Unlock the mysteries of the mind with psychology at Charles Sturt University.
Our Bachelor of Psychology is a stepping stone to further study – for example, to our Master of Clinical Psychology or Master of Professional Psychology. This four-year accredited program will allow you to pursue further pathways to obtain general registration as a psychologist.
Our psychology degree puts you in control. Choose to study on campus at Bathurst or Port Macquarie. Alternatively, you can study online, with live and recorded lectures and flexible schedules to fit your learning around your other commitments. You may even be eligible to receive credit for prior study and graduate sooner.
This course is the perfect entry pathway to a psychology career. We provide you with a comprehensive degree in psychology. You’ll acquire knowledge across a range of key areas of psychology practice, including cognition, developmental and social psychology, psychological testing, biopsychology, psychopathology, personality, learning theory and research methodology. After graduation, you'll be able to apply for provisional registration as a psychologist.
In addition to the compulsory psychology subjects, you’ll also complete a minor study in another discipline to enhance your study experience. Minors are available in a range of related disciplines, including business, history and politics, justice studies and social welfare. A broad choice of psychology electives are available, including Psychology of Crime, Health Psychology, Psychology of Addition, Psychology and the Legal System and Psychology of Stress and Trauma. You may also have the opportunity to complete a supervised experience at an international university.
If you’d like to graduate with the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), you must satisfy academic criteria by the end of your third year (or equivalent) to progress to the fourth year (or equivalent) of this course.
This course is professionally accredited by -
Please refer to the Charles Sturt Professional Accreditation resource for specific information and a link to the accreditation body.
When you graduate, you'll be ready to make your mark in your ideal career in psychology, including:
For each 8-point subject you are enrolled in, you should expect to spend 10 to 12 hours per week working on assignments and assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, and attending lectures, intensive schools, or examinations. If you are studying four subjects per session, this is equivalent to a full-time job. The workload for some subjects may vary as a result of approved course design.
You may need to attend an online or on-campus intensive school for certain subjects in this course. These schools usually involve lectures, tutorials and practicals that will give you a deeper understanding of your subject.
| Level 100 to Level 300. Students undertaking the course complete all subjects | ||||
| PSY101 | Foundations of Psychology 1 | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY102 | Foundations of Psychology 2 | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY114 | First Nations Australians and Psychology: An Introduction | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY115 | An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY201 | Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY204 | Psychological Testing | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY208 | Biopsychology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY221 | Developmental and Social Psychology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY301 | Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY304 | Psychopathology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY305 | Psychology of Personality | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY309 | Qualitative Research Methods | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY310 | Learning and Cognition | 8 credit pts |
| Sociology subject | ||||
| SOC101 | Understanding the Social World | 8 credit pts |
| Students must take a minor of six subjects, at least one of which must be at Level 300, in one of the discipline areas listed below. All minor sequences are available by online education and some are also available internally at some campuses. • Biology • English • History and Politics • Human Resource Management • Information Technology • Justice Studies • Law • Management • Marketing • Mathematics and Statistics • Philosophy • Social Welfare • Sociology Note: Students who choose Sociology as a minor complete five sociology subjects (one of which must be a Level 300 subject) in addition to the core sociology subject (SOC101); they will need to choose five electives. Details of the subjects included in each of these minors may be obtained from ask@csu.edu.au or on the course site. On-campus students may have to complete some or all subjects in their chosen minor via online delivery. Students may take any six subjects from one of the areas listed provided they meet the prerequisites/assumed knowledge requirements and include at least one Level 3 subject. A minor in another discipline may be taken with the approval of the Course Director: email ask@csu.edu.au. | ||||
| XUN008 | Unrestricted elective | 8 credit pts | ||
| XUN008 | Unrestricted elective | 8 credit pts | ||
| XUN008 | Unrestricted elective | 8 credit pts | ||
| XUN008 | Unrestricted elective | 8 credit pts | ||
| XUN008 | Unrestricted elective | 8 credit pts | ||
| XUN008 | Unrestricted elective | 8 credit pts |
| The four electives (five if the minor is in Sociology) can be chosen from any of the discipline areas listed above or from the following psychology electives. Please do not add PSY219 to your enrolment without first seeking approval from CSU Global. Please do not enrol in PSY111, PSY113 or PSY216. These cannot be included in an APAC-accredited Psychology course. | ||||
| PSY211 | Psychology of Crime | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY214 | Health Psychology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY218 | Psychology of Addiction | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY219 | Psychology International Experience | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY313 | Psychology and the Legal System | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY316 | Psychology of Stress and Trauma | 8 credit pts |
| Pass Stream [This progression is only available for transferring students who commenced the Bachelor of Social Science (Psych) and Bachelor of Psychology programs before 2021] Progression into the pass stream requires a Grade Point Average (GPA) of between 5.0 and 5.49 calculated across Level 2 and 3 core psychology subjects (9). Students who satisfy these criteria will complete: | ||||
| PSY404 | Psychological Assessment | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY421 | Psychological Interventions | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY429 | Contemporary Topics in Psychology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY474 | Counselling Skills | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY472 | Psychology Research Thesis 1 | 16 credit pts | ||
| PSY473 | Psychology Research Thesis 2 | 16 credit pts |
| Progression into the Honours stream requires a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 or higher calculated across Level 2 and 3 core psychology subjects (9). Students who satisfy these criteria will complete: | ||||
| PSY404 | Psychological Assessment | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY421 | Psychological Interventions | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY429 | Contemporary Topics in Psychology | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY474 | Counselling Skills | 8 credit pts | ||
| PSY470 | Psychology Honours Dissertation 1 | 16 credit pts | ||
| PSY471 | Psychology Honours Dissertation 2 | 16 credit pts |
On campus
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
SOC101 Understanding the Social World
PSY115 An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction #
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 2
Session 1
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY221 Developmental and Social Psychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY208 Biopsychology
PSY204 Psychological Testing
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 3
Session 1
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
PSY305 Psychology of Personality
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY304 Psychopathology
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
PSY310 Learning and Cognition
[ ] Minor or Elective
# indicates subject is offered in the online education mode only
Online
Year 1
Session 1
PSY101 Foundations of Psychology 1
PSY115 An Introduction to Research, Ethics and Reasoning
Session 2
PSY102 Foundations of Psychology 2
PSY114 Indigenous Australians and Psychology: An Introduction
Year 2
Session 1
PSY201 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
SOC101 Understanding the Social World
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 3
Session 1
PSY221 Developmental and Social Psychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY204 Psychological Testing
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 4
Session 1
[ ] Minor or Elective
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY208 Biopsychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Year 5
Session 1
PSY301 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY304 Psychopathology
PSY309 Qualitative Research Methods
Year 6
Session 1
PSY305 Psychology of Personality
[ ] Minor or Elective
Session 2
PSY310 Learning and Cognition
[ ] Minor or Elective
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As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.
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A completed High School Certificate (or equivalent) with at least minimum required ATAR (including adjustment factors)
OR
Have completed at least 8 subjects or more of a Bachelor (or higher) level qualification with a GPA of 5.0.
Applicants who do not meet the entry requirement for the Bachelor of Psychology may be eligible for entry into Charles Sturt's Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology). This course is identical to the first three years (equivalent full-time) of the Bachelor of Psychology. There is an established course transfer pathway between the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and the Bachelor of Psychology in the third year.
Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements apply. Click here to view the specific international course entry requirements.
If you’ve completed relevant tertiary study, or work experience related to your course, you could receive credit towards your degree. Which would mean completing your qualification quicker. Find out how to apply for credit and see our credit policy.
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