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 clinical disorders across the life-span. This course provides high-level training in psychopathology, assessment and therapeutic interventions for adults and children suffering from clinical disorders. This program is not available to international students. Prospective international students may wish to consider the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Psychology (Counselling Psychology), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) and Master of Psychology (Counselling Psychology) programs. Prospective domestic students may also wish to consider the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Psychology (Counselling Psychology), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) and Master of Psychology (Counselling Psychology) programs.
Aims & Objectives:
The program is designed to meet the emerging demand for professionals with a high level of training and the skills needed to provide therapeutic interventions for people suffering clinical disorders such as anxiety disorder, clinical depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, personality disorders, trauma, alcohol dependence, childhood disorders and psychogeriatric conditions. Students will learn to assess the current level of psychosocial functioning and to formulate and provide therapeutic interventions to individuals, groups, couples and families experiencing such problems as anxiety, depression, psychosis and disorders of impulse control. Students will learn to understand psychiatric diagnostic systems and to develop diagnoses and individual case formulations for children, adolescents and adults with psychiatric disorders. and milder psychological problems.
Course Structure:
The part-time master program consists of 200 credit points. Students undertake a total of 16 units of study consisting of eight coursework units of study (100 points in total), four placement units of study (50 points in total) and four research units of study (50 points in total). All units of study are core units and are valued at 12.5 credit points each. Students are required to complete 1000 hours in placements. Coursework units of study (totalling 100 credit points) HAY530 Counselling Theory and Skills HAY527 Advanced Psychological Assessment HAYC550 Adult Psychopathology HAYC551 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Research HAY525 Systemic Family Counselling HAYC552 Child Psychopathology and Assessment HAYC553 Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology in 2010 and prior (HAYC554 Professional Ethics and Psychopharmacology in 2011 and onwards) HAY531 Foundations of Health Psychology Placement units of study (totalling 50 credit points) HAYC556 Clinical Placement A1 HAYC557 Clinical Placement A2 HAYC558 Clinical Placement B1 HAYC559 Clinical Placement B2 Research units of study (totalling 50 credit points) HAYC560 Research Project (Clinical) A1 HAYC561 Research Project (Clinical) A2 HAYC562 Research Project (Clinical) B1 HAYC563 Research Project (Clinical) B2
Units of Study:
Part-time program (NB: Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) is not available to international applicants.)Year 1 Semester 1 HAY530 Counselling Theory and SkillsHAY527 Advanced Psychological Assessment (formerly known as HAY539 Psychological Assessment)Semester 2 HAYC550 Adult Psychopathology HAYC556 Clinical Placement A1 Year 2 Semester 1 HAYC551 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Research HAYC557 Clinical Placement A2 Semester 2 HAY525 Systemic Family Counselling (formerly known as HAY547 Psychology of the Family) HAYC558 Clinical Placement B1 Year 3 Semester 1 HAYC552 Child Psychopathology and Assessment HAYC560 Research Project (Clinical) A1 Semester 2 HAYC559 Clinical Placement B2 HAYC561 Research Project (Clinical) A2 Year 4 Semester 1 HAYC553 Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology in 2010 and prior (HAYC554 Professional Ethics and Psychopharmacology in 2011 and onwards) HAYC562 Research Project (Clinical) B1 Semester 2 HAY531 Foundations of Health Psychology HAYC563 Research Project (Clinical) B2
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:
Graduates of the master program will be eligible for: membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS);registration as a psychologist;membership of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists, after two years of internship approved by the Psychology Board of 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 and commitment 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 Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) program should have: completed a degree at an Australian university, and have completed a four-year sequence of studies in psychology at second class level or above in a course or courses accredited by the APS, or have equivalent overseas qualifications recognised by the APS;experience in face-to-face counselling or have completed significant training in counselling skills, e.g., Lifeline, Care Ring, counselling skills in tertiary programs or other appropriate work experience. Short-listed applicants will be required to participate in a selection interview which will determine whether an offer will be made for enrolment in the program. Note: This program is only available on a part-time basis and is therefore unsuitable for international applicants wishing to study in Australia on a student visa. Following Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) guidelines, only recent postgraduate formal training will be recognised as prior learning in relation to this course. Applicants who have obtained qualifications from overseas should ensure that their qualifications have been assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Recognition of Prior Learning:
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of previous experience. 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 indicative course tuition fee is $17,600 for 2012, based on one year full time load (or 1 EFTSL). The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase. The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income-contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. FEE-HELP is available to eligible fee-paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $85,062 from 1 January 2010). The FEE-HELP limit is indexed on 1 January each year.Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au For information about Swinburne's fees visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/fees
Application Procedure:
Applicants for the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) program must lodge the following forms and associated documents by the closing date: Direct Application form (local students only) 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) APS assessment of qualifications (where qualifications were obtained overseas) Closing Date: 28 October 2011 (for Semester 1, 2012 intake).
Further information:
Web: Enquire online Tel: 1300 368 777 Email: postgrad@swinburne.edu.au
