Advanced Graduate Diploma of Psychological Practice AdGradDipPsychPrac
Master of Psychological Practice MPsychPrac
Master of Psychological Practice (School Psychology) MPsychPrac(SchlPsych)
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 upon 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: 2 years (or part-time equivalent)
Full-time: 1 years (or part-time equivalent)
Applicants for the Master of Psychological Practice must meet the following Admission Requirements:
AND
OR
AND
No special arrangements apply.
No special arrangements apply.
The Master and Graduate Diploma [Exit Point Only] make up an articulated set of courses and credit is given in each higher level course for the subjects completed in the lower.
To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 128 points.
To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 64 points.
The Master of Psychological Practice comprises 14 core psychology subjects. Consistent with the new APAC standards, progression from the first year of this program (fourth year of study in Psychology) to the second year (fifth year) in this course is not automatic. Students will have to meet the progression requirements (e.g., the minimum academic requirements of the first year, Personal Suitability). This is because students who enter the 5th year must meet the criteria for Provisional Registration as a Psychologist. Students who do not meet the progression requirements will exit the program and graduate with the Advanced Graduate Diploma of Psychological Practice. Students can commence the second year only at the beginning of each year.
During the first year, students must complete:
PSY404 Psychological Assessment
PSY421 Psychological Interventions
PSY429 Contemporary Topics in Psychology
PSY474 Counselling Skills
PSY472 Psychology Research Thesis 1#
PSY473 Psychology Research Thesis 2
#PSY472 is only offered in Session 1 each year. Students completing PSY472 will need to ensure that they enrol in the subject during January. It is the students responsibility to regularly visit the subject Interact2 site during January and February, prior to their session of enrolment officially commencing, as critical early information and content will be made available during this time.
During the second year, students must complete:
PSY564 Foundations of Professional Psychology*
PSY535 Adult Assessment
PSY536 Adult Interventions 1*
PSY537 Child Assessment
PSY538 Child Interventions 1*
PSY568 Psychological Practice & Research 1
PSY569 Psychological Practice & Research 2
AND one from:
PSY542 Child Interventions 2
PSY539 Adult Interventions 2
PSY565 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
* These subjects have an associated compulsory residential school (Bathurst Campus).
The Master of Psychological Practice (School Psychology) departs from the above structure in removing the choice of electives in second year, and making PSY545 Neurodevelopmental Disorders compulsory
During the first year, students must complete:
PSY404 Psychological Assessment
PSY421 Psychological Interventions
PSY429 Contemporary Topics in Psychology
PSY474 Interview and Counselling
PSY472 Psychology Research Thesis 1
PSY473 Psychology Research Thesis 2
During the second year, students must complete:
PSY564 Foundations of Professional Psychology*
PSY535 Adult Assessments
PSY536 Adult Interventions 1*
PSY537 Child Assessment
PSY538 Child Interventions 1*
PSY565 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
PSY568 Psychological Practice & Research 1
PSY569 Psychological Practice & Research 2
* There is a compulsory residential school associated with this subject (Bathurst campus)
Part-time Enrolment Pattern
Students not completing the School Psychology specialisation
For students not completing the School Psychology specialisation, full-time study is only available with the prior approval of the Course Director by emailing ask@csu.edu.au
Year 1
Session 1
PSY404 Psychological Assessment
PSY421 Psychological Interventions
Session 2
PSY474 Counselling Skills
PSY429 Contemporary Topics in Psychology
Year 2
Session 1
PSY472 Psychology Research Thesis 1#
Session 2
PSY473 Psychology Research Thesis 2
#PSY472 is only offered in Session 1 each year. Students completing PSY472 will need to ensure that they enrol in the subject during January. It is the students responsibility to regularly visit the subject Interact2 site during January and February, prior to their session of enrolment officially commencing, as critical early information and content will be made available during this time.
Year 3
Session 1
PSY564 Foundations of Professional Psychology*
PSY536 Adult Interventions 1*
Session 2
PSY535 Adult Assessment
PSY538 Child Interventions 1*
Year 4
Session 1
PSY537 Child Assessment
PSY568 Psychological Practice & Research 1
Session 2
PSY569 Psychological Practice & Research 2
PLUS one elective chosen from:
PSY539 Adult Interventions 2 PSY542 Child Interventions 2
PSY565 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
* These subjects have an associated compulsory residential school (Bathurst Campus).
