Skip to Content

Courses

Print or email this page: Print this page Email a Friend

 

Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Psychophysiology)

Z0416PPS  043869B



Duration

 Campus and Intake Show intake calendar

Fee*
3 Year/s Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) A$22,650 (annual for 2012) 
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Students who commenced prior to 2010, please refer to Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Psychophysiology) course information.
 
This course is unique to Swinburne and offers students an undergraduate degree with majors in psychology and psychophysiology, encompassing the fields of psychology and cognitive and behavioural neurosciences.
 
The psychology major provides a broad introduction to a range of relevant studies, with more specialised work in developmental psychology, cognition, social psychology, personality, design and measurement, psychological measurement and abnormal psychology.
 
The psychophysiology co-major provides an understanding of physiological processes relevant to the study of psychology. Areas of study include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, physiological responses to sleep, dreaming, memory and cognition, and brain disorders. Psychophysiology also looks at the use of biological recording technology relevant to the study of cognition and behaviour.

This course is also offered to Australian students through the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship Program. Successful applicants are awarded HECS waiver scholarships and will be funded for the duration of their course. For further information visit the Scholarships website.
 
Got a question about this course? Ask it here.

Back to Top


The course has the following objectives:
  • to develop in students a mastery of a wide spectrum of basic principles underlying psychology and psychophysiology
  • to give students an appropriate introduction to the role of the professional scientist in the community and to explore the social effects of scientific decisions
  • to give students a sound knowledge of anatomy and the physiological processes relevant to psychology
  • to develop in students a mastery of the application of psychological and physiological principles and theories for the interpretation and study of human behavioural and physiological processes
  • to develop in students an understanding of psychological and physiological evaluation and monitoring
  • to provide students with the research and analytical skills associated with high quality physiological and psychological research
  • to develop in students a thorough understanding of the appropriate technology, instrumentation and techniques relevant to cognition and behaviour
  • to develop in students competence in the application of appropriate monitoring technology in the psychological or clinical environment
  • to introduce students to the skills necessary for working in a clinical environment as an effective team member
  • to develop students' communication skills so that they can present their ideas clearly by verbal, written and graphical means;
  • to prepare students for the changing workplace and changing societal context by developing their life-long learning skills and flexibility of mind.

Back to Top


This course will operate under a student workload model based on 100 credit points for a full-time academic year. One credit point is deemed to be equivalent to one hour of student work per week over a semester, whether in contact with staff or in private study. Four units of study, each worth 12.5 credit points, will generally be taken each semester. The typical student's average weekly workload during semester is therefore expected to be 50 hours. Total student contact hours, including lectures, classes, tutorials, flexible learning and laboratory and field sessions will be approximately 16 hours/week during academic semesters.

Students must complete 300 credit points, or 24 units of 12.5 credit points each. These units will comprise of one Professional Major and one Co-Major as follows:
  • Psychology Professional Major, 16 units of 12.5 credit points each (200 credit points); and
  • Psychophysiology Co-Major, 8 units of 12.5 credit points each (100 credit points).
Additionally the following rules apply:
  • the non-credit unit, HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum, is compulsory; 
  •  two (2) Major Project units must be completed as part of the major studies sequence;
  • the same unit cannot be counted more than once. Where there are overlaps, the 300 credit points of study must be made up in the first instance by a Minor where 50 credit points is required, otherwise by freeelectives or Options Plus units;
  • students will normally not be permitted to successfully complete more than 26 units (325cps);
  • Professional Major Co-ordinators have the authority to approve alternative units if required for students to complete in a timely fashion. To be noted at Faculty Academic Committee.
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit of study HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of their course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills.

Final Year Experience - Major Projects
As part of the Swinburne Model for Professional Learning, all incoming undergraduates will undertake 25 credit points of professionally focused final year major projects within their programs of study. Entry with advanced standing may require alternate study sequences to be undertaken.

Winter and Summer Term
This program also provides opportunities to undertake study in an optional six-week Winter and Summer term allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters. These terms are not mandatory. However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option.
 
Options Plus
Students will have access to a small set of approved individual Options Plus units of study which provide either a distinctive learning experience or targeted study support. This could include optional study tours, an Intercultural Communications unit, and an ‘introduction to undergraduate research’ unit. In some cases, students may be advised or directed to take specially targeted Options Plus units, for example the Analysing and Writing English unit to be offered for credit in Winter Term for NESB students.

Students undertaking a full 300 cp program are allowed to substitute at least one Options Plus unit for one existing unit within their Co-Major– but not in their Professional Major. They will be advised by their Faculty on which unit(s) of the Co-Major.

In the case of students who enter with significant levels of advanced standing and whose program is therefore composed only of a Professional Major, the Faculty may approve a substitution, or else require the students to undertake the Options Plus unit in addition to their Major studies.

Back to Top


 
Students who successfully complete this Psychology Major will be eligible for Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) recognition.

This Psychology Professional Major is only available to students enrolled in a Science program and in the Psychophysiology Co-Major.

* HES1510 may be replaced with HES1490 Introduction to Chemistry for students without Year 12 Chemistry.
 
 
This Co-Major is only available to students enrolled in a Psychology Professional Major where the Psychophysiology Co-Major is prescribed.

Back to Top


Professional Majors
A Professional Major (200 credit points or 16 units of study) in Science is designed to provide students with appropriate breadth and depth of knowledge in a particular field of study and provide suitable preparation for professional graduate employment. It may be based on a single, recognised discipline, or it may be inter-disciplinary in character.

Study areas in the Psychology Professional Major include psychological testing and assessment, psychology, abnormal psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, personality psychology, social psychology, philosophy, research methods and statistics.
The Psychology Professional Major incorporates the Psychology sequence accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Co-Majors
A Co-Major (100 credit points or 8 units of study) is a sequence of study focused on a specific discipline and is normally self-contained, in that it includes any requisite foundation studies.

The Psychophysiology Co-Major emphasises the monitoring and measurement of physiological processes using biomedical instrumentation, and relates this to behaviour and psychological states. Study areas in this co-major include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, physiological responses to sleep, dreaming, memory and cognition, and brain disorders. Psychophysiology also looks at the use of biological recording technology relevant to the study of cognition and behaviour.

Back to Top


Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

Back to Top


Graduates are equipped for employment in areas including neurophysiological areas of hospitals, research areas of universities and research institutes that assess and manage neurological and physiological problems, community health services and clinics, ergonomics and psychophysiology. The APAC accredited psychology major provides the first step to becoming a professional psychologist. With further training, graduates can take up careers in clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, health and sports psychology.

Back to Top


The Psychology Professional Major at Swinburne incorporates the Psychology sequence accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Back to Top


Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

Back to Top


Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Advanced level certificate at the undergraduate level (EAP 5: UG-65% ); OR, Obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Computer-based) minimum score of 213 (with Written Writing score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 80 with no band less than 20.

Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

Back to Top


One of Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Psychology.

Back to Top


To assess eligibility for entry to Swinburne, visit the Academic Entry Requirements page.

Back to Top


 
Phone: +613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

Back to Top


Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia)

Back to Top


A range of scholarships are available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

Back to Top
 
Make an Enquiry
How to Apply
Accept Your Offer