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

Prerequisites

Admission into GD-PSYS Graduate Diploma of Psychology

OR

Admission into GD-PSYS1 Graduate Diploma of Psychology

OR

Admission into GC-PSYS Graduate Certificate of Psychology

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
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
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

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

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

Teaching methods

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class		0.33 12 weeks 4
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		12.17 12 weeks 146
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1Individual 35% 1,2,3,4,5 
Assignment 2Individual 25% 1,2,3,4,5 
ExaminationIndividual 40% 2,5 

Content

  • Sensation and perception
  • Biological aspects of psychology
  • Consciousness
  • Motivation and emotion
  • Neuropsychology
  • Health and abnormal psychology

Study resources

Reading materials

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