Full-time Enrolment Pattern
School Psychology specialisation
Year 1
Session 1
PSY404 Psychological Assessment
PSY421 Psychological Interventions
PSY472 Psychology Research Thesis 1#
Session 2
PSY474 Counselling Skills
PSY429 Contemporary Topics in Psychology
PSY473 Psychology Research Thesis 2
#PSY472 is only offered in Session 1 each year. Students completing PSY472 will need to ensure that they enrol in the subject during January. It is the students responsibility to regularly visit the subject Interact2 site during January and February, prior to their session of enrolment officially commencing, as critical early information and content will be made available during this time.
Year 2
Session 1
PSY536 Adult Interventions 1*
PSY537 Child Assessment
PSY564 Foundations of Professional Psychology*
PSY568 Psychological Practice & Research 1
Session 2
PSY535 Adult Assessment
PSY538 Child Interventions 1*
PSY565 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
PSY569 Psychological Practice & Research 2
* These subjects have an associated compulsory residential school (Bathurst campus)
Part-time Enrolment Pattern
School Psychology specialisation
For students completing the School Psychology specialisation, part-time study is only available with the prior approval of the Course Director by emailing ask@csu.edu.au
Year 1
Session 1
PSY404 Psychological Assessment
PSY421 Psychological Interventions
Session 2
PSY474 Counselling Skills
PSY429 Contemporary Topics in Psychology
Year 2
Session 1
PSY472 Psychology Research Thesis 1#
Session 2
PSY473 Psychology Research Thesis 2
#PSY472 is only offered in Session 1 each year. Students completing PSY472 will need to ensure that they enrol in the subject during January. It is the students responsibility to regularly visit the subject Interact2 site during January and February, prior to their session of enrolment officially commencing, as critical early information and content will be made available during this time.
Year 3
Session 1
PSY536 Adult Interventions 1*
PSY564 Foundations of Professional Psychology*
Session 2
PSY535 Adult Assessment
PSY538 Child Interventions 1*
Year 4
Session 1
PSY537 Child Assessment
PSY568 Psychological Practice & Research 1
Session 2
PSY565 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
PSY569 Psychological Practice & Research 2
*These subjects have an associated compulsory residential school (Bathurst campus)
Please note that the following subjects may contain a Workplace Learning component. Further details for Workplace Learning requirements are located via the subject page
PSY568 Psychological Practice and Research 1
PSY569 Psychological Practice and Research 2
Please note that the following subjects may contain a Residential School component. Further details of Residential School requirements are located via the subject page
PSY536 Adult Interventions 1
PSY564 Foundations of Professional Psychology
Enrolled students can find further information about CSU Residential Schools at About Residential School
The accrediting body for all psychology courses is the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). The peak professional body is the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Accreditation Body: Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
Requirements for graduates to practice:
In order to practice as a psychologist in Australia, individuals must complete 6 years of education and training. At CSU this can involve 5 years of study in our APAC accredited programs, with the 5th year being undertaken in either the Master of Psychological Practice, or the Master of Professional Psychology, followed by a further 12 months (minimum) supervised practice in the community after graduation. This is referred to as the 5+1 pathway, with the final (6th) year not provided by the university. In this case, graduates are eligible, upon graduation, to apply to the Psychology Board of Australia for registration as a provisional psychologist.
The academic requirement to practice as a provisionally registered psychologist is completion of an APAC accredited 5 year sequence of study (APAC Level 3). Both of the CSU MPPs have this level of accreditation (with re-accreditation pending). Graduates of these courses can apply to the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), for registration as provisional psychologists in order to complete at least one year of Board approved supervised practice, under a Board approved supervisor in a PsyBA approved placement setting.
Alternatively the full 6 years of education and training required for practice as a psychologist can be undertaken at CSU in the Master of Clinical Psychology (MCP). Completion of the MCP provides both the academic and supervised practice components for general registration as a psychologist, and applicants can apply directly to AHPRA for PsyBA registration. The MCP provides the basis for practise as a clinical psychologist. Completion of a PsyBA registrar program is required to be endorsed as a Clinical Psychologist .
Start and End Date of accreditation: Accredited until 31 December 2022
Accreditation Status: Conditional
Potential impact on students:
The Psychology programs are currently accredited, and may have conditions imposed. As long as the programs remain accredited, graduates are able to graduate under the practice entitlements outlined above
Post conferral of award practice registration or additional study requirements for graduates:
Graduates of the MPPs must complete a further (postgraduation) period (minimum of 12 months) supervised practice as a provisional psychologist before they can apply to PsyBA (via AHPRA) for full registration as psychologist (ie general registration)
Graduates of the MCP are immediately, upon graduation, eligible to apply to PsyBA (AHPRA) for full registration as a psychologist, but must undertake a Board approved registrar program before being able to apply for endorsement as a clinical psychologist.
The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: July 2022. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.