Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)
Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) BSocSc(Psych)
On Campus - Bathurst
On Campus - Port Macquarie
Online - Bathurst
Availability is subject to change, please verify prior to enrolment.
Course duration referenced below is the effective time taken to complete a course when studied full time (full time equivalent duration). At Charles Sturt the standard calendar refers to 32 points a session over a 2 session calendar year. The Actual Duration is the time taken to complete the course following the prescribed enrolment pattern. A course's actual duration can be affected by the session calendar (number of sessions undertaken per year) and/or mode (full time, part time or mixed) and credit packages which may have been granted unpon admission. Therefore, depending on the prescribed enrolment pattern, mode, calendar utilised and credit awarded a course may take less time or more time to complete than the duration noted as full time equivalent years. Students are advised to consult the Enrolment Pattern to determine the actual duration of study.
Full-time: 3 years (or part-time equivalent)
A completed High School Certificate (or equivalent) with an ATAR of 65 (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.
Standard Charles Sturt University Credit Policy applies: https://policy.csu.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=120
To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.
The course consists of 24 subjects as follows:
Core Level 1 to 3 Subjects
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction
PSY115 An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning
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
Core Sociology Subject
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
Compulsory Psychology Subjects
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
Minor
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.
All minor sequences are available by online education and some are also available internally at some campuses.
Note: Students who choose sociology as a minor complete five sociology subjects (one of which must be a Level 3 subject) in addition to the compulsory sociology subject (SOC101); they will need to choose four 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. 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 Director: email ask@csu.edu.au
Electives
The three electives (four 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 Addiction
PSY219 Psychology International Experience
PSY313 Psychology and the Legal System
PSY316 Psychology of Stress and Trauma
PSY320 Balgargal: Indigenous Cultural Immersion Experience
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
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#
PSY115 An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning
[ ] 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
Online
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Introductory Sociology
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY115 An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning
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
[ ] Core Level 3 PSY subject or Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
[ ] 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 Pattern
The following enrolment pattern is designed to facilitate the completion of this course over a period of two calendar years, and is based on the following assumptions:
Students completing a minor sequence with subject offerings in Sessions 1 and 2 only 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 eg 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).
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#
PSY115 An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 3
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology#
PSY202 Developmental Psychology#
[ ] 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
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.
The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2021. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.