Discipline/School details [KGN]
Psychology – School of Psychology
Psychology is a diverse discipline concerned with the scientific study of human experience
and behaviour. It considers explanations and causes of behaviour and examines the
modification of behaviour as a result of experience and information received from the
environment. There are various specific branches in the discipline including
developmental, social, physiological and clinical psychology, personality, sensation and
perception, learning, memory and cognition, and individual differences.
Psychology undergraduate units are offered at first, second, third and fourth year levels.
At first year level students are introduced to a broad range of topics in lectures, while the
associated practical work provides illustrative examples of experimental work and
introduces students more generally to scientific methodology in psychology. The second
and third years provide more advanced study of the major areas introduced in first year.
An important component of the program is practical work, in laboratories and other
settings, which provides students with a sound knowledge of design and analysis in the
context of psychological investigations in areas such as cognition and memory, perception,
psychophysiology, and developmental and social psychology.
After completing a bachelor degree, students may apply to enter a fourth year program.
The Honours program, which includes a major research project as well as coursework, is
designed to extend students’ knowledge of the discipline and to provide some grounding
in the applications of psychology in professional settings. The Graduate Diploma in
Rehabilitation Counselling is a skill-based course, which provides training in a range of
rehabilitation counselling roles.
Students may specialise in psychology or take it as a discipline to complement other areas
of study. Students planning a career in Psychology need to complete an accredited major
which allows progression to fourth year and postgraduate programs in Psychology.
An accredited major can be studied as part of a degree program in
Arts Hobart and Launceston
Commerce
Launceston
Science
Hobart and Launceston
Psychology can also be studied as a major or elective sequence in other degree programs,
such as
Social Science (Police Studies)
Hobart and Launceston
Social Science Launceston
Health Science
Launceston
Commerce
Hobart and Launceston
Computing
Hobart and Launceston
Economics
Hobart
Education
Launceston
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Discipline/School details [KGN]
Fine Arts
Hobart and Launceston
Information Systems Hobart and Launceston
Students are advised to seek advice from staff in the School of Psychology or a relevant
Faculty Officer prior to enrolment.
Intending students should note that courses offered by the School of Psychology are
accredited by the Australian Psychological Society. A four-year accredited program in
Psychology is offered in both Hobart and Launceston.
Career outcomes
The skills and knowledge gained by studying psychology – for example, dealing with
people, investigating, analysing and objective reporting, are relevant to almost all fields of
employment. Psychology graduates find employment in counselling, educational
guidance, clinical psychology, defence forces, forensic psychology, child and adolescent
services, disability services, vocational and psychological rehabilitation, occupational
psychology, sports psychology and research.
Professional associations
For those wishing to work as a psychologist, a four-year degree (BA or BSc with Honours)
in psychology followed by two years of postgraduate training or appropriate supervised
experience are required for registration under The Psychologists Registration Act of
Tasmania. Membership of the Australian Psychological Society, however, requires a
four-year degree followed by at least a two year postgraduate degree.
Theme area
Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour, human experience and mental processes,
and the professional application of that knowledge to help individuals and groups in
clinical settings, in education, in employment and in the community. Programs of study
in psychology fit in the Population and Community Studies theme area.
Undergraduate Programs in Psychology
A major in Psychology requires completion of at least 100% of KHA units, with a
minimum of 25% in Psychology at 300 level, or two 12.5% units, one of which must be the
core unit KHA301. Students in the Bachelor of Social Science (Police Studies) need to
complete 125% of KHA units for a Psychology major, with 50% at each of 200 and 300
levels, including the core units KHA201 and KHA301.
To complete an accredited major in Psychology, students need to complete 150% of KHA
units (the entry requirements for fourth -year programs in Psychology).
