Undergraduate

Psychology

Psychology is both a profession and a science. To become a practitioner in psychology it is essential to master the scientific foundations of psychology. In all Australian universities the focus in the first four years of a psychology degree is on developing an understanding of that science. The dominant model of professional practice is that psychologists should be both scientists and practitioners and so it is crucial to get this scientific training correct.

Undergraduate courses at ANU concentrate on core psychological theory. The two first-year courses, Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brian and Behaviour, and Psychology 2; Understanding People in Context are designed to acquaint students with the main areas of the subject and to introduce them to research procedures, including statistical analysis. Participation in laboratory work is a vital component.

After first year, courses are organised on a semester basis. The titles of some of the courses suggest the areas of study represented in the program. They include: Developmental Psychology, Biological Basis of Behaviour, Visual Perception and Cognition, Issues in Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology Across the Lifespan, Issues in Behavioural Neuroscience, Health Psychology.

Students enrol in psychology for many reasons. Those aiming at an academic career require an honours degree followed by a PhD, which involves a total of at least seven years study. Professionals working in the community need postgraduate specialised training leading to atleast a Masters degree. Most students enrolled in undergraduate courses are not aiming at a professional career in psychology, but choose the subject because it gives them useful background for occupations such as teaching, personnel work, law, administration, management, social research and policy development.

The distinctive aspects of an ANU psychology program include an intensive focus on genuine small group teaching in all courses, with close interaction with academic staff in later years and an emphasis on advanced special topics electives.

There are no prerequisites for entering the psychology program other than admission to the University. School subjects which form a useful background for the study of psychology are biology, physics, mathematics, economics and social studies.

Statistics is part of all courses, and some courses require some mathematical background. Students must be prepared to master these as they come up in courses. Some students specialising in psychology actually include some mathematics, statistics, or computer science in their degree.

Most courses taught in the School of Psychology are experimental and require the student to develop skills in the laboratory. In the more advanced courses, particularly in fourth year, teaching may take the form of seminars. Laboratory work may be organised so that students have opportunities to design and carry out small research projects. Psychology courses tend to demand a good deal of a student’s time because, in addition to laboratory classes, there are written assignments which require library research. Examination procedures differ from course to course and are commonly decided after discussion between students and the lecturer.

Psychology is a rapidly evolving discipline in which there is an increasing tendency toward interdisciplinary activity. Psychologists, physiologists and engineers are collaborating to produce better-integrated man-machine systems; psychologists and medical practitioners combine to study the role of behaviour in health and disease; psychologists and zoologists are interested in similarities in human and animal behaviour; psychologists and computer scientists work together on theories of intelligence; psychologists collaborate with sociologists, anthropologists and political scientists in the study of communities and societies. Students with interests and aptitudes in neighbouring disciplines will find opportunities for using these in working on psychological problems.

School of Psychology

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Faculty of Science

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Related Sites

ANU Students' Psychology Society

Australian Psychology Society

Australian Association for Congnitive and Behaviour Therapy