Swinburne University of Technology - Melbourne Australia
Future Students - Courses
Course Description:
Clinical psychology is a specialisation focusing on psychopathology and the assessment and treatment of adults and children who are suffering from clinical disorders. This program is designed to meet the need for professional psychologists to re-specialise in clinical psychology. An admission requirement for the program is completion in the past five years of master or doctoral level training in professional psychology (e.g. counselling, health, clinical neuropsychology, forensic). Prospective students may also wish to consider the related programs Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) and Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) programs. Note: the Graduate Diploma of Science (Clinical Psychology) and the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) programs are only offered on a part-time basis and are not available to international students studying in Australia on a student visa.
Aims & Objectives:
Students entering the program will hold recent master or doctoral level degrees in a professional psychology specialisation other than clinical psychology, and the program will build on this existing knowledge/skills and experience. Students will learn to comprehensively assess and diagnose clients using quantitative and qualitative approaches. They will be trained to assess, formulate and deliver interventions for people suffering high prevalence mental disorders and serious mental illness. Students will learn to formulate interventions for individuals and families. The range of evidence-based approaches taught in the program is relatively broad; the dominant approach is cognitive-behavioural, but students will also be trained in systemic family counselling and exposed to solution-focused therapy and interpersonal psychodynamic approaches.
Course Structure:
The program is only offered part-time, with classes scheduled in the evenings. Students undertake a total of eight 12.5 credit point coursework units (total = 100 points). There are no placement units and no research units in this program. Depending on previous postgraduate psychology training, students may be eligible for exemptions (credit) for up to 50% of the program.
Units of Study:
Year 1 Semester 1 HAY530 Counselling Theory and Skills HAY527 Advanced Psychological Assessment Semester 2 HAYC550 Adult Psychopathology HAYC551 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Research Year 2 Semester 1 HAYC553 Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology HAYC552 Child Psychopathology and Assessment Semester 2 HAY525 Systemic Family Counselling HAY531 Foundations of Health Psychology
Career Opportunities:
Graduates may gain employment in community mental health centres, psychiatric hospital settings, specialist services for particular clinical groups, schools, post-secondary education, clinical rehabilitation services and private practice.
Professional recognition:
The program was designed in consultation with the APS, the College of Clinical Psychologists and the APS Medicare Team to meet the requirements of psychologists wishing to re-specialise in clinical psychology and, on a case-by-case basis, completion of the program may constitute the bridging training required for eligibility of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists and consequent eligibility to provide clinical psychology services under Medicare. Students who are seeking this professional recognition should contact the APS Medicare Team to determine whether the program meets their needs. Note: Although this program offers specialist training in clinical psychology, satisfactory completion of the program will not in and of itself confer recognition as a clinical psychologist (as defined, for example, by the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the College of Clinical Psychologists or Medicare Australia).
Graduate Attributes:
Graduates are capable in their chosen professional areas: able to gather information systematically from a wide range of sources;a sense of social responsibility for knowledge and its application;a highly developed ability in both verbal and written communication skills;logical and critical thinking skills. Graduates are entrepreneurial: able to identify and realise opportunities for responsible innovation;an aptitude for socially responsible decision making. Graduates are adaptable and work effectively and ethically: communicate effectively with professionals and the community;adaptable, flexible, open to new ideas and able to manage change;understanding of and commitmed to professional and ethical principles;application of the APS Code of Ethics and Guidelines;adaptable, flexible, open to new ideas and able to manage change;recognise the need for life-long learning. Graduates are aware of environments: respect clients from diverse cultural backgrounds;understand the impact of culture on therapy;respect for multiple points of view.
Entry Requirements:
Applicants for the Graduate Diploma of Science (Clinical Psychology) program should have completed a master or doctoral degree in professional psychology at an Australian university in the past five years. Entry into the program is competitive, with applicants needing to demonstrate academic aptitude and clinical experience equivalent to that needed to gain entry into the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) degree. Preference will also be given to applicants currently working in a mental health setting. Applicants will be required to participate in a highly competitive selection and interview process which will determine whether an offer will be made for enrolment in the program. Following Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) guidelines, only recent postgraduate formal training will be recognised as prior learning in relation to this course. Credit or partial credit towards a qualification cannot be granted in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience and/or life experience.
Recognition of Prior Learning:
Following Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) guidelines, only recent postgraduate formal training will be recognised as prior learning in relation to this course. Credit or partial credit towards a qualification cannot be granted in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience and/or life experience.
Course Fees:
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year.For information about Swinburne's fees visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/fees
Application Procedure:
Applicants for the Graduate Diploma of Science (Clinical Psychology) program must lodge the following forms and associated documents by the closing date: Direct Application form Academic Referee Report (your referee should send the completed report to the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences by the closing date) Professional Referee Report (your referee should send the completed report to the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences by the closing date) Curriculum Vitae (maximum 5 pages) Closing Date: 28 October 2011 for Semester 1, 2012 intake.
Further information:
Web: Enquire online Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794) Email: postgrad@swinburne.edu.au
