Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)
Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) BSocSc(Psych)
On Campus - Bathurst
On Campus - Port Macquarie
On Campus - Wagga Wagga
Online - Bathurst
Availability is subject to change, please verify prior to enrolment.
Full-time 3 years (6.0 sessions)
Part-time 6.0 years (12.0 sessions)
On-campus students admitted in Session 1 have the opportunity to complete the course over two calendar years, utilising subjects offered in the online education mode in Session 3.
Normal course duration is the effective period of time taken to complete a course when studied Full-time (Full-time Equivalent Duration). Students are advised to consult the Enrolment Pattern for the actual length of study. Not all courses are offered in Full-time mode.
Applicants for the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) must meet the following Admission Requirements:
* A completed High School Certificate (or equivalent) with an ATAR of 70 (including adjustment factors).
OR
* Successful completion of two university level subjects in any discipline area.
OR
* A completed Vocational Education and Training (VET) Certificate IV or higher, studied at a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO), or equivalent.
OR
* A completed Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC) or bridging program studied at a TAFE, Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or University, or equivalent.
OR
* Partial completion of a Vocational Education and Training (VET) Diploma, of at least 50% from a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO), or equivalent.
English Language Proficiency
An Academic IELTS with a minimum score of 6 with no individual score below 5.5 or a qualification deemed by CSU to be equivalent as outlined in the CSU Concordance Table.
To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.
The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) is a three year degree, comprising 24 subjects:
Core Level 1 to 3 Subjects
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY202 Developmental Psychology
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
PSY208 Biopsychology
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology*
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods*
and at least three of the following subjects (it is recommended that students complete four of these subjects, counting the fourth as one of their electives).
PSY304 Psychopathology
PSY305 Psychology of Personality
PSY307 Cognition
PSY308 Psychology of Learning
* Students studying by online education attend a compulsory residential school for this subject
Compulsory Sociology Subjects
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
SOC102 Social Inequality
Students must take a minor of six subjects, at least one of which must be at Level 3, in one of the discipline areas listed below. Subjects are delivered internally at the campus or campuses specified in parentheses, however all minor sequences are also available by online education.
" Biology (Wagga Wagga)
" Communication (Bathurst)
" English (Bathurst & Wagga Wagga)
" History and Politics (Bathurst & Wagga Wagga)
" Human Resource Management (Bathurst, Port Macquarie & Wagga Wagga)
" Information Technology (Bathurst & Wagga Wagga)
" Justice Studies (Bathurst & Port Macquarie)
" Management (Bathurst, Port Macquarie & Wagga Wagga)
" Marketing (Bathurst, Port Macquarie & Wagga Wagga)
" Mathematics and Statistics (Wagga Wagga)
" Philosophy (Wagga Wagga)
" Social Welfare (Wagga Wagga)
" Sociology (Wagga Wagga)
Note: Students who choose sociology as a minor complete four sociology subjects (one of which must be a Level 3 subject) in addition to the two compulsory sociology subjects (SOC101 and SOC102); they will need to choose six electives to bring the total number of subjects up to 24.
Details of the subjects included in each of these minors may be obtained from ask@csu.edu.au. On-campus students may have to complete some or all subjects in their chosen minor by online education mode. Students may take any six subjects from one of the areas listed provided they meet the prerequisites/assumed knowledge requirements and include at least one Level 3 subject. A minor in another discipline may be taken with the approval of the Course Coordinator: email ask@csu.edu.au
Electives
The three electives (five if the minor is in Sociology) can be chosen from any of the discipline areas listed above or from the following psychology electives:
PSY211 Psychology of Crime
PSY214 Health Psychology
PSY218 Psychology of Substance Abuse
PSY219 Psychology International Experience
PSY313 Psychology and the Legal System
PSY316 Psychology of Stress and Trauma
Key Subjects
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
On campus (Bathurst)
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction*
SOC102 Social Inequality
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 2
Session 1
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY202 Developmental Psychology
PSY208 Biopsychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 3
Students must complete PSY301, PSY309, and at least three of the core Level 3 psychology subjects listed below. Note: it is recommended that students complete four of these psychology subjects, counting the fourth as one of their electives.
PSY304 Psychopathology (Session 1)
PSY305 Psychology of Personality (Session 1)
PSY307 Cognition (Session 2)
PSY308 Psychology of Learning (Session 2)
Session 1
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
On campus (Port Macquarie)
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction*
SOC102 Social Inequality*
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 2
Session 1
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY202 Developmental Psychology
PSY208 Biopsychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 3
Students must complete PSY301, PSY309, and at least three of the core Level 3 psychology subjects listed below. Note: it is recommended that students complete four of these psychology subjects, counting the fourth as one of their electives.