The recommended program of study in Psychology is:
25% at 100 level
KHA101 and KHA102
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Discipline/School details [KGN]
50% at 200 level
KHA201 plus three 12.5% 200 level KHA elective units
25–75% at 300 level
unit
KHA301 or KHA351 plus at least one 12.5% 300 level KHA elective
Unit code
unit title
weight
campus offered
(a) Psychology major in Hobart
Core units
(prerequisites for progression to a higher level and corequisites for elective units)
KHA101
Psychology 1A
12.5%
KHA102
Psychology 1B
12.5%
KHA201
KHA301
Research Methods 2
Assessment and Research Methods
12.5%
12.5%
Hbt~3/1,
Ltn~1,
NWC~1v,
dist.ed~1w
Hbt~2, Ltn~2,
NWC~2v,
dist.ed~2w
Hbt~1,Ltn~1,
Hbt~1,
Elective units offered in Hobart
Students wishing to enrol in elective units without the prescribed corequisites should consult the unit
coordinator prior to enrolment.
KHA202/302
12.5%
Hbt~2, Ltn~2,
Lifespan Developmental Psychology[a]
KHA209/309
Health & Rehabilitation Psychology
12.5%
[na]
KHA212/312
Peace, Conflict & Law
12.5%
[na]
KHA217/317
States of Consciousness
12.5%
Hbt~2
KHA228/328
Cognitive Social Psychology
12.5%
Hbt~2
KHA205/305
12.5%
Hbt~1,
Clinical Psychology[a]
KHA214/314
Learning & Skilled Performance
12.5%
Hbt~1
KHA219/319
Educational Psychology
12.5%
[na]
KHA224/324
Visual Neuroscience
12.5%
Hbt~1
KHA303
Human Neuroscience
12.5%
[na]
KHA304
Psychophysiology & Emotion
12.5%
[na]
KHA306
12.5%
Hbt~1
Cognition and Memory[a]
KHA308
12.5%
Hbt~2, Ltn~2
Advanced Research Methods[a]
KHA318
Individual Differences
12.5%
Hbt~2
(b) Psychology major in Launceston
Core units
(prerequisites for progression to a higher level and corequisites for elective units)
KHA101
Psychology 1A
12.5%
KHA102
Psychology 1B
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University of Tasmania Discipline/School details for academic year
12.5%
Hbt~3/1,
Ltn~1,
NWC~1v,
dist.ed~1w
Hbt~2, Ltn~2,
NWC~2v,
August 1, 2016, 19:08 PM, page –3
Discipline/School details [KGN]
KHA201
KHA202/302
KHA351
Research Methods 2
Lifespan Developmental Psychology[a]
Research Methods and Behavioural Neuroscience
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
dist.ed~2w
Hbt~1,Ltn~1,
Hbt~2, Ltn~2,
Ltn~1
Elective units offered in Launceston
Students wishing to enrol in elective units without the prescribed corequisites should consult the unit
coordinator prior to enrolment.
KHA352
12.5%
Ltn~2
Assessment & Individual Differences[a]
[a]
KHA353
12.5%
Ltn~1
Cognitive Psychology
KHA308
12.5%
Hbt~2, Ltn~2
Advanced Research Methods[a]
KHA254/354
Clinical & Health Psychology
12.5%
[na]
KHA256/356
Applied Topics in Psychology
12.5%
Ltn~2
KHA207/307
Social Psychology
12.5%
Ltn~1
KHA224/324
Visual Neuroscience
12.5%
Hbt~1
KHA215/315
Organisational Psychology
12.5%
[na]
[a]
Fourth-year prerequisite
(c) Studies in Behavioural Science in Launceston
Elective units in the non-accredited Behavioural Science program will not be offered in
2004.
Fourth year programs in Psychology
Two programs of study are offered at fourth year level, Psychology 4 (Honours) and the
Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling. Psychology Honours is an accredited
fourth year program in Psychology which provides training in research, advanced
theoretical topics and an introduction to professional training. The Graduate Diploma in
Rehabilitation Counselling is a skill based course which aims to equip students with the
knowledge and skills required for employment in a broad range of rehabilitation
counselling roles. This course is accredited by the Australian Society of Rehabilitation
Counsellors (ASORC).
Entry requirements and additional grade level prerequisites for each fourth year program
are described in the Psychology 4 (Honours) and the Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation
Counselling sections of the handbook.
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