Course comparison: Choose the right psychology degree

Swinburne’s Bachelor of Psychological Sciences is an APAC-accredited three-year undergraduate degree that serves as a primary entry point for students interested in the field of psychology. 

As a graduate, you’ll have the option to pursue a professional pathway towards becoming a psychologist by applying for the one-year add-on honours program: the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours).

This three-year degree provides you with a comprehensive foundation in psychology, covering essential subject areas such as:

• developmental psychology 

• cognition

• social psychology

• personality

• psychological measurement and 

• abnormal psychology. 
   

Throughout your studies, you’ll build domain knowledge in psychology, plus core academic and professional skills, including project management, research design, and report writing. These skills are vital for advanced study in psychology, are valued by prospective employers, and translate across careers and industries beyond psychology.

First year studies

Your first year of study is dedicated to building foundational knowledge and skills you’ll need to tackle advanced subjects in the second and third years of your degree. You’ll undertake four core foundational subjects: 

• Brain and Behaviour

• Statistics

• Research Methods

• Fundamentals of Psychology.
   

In addition to core units, you’ll choose four electives from fields related or unrelated to psychology. Electives provide you with an opportunity to deepen your understanding of subjects outside of psychology, such as marketing, management, data analytics, ethics and technology.

You can also explore electives that complement your psychology studies. Compiled by our academic team, recommended electives span diverse subject areas including forensic psychology, criminology, sports psychology, and infant and childhood psychology. Note that electives may have prerequisites, so it’s good to think about areas of interest early in your degree.

Second year studies

Your second year of study involves specialised core subjects such as Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, and Cognition and Human Performance, plus the opportunity to build your experience and CV by undertaking a six- or twelve-month practical work placement.  

Past students have undertaken placements at the following organisations:

• Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as Research Assistants on Health Services Research Projects such as SUPER (Solving Unknown Primary Cancer). Students provided support in randomised controlled trials assisting with data collection, screening and recruitment of participants into the study.

• Swisse Wellness as Team Experience Assistant working with the company’s Wellbeing & Experience Manager. Students contributed to the organisation of events and activities to promote wellness and maintenance of a healthy work culture.

• Parliament of Victoria in the Department of Parliamentary Service as Human Resources Administrators undertaking case management, recruitment, and system administration. 

• Yarra Ranges Council 

• Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust 

• Northern Health

• Alfred Health.
   

In addition, you’ll get to choose four electives from areas that interest you, from neuroscience and counselling to human factors and adolescent psychology.

Third year studies

The focus of your final year of study is a Psychology Project: a semester-long, student-led project that hones your skills and understanding of the fundamentals of psychological measurement, addressing topics in psychometric theory, reliability, and validity.  

Recent research topics included:

• The trustworthiness of genAI for use in university study and

• developing a self-report measure of perceived employability skills associated with participating in Work Integrated Learning.
   

In addition to your final year research project, you’ll complete three additional core units including personality, and mental health diversity, diagnosis and treatment. Plus, you’ll get to expand your knowledge of human psychology with four electives of your choosing. Third year electives include Applied Social Psychology, Psychology of Trauma and Psychology of Wellbeing.