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Undergraduate Degree Options

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) – BPsych (Hons)

The Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) is designed for those high achieving students who are seeking a four year sequence in Psychology. The program offers concentrated study in Psychology for students who want a thorough exploration of the discipline and the opportunity for specialisation in their third year before conducting a major research project in the fourth year (ie Honours year). It includes courses in the major substantive areas of Psychology, together with comprehensive training in the research design and data analysis techniques used in psychological science.

Students are expected to maintain a high level of academic excellence in psychology courses, and to undertake assessment options with a focus on research in four of their courses.

Most students accepted into Honours psychology at ANU will continue to enter via other pathways such as the BScience (Psychology), BScience and BArts, as below.

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Bachelor of Science (Psychology) – BSc (Psych)

The degree of BSc (Psych) offers a structured program of study in psychology. While professionally accredited qualifications in psychology can also be obtained through the BScience and BArts degrees, the BSc (Psych) is particularly aimed at students who wish to pursue careers as research or professional psychologists.

The three year degree involves a broad-based introductory year, in-depth coverage of the major areas of psychology in second year, and some opportunity for specialisation in the final year. The compulsory units in research methods and data analysis provide valuable skills which are very highly regarded by a range of employers, and in itself the three year degree can lead to career opportunities including community work such as drug and alcohol counselling and youth work, or careers in industry such as human resource management, industrial relations, or market research.

The BSc (Psych) offers an excellent foundation for progression into fourth year (ie Honours) and beyond. At the end of the three year degree, students will have completed the prerequisite units for entry to fourth year psychology degrees at any Australian university. These prerequisites can also be satisfied by completion of the BScience or BArts degrees, and these latter courses are recommended for students who wish to accompany the study of psychology with more intensive study of other disciplines.

Registration as a psychologist in the ACT requires the completion of an approved four year sequence plus two years of appropriate supervised practice. Students aiming for full membership of the Australian Psychological Society will need to complete six years of tertiary study and appropriate supervised practice. Postgraduate training in clinical psychology is also available within the School, as are postgraduate research degrees.

It must be noted that entry into fourth year programs is highly competitive, but priority is not given to students from a particular degree program.

• Get more information about the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - (BSc (Psych))

Other Degree Options – Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Arts

Psychology can be studied as part of a BScience or BArts program, the choice of program depending on whether a student's interests lean towards the biological (BSc) or humanities and social science (BA) areas. In both cases, students wishing to qualify for fourth year study in psychology take a minimum of 72 units of psychology (which constitutes an accredited three year sequence in psychology) within their 144 unit program, and further science or arts courses as specified in the BSc and BA program requirements.

Completing a major

Students in either the BSc or BA may opt to undertake psychology as a major course within their degree. Completion of a major in psychology in your pass degree will not make you eligible for honours in Psychology, but it will give you skills that are highly valued by employers.

A psychology major in science or arts entails completion of the following courses: PSYC1003, PSYC1004, a minimum of 12 units of PSYC2000 level courses and a minimum of 18 units of PSYC3000 level courses. Arts students completing a psychology ‘major’ must conform to College of Science degree rules.

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• Get more information about the Bachelor of Arts - (BA)

Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Psychology also offers programs of study for students enrolled in the four-year Bachelor of Philosophy (PhB (Honours)). For additional information and specific advice, the student should consult the PhB Sub-Dean in the College of Science.

Combined Degrees

The above degree programs in psychology can also form part of combined programs. For example, the BSc(Psych) may be combined with programs in Law (BSc(Psych)/LLB), Commerce (BComm/BSc(Psych)), Economics (BEc/BSc(Psych)) or Music (BMus/BSc(Psych)) as well as with the BSc and BA.

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Honours in Psychology

A pass degree in psychology provides adequate acquaintance with the field for a non-specialist. An honours degree provides additional training in research and substantive psychological skills. This is essential for admission to associate membership in the Australian Psychological Society, for registration as a psychologist in the ACT, and for enrolment in most graduate programs.

Qualification for the independent practice of psychology, or employment in academic and medical institutions, typically requires graduate study leading to a degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Master of Clinical Psychology (MClinPsyc), Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DPsych), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), or Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) (PhD Clinical).

How to Enrol

Applications for degrees should be made through UAC.