no wrong way to broaden your studies as long as you complete at least four units not associated with your Degree Specific Major.

Incompatibilities

MJD-PSYSC Psychological Science (ID 426) and MJD-PSYSO Psychology in Society (ID 427) and MJD-PSYCH Psychological and Behavioural Sciences and MJS-PSYCY Psychological and Behavioural Sciences

Courses

Psychology can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2

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
Degree-specific major units

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

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 INDG1150 Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard
Incompatibility
HIST1100 Aboriginal History
S2 INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge None
Degree-specific major units

Take ANHB1101 Human Biology 1: Becoming Human or AHEA2201 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human None

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

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
S2 PSYC2212 Psychology and Social Behaviour
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC3312 Psychology and Social Behaviour
S2 PSYC2213 Psychology: Lifespan Development
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC3313 Psychology: Lifespan Development
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
Degree-specific major units

Take AHEA2201 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing or ANHB1101 Human Biology 1: Becoming Human:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 AHEA2201 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing
Prerequisites
for the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing major: INDG1150 Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard.
or INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge.
for the Population Health major: PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations.
or PUBH1102 Health and Globalisation.
for pre-2012 courses: HIST1100 Aboriginal History.
for the Women's Health minor: IMED1108 Issues in women's health across the lifespan.
Incompatibility
IMED2293 Aboriginal Health, IMED3393 Aboriginal Health

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (36 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 PSYC3302 Psychological Measurement and its Application
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
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
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
S2 PSYC3314 Psychopathology
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) PSYC2214 Adult Psychopathology
S1 PSYC3315 Cognitive 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) PSYC2215 Cognitive Psychology
S2 PSYC3318 Perception and Sensory Neuropsychology
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) PSYC2218 Perception and Sensory Neuropsychology