Overview

This unit introduces students to the structure and function of the brain and how it interacts with the external world to generate thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Applications in health and mental illness are also introduced as well as ethical practice in psychological research.

Requisites

Equivalent units
PSY10003 Psychology 100
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
09-March-2026
07-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-March-2026
Census date
07-April-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
28-April-2026
Results released date
30-June-2026
Winter
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
02-August-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-June-2026
Census date
07-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-July-2026
Results released date
18-August-2026
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
06-July-2026
04-October-2026
Last self-enrolment date
19-July-2026
Census date
04-August-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
25-August-2026
Results released date
27-October-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
 

  1. Explain the general methods of investigation employed in psychological research and the main issues in research ethics
  2. Explain key concepts from major content areas in psychology. These include: biological underpinnings of psychology; sensory processes, perception, and consciousness; motivation, emotion, health, and psychological disorders
  3. Locate, organise and integrate information from various sources concerning topics and problems relating to psychology
  4. Communicate in a logical and clear manner the results of investigating a topic or problems relating to psychology
  5. Apply psychological theories, methods, and data to explain everyday experiences and behaviours.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
On-campus Lecture 24 12 weeks 2
On-campus Class 12 12 weeks 1
Specified Activities Various 24 12 weeks 2
Unspecified Activities Various 90 12 weeks 7.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Swinburne Online

ctivity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Class 12 12 weeks 1
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 138 12 weeks 11.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  35-45% 1,2,3,4,5 
Assignment 2 Individual  25-35% 1,3,4 
Examination Individual  20-30%  2,5 

Content

  • Sensation and perception
  • Biological aspects of psychology
  • Consciousness
  • Motivation and emotion
  • Neuropsychology
  • Health and psychological disorders
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
  • Graduate Attribute 6  (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.