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 2015 to 2021 - please refer to 1711.2 - Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)

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

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.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

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.

International Office

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

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
BEHV 1018 Psychology: Human Behaviour 10
BEHV 2018 Personality 10
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
 Credit Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
Spring session
BEHV 3002 Abnormal Psychology 10
BEHV 3007 Cognitive Processes 10
Two Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subjects 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Bankstown/Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith campuses, full-time mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit 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 Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
Year 3
Spring session
BEHV 3002 Abnormal Psychology 10
BEHV 3007 Cognitive Processes 10
Two Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
BEHV 3004 Advanced Research Methods 10
BEHV 3009 Developmental Psychology 10
Two Psychology Alternate or Social Science minor subjects 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Western Sydney University Online, full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Trimester 1Credit Points
BEHV 1018 Psychology: Human Behaviour 10
BEHV 2018 Personality 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
 Credit Points30
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 Points30
Trimester 3
MATH 2006 Experimental Design and Analysis 10
BEHV 2002 Brain and Behaviour 10
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
 Credit Points30
Year 2
Trimester 4
BEHV 2010 Perception 10
BEHV 3014 Motivation and Emotion 10
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 5
BEHV 3023 Social Psychology 10
BEHV 3007 Cognitive Processes 10
BEHV 2005 Human Learning 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 6
BEHV 3009 Developmental Psychology 10
BEHV 3004 Advanced Research Methods 10
BEHV 3002 Abnormal Psychology 10
 Credit Points30
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 Points30
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 Points30
 Total Credit Points240

Psychology Flexible Alternate Subject Pool

Students should select no more than two subjects from the following pool.

Subject Title Credit Points
BEHV 1001Behaviour and Environment10
BEHV 3010Health Psychology10
BEHV 3018Psychology and the Online World10
BEHV 3019Psychology of Language10
BEHV 3021Psychology, Crime and Law10
BEHV 1010Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness, Resilience, and Wellbeing10
BEHV 1024Applied Psychology10
BEHV 1025Usable Design10

Social Science Minors

Note for on-campus students: not all minors are available on all campuses. Please check availability.