Bachelor of Psychological and Social Sciences (1910)
- Western Sydney University Program Code: 1910
- AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 107229A
This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.
Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.
For Commencement Year 2014 - please refer to 1711.1 - Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)
The Bachelor of Psychological and Social Sciences provides the core accredited sequence in Psychology. Psychology is the field of inquiry that applies scientific techniques and methods to understand and explain individuals’ behaviours and experiences. As a discipline, it involves the application of psychological knowledge to practical problems in human behaviour.
This Psychology program includes exciting topics of study such as, personality, psychological disorders, health and well-being, learning and memory, cognition, language and perception, motivation and emotion, neuroscience and the biological bases of behaviour, developmental and social psychology. The knowledge and skills learnt through this degree will prepare graduates for a broad range of careers and study options.
In addition to key studies in Psychology, students will also undertake a set number of subjects in Social Sciences to develop complementary knowledge and skills including studies in sociology, geography and urban studies, criminology and human welfare.
Western Sydney University Online students: please refer to Western Sydney University Online website for Program Advice.
https://online.westernsydney.edu.au/
Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time.
Note: Bankstown/Liverpool students enrolled in this program will be required to attend both Bankstown (Psychology subjects) and Liverpool (Social Science subjects) campuses in order to complete this program.
Program Advice
Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.
Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |
Location
| Campus | Attendance | Mode | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bankstown City Campus | Full Time | Internal | See above |
| Bankstown City Campus | Part Time | Internal | See above |
| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Full Time | Internal | See above |
| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Part Time | Internal | See above |
| Penrith Campus | Full Time | Internal | See above |
| Penrith Campus | Part Time | Internal | See above |
| WSU Online* | Full Time | Internal | WSU Online Advice |
| WSU Online* | Part Time | Internal | WSU Online Advice |
- *
Programs delivered through an agreement with another party
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) on the basis that it meets all the APAC Accreditation Standards.
Admission
UAC entry: A competitive ATAR; or equivalent rank (using non-proximate indicators of success) for school leavers and non-recent school leavers.
Western Sydney University Online students: Prospective online students apply for admission to this program directly through WSU Online. A student’s eligibility will be assessed according to the existing admission criteria.
Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.
http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/
Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.
All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.
International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.
Program Structure
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points, with no less than 60 credit points at Level 3, as per the recommended sequence below.
Students must enrol in and complete:
- 140 credit points of Psychology Core subjects
- 20 credit points of Psychology Alternate subjects
- 40 credit points of Social Sciences Core subjects
- 40 credit point Social Sciences minor
Recommended Sequence
Bankstown/Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith campuses, full-time start-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| BEHV 1018 | Psychology: Human Behaviour | 10 |
| BEHV 2018 | Personality | 10 |
| BEHV 1021 | The Individual in Society | 10 |
| CULT 1017 | Understanding Society | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| BEHV 1016 | Psychology: Behavioural Science | 10 |
| BEHV 1003 | Introduction to Research Methods | 10 |
| HUMN 1060 | Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies | 10 |
| HUMN 1041 | People, Place and Social Difference | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| MATH 2006 | Experimental Design and Analysis | 10 |
| BEHV 2010 | Perception | 10 |
| BEHV 2002 | Brain and Behaviour | 10 |
| One Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| BEHV 3014 | Motivation and Emotion | 10 |
| BEHV 2005 | Human Learning | 10 |
| BEHV 3023 | Social Psychology | 10 |
| One Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| BEHV 3004 | Advanced Research Methods | 10 |
| BEHV 3009 | Developmental Psychology | 10 |
| Two Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Spring session | ||
| BEHV 3002 | Abnormal Psychology | 10 |
| BEHV 3007 | Cognitive Processes | 10 |
| Two Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 240 | |
Bankstown/Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith campuses, full-time mid-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring session | Credit Points | |
| BEHV 1016 | Psychology: Behavioural Science | 10 |
| BEHV 1003 | Introduction to Research Methods | 10 |
| HUMN 1060 | Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies | 10 |
| HUMN 1041 | People, Place and Social Difference | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| BEHV 1018 | Psychology: Human Behaviour | 10 |
| BEHV 2018 | Personality | 10 |
| BEHV 1021 | The Individual in Society | 10 |
| CULT 1017 | Understanding Society | 10 |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| BEHV 3014 | Motivation and Emotion | 10 |
| BEHV 2005 | Human Learning | 10 |
| BEHV 3023 | Social Psychology | 10 |
| One Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| MATH 2006 | Experimental Design and Analysis | 10 |
| BEHV 2010 | Perception | 10 |
| BEHV 2002 | Brain and Behaviour | 10 |
| One Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subject | 10 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| BEHV 3002 | Abnormal Psychology | 10 |
| BEHV 3007 | Cognitive Processes | 10 |
| Two Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Autumn session | ||
| BEHV 3004 | Advanced Research Methods | 10 |
| BEHV 3009 | Developmental Psychology | 10 |
| Two Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subjects | 20 | |
| Credit Points | 40 | |
| Total Credit Points | 240 | |
Western Sydney University Online, full-time start-year intake
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | Credit Points | |
| BEHV 1018 | Psychology: Human Behaviour | 10 |
| BEHV 2018 | Personality | 10 |
| CULT 1017 | Understanding Society | 10 |
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Trimester 2 | ||
| BEHV 1016 | Psychology: Behavioural Science | 10 |
| BEHV 1003 | Introduction to Research Methods | 10 |
| HUMN 1060 | Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies | 10 |
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Trimester 3 | ||
| MATH 2006 | Experimental Design and Analysis | 10 |
| BEHV 2002 | Brain and Behaviour | 10 |
| BEHV 1021 | The Individual in Society | 10 |
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Trimester 4 | ||
| BEHV 2010 | Perception | 10 |
| BEHV 3014 | Motivation and Emotion | 10 |
| HUMN 1041 | People, Place and Social Difference | 10 |
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Trimester 5 | ||
| BEHV 3023 | Social Psychology | 10 |
| BEHV 3007 | Cognitive Processes | 10 |
| BEHV 2005 | Human Learning | 10 |
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Trimester 6 | ||
| BEHV 3009 | Developmental Psychology | 10 |
| BEHV 3004 | Advanced Research Methods | 10 |
| BEHV 3002 | Abnormal Psychology | 10 |
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Trimester 7 | ||
| Select one of the following paths: | 30 | |
Two Pyschology Alternate subjects |
||
One Social Sciences minor subject |
||
| OR | ||
Two Social Sciences minor subjects |
||
One Psychology Alternate subject |
||
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Trimester 8 | ||
| Select one of the following paths: | 30 | |
Two Pyschology Alternate subjects |
||
One Social Sciences minor subject |
||
| OR | ||
Two Social Sciences minor subjects |
||
One Psychology Alternate subject |
||
| Credit Points | 30 | |
| Total Credit Points | 240 | |
Psychology Flexible Alternate Subject Pool
Students should select no more than two subjects from the following pool.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| BEHV 1001 | Behaviour and Environment | 10 |
| BEHV 3010 | Health Psychology | 10 |
| BEHV 3018 | Psychology and the Online World | 10 |
| BEHV 3019 | Psychology of Language | 10 |
| BEHV 3021 | Psychology, Crime and Law | 10 |
| BEHV 1010 | Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness, Resilience, and Wellbeing | 10 |
| BEHV 1024 | Applied Psychology | 10 |
| BEHV 1025 | Usable Design | 10 |
| BEHV 2020 | Introduction to Digital Mental Health | 10 |
Social Science Minors
Note for on-campus students: not all minors are available on all campuses. Please check availability.