Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Graduate Diploma in Psychology
“Psychology in a Year"
If you have a degree, at UNE you can complete a degree in Psychology in just one year!
UNE has three teaching periods in a year. So, in trimester 3, you would complete the two 1st year units, in the trimester following that (trimester 1 of the following year) you would complete your four 2nd year units, and in trimester 2 that follows you would complete your four 3rd year units.
Psychology at UNE offers an APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council) accredited major in undergraduate psychology (see http://www.apac.psychology.org.au/) for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree that did not include an accredited Psychology sequence. The Graduate Diploma in Psychology (GDPSY) enables a student to obtain an accredited three year sequence without undertaking another full degree. This will qualify you for entry into an accredited fourth year program in psychology. For example, at UNE these are the Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology. The accredited psychology major minimally requires 10 units of study, although this can be reduced to 8 units if exemption from first year units is granted. The period of study is usually part-time over 2 to 3 years; although it is possible to complete the psychology major in one year if only the 8 post-first year units are required.
Program of study for the three-year accredited major.
The accredited program of study is:
- Complete PSYC101 and PSYC102 or seek exemption on the basis of previous study in psychology or a related area (refer below for explanation on how to seek exemption).
- Complete PSYC200, PSYC202, PSYC206 and PSYC213.
- Complete PSYC301, PSYC302, PSYC366, and one additional 300-level PSYC unit.
Grades required for entry into the Honours program.
To be eligible for entry into Honours, GDPSY students need to achieve the following minimum grades within the program of study described above.
- Pass in PSYC101 and PSYC102, unless exempted.
- Three Credits in the core PSYC units at the 200-level, including PSYC202 (Research Methods and Statistics).
- Three Distinctions and one Credit in PSYC units at the 300 level.
The Honours program can be undertaken through one of three degrees: BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), or BSc(Hons).
Grades required for entry into the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.
To be eligible for entry into the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, students must achieve Pass in PSYC101 and PSYC102 unless exempted, and then an average grade of Credit across the 200 and 300 level units in the program of study described above.
Please note.
The grades specified above are the minimum requirements to qualify for entry. Satisfying these requirements does not ensure acceptance into either program, as places are limited. If there are more eligible applicants than available positions, students will be ranked using a grade point average (GPA) calculation consisting of PSYC202 and PSYC302 (or equivalent) plus the six most recent 200- and 300-level PSYC units, with the top applicants offered a place in the program. The most recent cut-off for acceptance into honours was an average grade near Distinction (GPA ≈ 6.0), and for the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology was an average grade between Credit and Distinction (GPA ≈ 5.5).
Enrolment Patterns
If not exempt from Introductory Psychology units, then the 10 units can be completed in 2 years (refer below) or stretched out over a maximum period of four years.
Year 1 Trimester 1 PSYC101, PSYC202
Trimester 2 PSYC102, PSYC206, PSYC213
Year 2 Trimester 1 PSYC200, PSYC366
Trimester 2 PSYC301, PSYC302
Plus one 300-level elective unit in the second year.
If the Trimester 3 option is used to complete PSYC101 and PSYC102 (available at end of 2012), or if exempt from the Introductory Psychology units, then 8 units can be completed in 1 year (refer below) or stretched out over a maximum period of four years.
Year 1 Trimester 1 PSYC200, PSYC202, PSYC366, 300-level elective
Trimester 2 PSYC206, PSYC213, PSYC301, PSYC302
Exemption from Introductory Psychology units (PSYC101/102)
If you have already successfully completed first year psychology units in an accredited program, or can claim equivalent, then you can apply for exemption from these units in the GDPSY, reducing the load from 10 down to 8 units. The following explains how to seek this exemption.
Once you have been admitted into the GDPSY, you are considered a Current Student. Go to the UNE homepage and under Information for: click on Current Students. Then under Other Information click Forms and Procedures. Now, you want to present a case for exemption from PSYC101/102, allowing you to enroll directly in our 200-level units. Under General Forms and Procedures click on Advanced Standing. Then click on Online Advanced Standing Form and follow the instructions on this document and submit to the Student Centre, as directed. This will contain your case explaining that you already have Introductory Psychology, or equivalent.
If your case is successful, and you are exempt from PSYC101/102, then in order to enroll in the 200-level units (which have PSYC101 & 102 as pre/corequisites) you will need to seek permission which will over-rule the stated pre/corequisites for these units. This is done by returning to the Forms and Procedures for Current Students, and then selecting Permission for Unit Enrolment. You will need to enter your UNE username and password, and then follow subsequent instructions.
Limited advanced standing can also be requested on 200/300 level units completed in another degree and which correspond to any of the units listed for the GDPSY.
Further Information
If you require further information concerning the GDPSY you may contact the BCSS Academic Coordinator, Mrs Libby Fitzgerald; or the GDPSY Coordinator, Dr Bruce Stevenson.