Study Psychology and Social Science

Courses

Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of our mental states and behaviour - how our experiences and biology interact to produce our thoughts and actions. Specific areas of study examine a range of psychological phenomena including learning, emotion, perception, memory, language, consciousness, and brain function. We also cover applied topics such as sustainability psychology, sports psychology, and the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

Throughout all our programs we emphasise the importance of research skills, data analysis, and the writing of scientific reports. Psychology at UNE has a long and distinguished history. We offer courses that are recognised and respected by professional bodies, registration agencies and other universities throughout Australia and the world. All staff are highly qualified, conducting research and teaching in a diverse range of psychology topic areas.

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society, with social relations between individuals and groups at its focus. Sociology can help us better understand who we are, what we do, and why we do it. In this way it can increase our self-knowledge and cultural awareness. Sociologists study social life in all its forms, from everyday practices like shopping, to social institutions such as the family, health and medicine, death, beauty and fashion, gender and sexuality, the media, crime, globalisation, social and economic development and culture. Sociology can be studied at UNE as part of a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Science or Bachelor of Criminology.

Featured Courses

Bachelor of Psychological Science

The Bachelor of Psychological Science core units of study examine a range of psychological phenomena - including learning, emotion, perception, memory, language, consciousness, and brain function. Other topics include sustainability psychology, sports psychology, and the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

This degree provides a thorough grounding in psychology and is immediately recognisable in the workplace.

Bachelor of Social Science

The Bachelor of Social Science at UNE teaches students the techniques necessary to help formulate strategies to address a variety of issues that affect society at all levels, all over the world. With a core background in Psychology and Sociology, the degree will equip you with skills that are highly sought after in the workplace.

Students can choose either Psychology or Sociology as a major area of study, as well as further specialisation in a wide range of social science areas, including business, marketing, legal studies, health management and social philosophy.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts gives you the flexibility to design a degree to suit your interests, strengths and career aspirations. Both Psychology and Sociology are among the 33 majors from which you can choose to study as part of a Bachelor of Arts, which equips students with creative, critical and analytical skills ideal for lifelong learning and sought after by employers.

Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Social Science will not only give you a whole new understanding of the world, it will expose you to a range of new ways of thinking. Psychology is one of the extensive range of majors available to choose from allowing you to be adventurous and map out a course of study in which you can immerse yourself with enthusiasm.

Bachelor of Psychology with Honours

Bachelor of Psychology with Honours is a four-year program of study for high-performing students aiming for a professional career in Psychology. Combining three years of undergraduate study with an integrated Honours year, comprising coursework and a research thesis, it allows students to gain a thorough grounding in the core areas of psychology along with an opportunity to study more specialist areas. Graduates are eligible for associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society and may apply to the Psychology Board of Australia for provisional registration and approval of an internship program. Graduates may also be eligible to proceed to the postgraduate clinical or research programs of study.

Graduate Diploma in Psychology

Students who have already completed a bachelor degree in another area can but wish to gain a qualification in psychology can apply for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Psychology. The course recognises a student's prior learning and provides a fast-track to gaining a psychology qualification, providing an accredited undergraduate sequence in Psychology.

Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced)

The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) allows graduates with a three-year accredited sequence in psychology to gain an accredited fourth year in psychology. Under current registration requirements, this will allow them to begin the process of professional registration as a psychologist. The program of study includes components on psychological testing, clinical interviewing and interventions, ethics, research skills and an elective reading unit. Students also complete a supervised research thesis.

Master of Psychology (Clinical)

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) trains Psychology graduates in the professional specialisation of clinical psychology. The program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Completion of the degree will enable graduates to apply for general registration as a Psychologist. Subsequent supervised practice will lead to endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist by the Psychology Board of Australia.

Available Courses in Psychology and Sociology

UNE offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in psychology and sociology. Most are available to be studied online and can be started in one of our three entry periods: February, June, and October.

The following table shows the courses that are available in our currently open entry periods.

Course	Trimester 2 - Start June	Trimester 3 - Start October
Bachelor of Arts	✔	✔
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business	✔	✔
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws	✔	✔
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science	✔	✔
Bachelor of Criminology	✔	✔
Bachelor of Psychological Science	✖	✖
Bachelor of Psychology with Honours^^	✖	✖
Bachelor of Social Science	✔	✔
Graduate Diploma in Psychology	✔	✔
Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced)^^	✖	✖
Master of Professional Psychology^^	✖	✖
Master of Psychology (Clinical) - ON CAMPUS ONLY	✖	✖

^^Early closing date.

Please see course details for individual course rules and admissions criteria. Note some degrees have mandatory intensive schools which require attendance on campus.

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Studying Online

Flexibility is the key to our online learning programs. Whatever your commitments you can study at any time or place around the world - at home, travelling or at work. Your study can be balanced with the competing interests of work, family and social commitments.

UNE has been providing flexible education for over 60 years, so we know what the challenges are, and have a wide range of support services in place to help students overcome them. Our online teaching is designed to be inclusive, and to create a learning community for all students to engage with each other as well as academic staff. This is one of the reasons why we’ve been rated the best online university by Online Study Australia in its national list of top ten online universities.

How does online study work?

Instead of turning up to a lecture on campus at a designated time, the course content is provided online for you to access when it suits you each week. It might be a podcast (recorded lecture), a set of readings, questions posed in a discussion board, an online quiz or a video. Your lecturer will guide you through the unit with a weekly plan of study.

To make sure your learning can take place when it suits you, UNE provides online facilities which allow you to send questions, submit assignments, order library books, check your grades and access other resources, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We also believe that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond just the subject matter.

Intensive Schools

Some online units have intensive schools, which are usually held in the term breaks at our Armidale campus. Intensive schools are a valuable and enjoyable experience that enrich the learning process and help build your networks. Check the Course and Unit Catalogue to see if any units in your degree have intensive schools.

Please note: International students who wish to study wholly online are only permitted to do so if they are studying online from overseas or are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa.

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Pathways Enabling Course

The Pathways Enabling Course prepares you for admission to an undergraduate course at UNE. It is free from course fees and available online. The course awards you with the minimum entry requirements and can provide credit towards your UNE degree.

Why study the Pathways Enabling Course?

• Prepare for university without paying course fees
• Gain admission to university
• Flexible online study
• Develop valuable skills and knowledge
• Complete study that can count towards your degree
• Start in any three teaching periods

More information about the Pathways Enabling Course.

You may also be interested in TRACKS Tertiary Preparation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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How To Apply

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