PSY304 Psychopathology (Session 1)
PSY305 Psychology of Personality (Session 1)
PSY307 Cognition (Session 2)
PSY308 Psychology of Learning (Session 2)
Session 1
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
* indicates subject is offered in the online education mode only
On campus (Wagga Wagga)
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction*
SOC102 Social Inequality
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 2
Session 1
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY202 Developmental Psychology
PSY208 Biopsychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 3
Students must complete PSY301, PSY309, and at least three of the core Level 3 psychology subjects listed below. Note: it is recommended that students complete four of these psychology subjects, counting the fourth as one of their electives.
PSY304 Psychopathology (Session 1)
PSY305 Psychology of Personality (Session 1)
PSY307 Cognition (Session 2)
PSY308 Psychology of Learning (Session 2)
Session 1
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
* indicates subject is offered in the online education mode only
Online education
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
SOC102 Social Inequality
Year 2
Session 1
PSY202 Developmental Psychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 3
Session 1
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY208 Biopsychology
Year 4
Session 1
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
Session 2
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Years 5-6
Students must complete PSY301, PSY309, and at least three of the core Level 3 psychology subjects listed below. Note: it is recommended that students complete four of these psychology subjects, counting the fourth as one of their electives.
PSY304 Psychopathology (Session 2)
PSY305 Psychology of Personality (Session 1)
PSY307 Cognition (Session 2)
PSY308 Psychology of Learning (Session 1)
Year 5
Session 1
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (residential school)
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods (residential school)
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Year 6
Session 1
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Session 2
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Accelerated Enrolment Patterns
The following enrolment patterns are designed to facilitate the completion of this course over a period of two calendar years, and are based on the following assumptions:
" that students will complete all six core Level 3 PSY subjects. Students who choose not to complete the sixth core Level 3 PSY subject will need to modify the enrolment pattern to include an additional elective;
" that only students admitted in Session 1 each year will be supported to complete their degree across two calendar years;
" that students who fail to complete PSY101, PSY102, or PSY201 on the first attempt will not be able to continue with this accelerated enrolment pattern;
" that some online education study may be required where the subject offerings do not support a full-time on-campus study load;
" that Session 3 PSY subjects will be offered only in the online education mode;
" that the School of Psychology cannot guarantee that every minor sequence available will be able to be completed within two calendar years.
Students completing a minor sequence with subject offerings in Sessions 1 and 2 only will need to defer their study of SOC102 until Session 3; they will need to complete all their electives in Session 3.
Students will be responsible for planning their enrolment to satisfy course requirements within the two year timeframe, so careful advance planning across the entire course duration will be required. Students who choose to complete six sessions of full-time study within two calendar years will not be able to base any claim of special consideration on their chosen study pattern e.g., as it may relate to academic performance and course transfer to the BPsych or BPsych(Hons), or admission to the PGDipPsych or BSocSc(Psych)(Hons).
Bathurst Campus
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction*
SOC102 Social Inequality or [ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 3
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology*
PSY202 Developmental Psychology*
SOC102 Social Inequality* or [ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 2
Session 1
PSY208 Biopsychology
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY304 Psychopathology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
PSY308 Psychology of Learning
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
Session 3
PSY305 Psychology of Personality*
PSY307 Cognition*
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
* indicates subject is offered in the online education mode only
Port Macquarie Campus
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction*
SOC102 Social Inequality* or [ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 3
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology*
PSY202 Developmental Psychology*
SOC102 Social Inequality* or [ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 2
Session 1
PSY204 Psychological Testing*
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY308 Psychology of Learning*
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY208 Biopsychology*
PSY304 Psychopathology*
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
Session 3
PSY305 Psychology of Personality*
PSY307 Cognition*
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
* indicates subject is offered in the online education mode only
Wagga Wagga Campus
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction*
SOC102 Social Inequality or [ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 3
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology*
PSY202 Developmental Psychology*
SOC102 Social Inequality* or [ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 2
Session 1
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY304 Psychopathology
PSY308 Psychology of Learning*
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY203 Social Psychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
PSY208 Biopsychology*
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
Session 3
PSY305 Psychology of Personality*
PSY307 Cognition*
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
* indicates subject is offered in the online education mode only
Please note that the following subjects may contain a Residential School component.
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology - Subject offered from 2007
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods - Subject offered from 2013
Enrolled students can find further information about CSU Residential Schools via at About Residential School
The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as providing a three year sequence of study in psychology.
For any enquiries about subject selection or course structure please contact Student Central or ask@csu.edu.au or phone on 1800 275 278.
For further information about Charles Sturt University, or this course offering, please contact info.csu on 1800 275 278 (free call within Australia) or enquire online.
The information contained in the 2018 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: August 2018. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.