What Classes are Required for a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in Australia?

The Australian education system enables students to gain the necessary skills to advance their chosen career, including psychology. Like any other degree, there are certain classes you'll need to complete to graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, with most classes relating specifically to the study of the human mind and human behaviour.

Are you wondering about the typesof classes required to complete when studying psychology?

If so, then you've come to the right place. We will help you understand the course structure and what you can expect to learn while studying psychology at an Australian university.

This blog post will systematically list the major psychology classes you need to take as part of your degree to obtain a Bachelor's degree.We will also include some elective subjects that you may find interesting and valuable in your future career.

Here are the Classes You Need to take to get your Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

Statistics

This class will teach you about the different statistical methods and analyses used in psychological research. In addition, you will learn about data collection, data analysis, and interpretation. Statistics helps psychologists understand how different factors or concepts interact and how this relates to human behaviour.

Psychological Assessment

This class will teach you how to conduct reliable and valid psychological assessments. This will involve the use of different assessment tools, including intelligence tests (e.g., WASI, WAIS),academic achievement tests, and personality inventories (e.g., NEO-PI). You will also learn how to interpret the results of these assessments.

These classes listed below are just some of the classes you need to take to get your Bachelor's degree in Psychology. The classes listed might vary by name from one university to another, but generally, these are the core subjects that you need to complete in order to have a strong theoretical understanding of human psychology.

Psychophysiology of Sleep

This class or unit will teach you about the relationship between sleep and physical functioning. In addition, you will learn about the different stages of sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation on the body.

Health Psychology

This class or unit will explore the psychological factors that influence health and well-being. In addition, you will learn about different health behaviours and how to promote healthy lifestyles.

Cognitive Psychology

This class or unit will learn about the mental processes that underlie learning and memory. You will also study attention, perception, and language.

Developmental Psychology

This class or unit will explore how biological, psychological, and social factors influence our behaviours across our lifetimes. In addition, you will learn about different approaches to conservation and the challenges involved in promoting sustainable practices.

Language, Context, and Social Behaviour

In this class or unit, you will l earn about how language affects social behaviour. You will study the role of language in communication, including its impact on cognition and culture.

ElectiveClasses

It is important to note that NONE of your electives contribute to your average score (otherwise known as your WAM), therefore ONLY your MAJORS will affect your chances of getting into a fourth year program (otherwise known as Honours).

Aside from these classes listed below, there are also other elective subjects that you can take depending on your interests. For example, these classes can help you specialise in a specific area of psychology or broaden your knowledge in the field.

The list below is includes broad umbrella categories as many universities will create their own unique selection of subcategory units for students to complete.

Health Sciences

This class will explore the different health issues that impact society. You will learn about the different factors that contribute to health and disease and the different health promotion and prevention approaches.

Biology / Neuroscience

This class will explore the different ways our brain function and human biology help humans interact with their environment. You will learn how physiological dysfunction can influence mental and physical wellbeing. These units are very content heavy and are not for the faint hearted. So it is important you are excited to learn about the brain and body, as you will likely need to attend multiple lectures each week and memorise lots of tricky terminology.

Sociology

This class will teach you about the different social structures and how they influence human behaviour. In addition, you will learn about socialisation and the various factors that affect social interactions.

Public Affairs

These types of classes will explore the different health policies and programs that impact society. You will learn about the role of government in shaping public policy, including the different stakeholders involved in the decision-making process.

Communications

These classes will teach you about the different aspects of communication. You will learn about verbal and nonverbal communication (e.g., body language) and the various communication channels.

What to Expect in a Psychology Degree?

Now that you know what classes are required for a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, it's time to learn what to expect in a psychology school or school of psychology as part of a university.

A typical day in the life of a psychology student is filled with lectures, group classes or lab work, statistics, and lots of writing! You will be expected to complete readings and written assignments outside of class.

Unfortunately, it comes as a big surprise to the majority of psychology students when they realise how little exposure there is to counselling as part of their degree. Some counselling electives exist but they are not considered essential for some reason (bizarre!), and are only offered formally as part of Masters programs and some Honours programs.

The phrase ‘you get what you put in’ applies to most psychology degrees. During your time in a school of psychology, you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced faculty and gain practical experience through internships and research projects, if you choose to apply. You will also have the chance to network with other students and professionals in the field.

How to know if Psychology isIdeal for you?

Choosing a degree can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. If you're interested in exploring the human mind and behaviour, psychology may be the right field for you.

Here are some things to consider when deciding if psychology is ideal for you:

●     Are you interested in understanding why people think, feel, and behave differently?

●     Do you want to help people manage their emotions and overcome challenges?

●     Do you enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds?

●     Do you want to gain a better understanding of yourself and others?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, psychology might be the right field.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still reading this and haven’t decided that psychology is the major, hopefully, we have given you a little taste of what to expect in a school of psychology as part of a Bachelor of Psychology degree. It can be an exciting journey full of personal growth and opportunities to learn about yourself and others. If you think that psychology fits your personality, go for it!

‍

Click here if you are interested in learning more about our tutoring services.

Love Freya :)
Founder

‍