Inherent Requirements
INHERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR BACHELOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES (HONOURS)
The statements below specify the course requirements of the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) for student admission and progression. Inherent requirements for this course are clustered under seven domains consisting of ethical behaviour, behavioural stability, communication, cognition, relational skills, reflective skills, and sustainable performance. They should be read in conjunction with other course information, the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council Rules and Standards, and the Graduate Attributes of the Australia Undergraduate Psychology Program.
What is it like to do this course?
It may be helpful for you to understand what it is like to complete the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), which includes coursework and research components. Further information about the course is available in the course guide and we recommend you familiarise yourself with the information there.
What about when I finish my course?
Successfully completing the course provides you with a four year sequence of study in psychology and enables you to apply to commence a pathway to registration as a psychologist via a higher education degree, internship, or combination of both. For further information you should visit the Australian Psychological Society Pathways to Being a Psychologist website.
If you are undertaking this course in order to complete subsequent higher education study it is important to ensure that you are also familiar with the inherent requirements of those courses. You may also find it helpful to familiarise yourself with any requirements to work in a professional capacity as a registered psychologist to assess your suitability for such a role. Many graduates of the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) go on to other higher education courses or careers, and you may find it help to review the inherent requirements of these courses or areas of work.
Inherent requirement domains
There are seven domains of inherent requirements in the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours).
- Ethical behaviour
- Behavioural stability
- Communication
- Cognition
- Relational skills
- Reflective skills
- Sustainable performance
Inherent requirement statements
- Students need a theoretical and practical awareness of the values of the scientific community and the broader society, including responsible and ethical research practices, and to be able to behave in ways consistent with these values.
- Students need to demonstrate ethical behaviour toward fellow students, College staff, and members of the wider community, as well as behaving with academic integrity.
- Why is ethical behaviour an inherent requirement?
Compliance with recognised values of society and the scientific discipline of psychology facilitates safe and competent interactions and relationships for students and the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of all parties. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the ethical behaviour requirement must ensure that any policies or procedures are not compromised, or result in unethical behaviour.
- Examples of ways in which ethical behaviour applies to this course
Appropriately acknowledging sources in the preparation of written assignments.
Complying with codes and guidelines of ethical conduct of research.
Displaying sensitivity to others’ experiences and opinions in discussions as part of course work.
Inherent requirement statements
- Behavioural stability is required for students to be able to function and adapt effectively in a program of study in psychology.
- Students need to demonstrate the ability to work constructively, both individually and with others, and to be accountable for their own actions, including a capacity to interact with sensitive materials relating to dimensions of human psychology.
- Why is behavioural stability an inherent requirement?
Psychological training requires that students are able to apply psychological knowledge to personal development, including in articulating ideas, regulating one’s emotions and behaviours, and solving everyday problems. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the behavioural stability requirement must support stable, effective and safe behaviour in academic settings.
- Examples of ways in which behavioural stability applies to this course
Regulating emotional reactions to course related materials, which may be of a sensitive nature.
Inherent requirement statements
- Effective written and verbal English language skills are essential to complete the academic requirements of this course.
- Students need to demonstrate capacity to develop coherent written and verbal communication in response to assessments.
- Why is communication an inherent requirement?
Effective communication in a variety of formats and contexts, including presenting data and the results of statistical analyses, is an important psychology graduate attribute. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the communication requirement must not compromise the individual’s demonstration of their capacity to communicate ideas in an appropriate format.
- Examples of ways in which communication applies to this course
Delivering oral presentations as part of assessments.
Tailoring written communication style to a variety of different formats and data, such as essays, online discussion forums, and scientific reports.
This course requires knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition, literacy (language), and numeracy.
Knowledge and cognitive skills
Inherent requirement statements
- Effective cognitive skills are required to successfully navigate the academic requirements of the course.
- Students need to demonstrate the capacity to process, synthesise, and recall information.
- Why are knowledge and cognitive skills inherent requirements?
Understanding, applying, and evaluating psychological knowledge requires the ability to locate and integrate information from a range of sources. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the knowledge or cognitive skills requirement must not compromise the student’s capacity to demonstrate their individual knowledge and cognitive skills.
- Examples of ways in which knowledge and cognitive skills apply to this course
Selecting and evaluating relevant information in order to prepare a critical review of the literature.
Developing an appropriate research question for an Honours-level research thesis.
Literacy (language)
Inherent requirement statements
- Competent literacy skills are essential to ensure the comprehension and communication of discipline knowledge.
- Students need to demonstrate:
The ability to comprehend written information in English presented in a variety of styles.
The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner. - Why is literacy (language) an inherent requirement?
The demonstration of understanding of major concepts, theories, and scientific findings, and the ability to explain these, is an important psychology graduate attribute. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the literacy (language) requirement must not compromise the student’s ability to demonstrate the minimum acceptable capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply, and communicate accurate information.
- Examples of ways in which literacy (language) applies to this course
Paraphrasing, summarising, and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions, including avoidance of plagiarism.
Reading and synthesising written instructions in order to understand and respond to assessment requirements.
Numeracy
Inherent requirement statements
- Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential to the comprehension and application of scientific method.
- Students need to demonstrate:
Capacity to accurately interpret numerical measurements and analyses in computerised formats using statistical software. - Why is numeracy an inherent requirement?
The ability to read, decode, interpret, and communicate numerical information is essential to the scientific basis of psychology. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the numeracy requirement must not compromise the student’s ability to demonstrate the capacity to competently and accurately manage numerical data.
- Examples of ways in which numeracy applies to this course
Performing calculations and statistical analysis using statistical software packages and other tools, such as calculators and online resources.
Inherent requirement statements
- The discipline and profession of psychology requires respectful academic, personal, and professional relationships with others.
- Students need to demonstrate:
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with academic staff, research supervisors, and peers.
Capacity to demonstrate high standards of personal integrity in relationships with others. - Why are relational skills inherent requirements?
Working respectfully with others in groups and dyads, including with research supervisors, is essential to successfully complete the course. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the relational skills requirement must permit students to demonstrate effective relational skills.
- Examples of ways in which relational skills apply to this course
Relating effectively, openly, and sensitively to academic staff, research supervisors, and peers to facilitate an effective learning environment and manage one’s own academic progress.
Demonstrating sensitivity to others personal and cultural values in class discussions.
Inherent requirement statements
- Students require the capacity to apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organisational issues.
- Students need to demonstrate:
Capacity to reflect on personal experiences and learn from them.
Insightful awareness of one’s feelings, motives, and attitudes based on psychological principles.
Capacity for independent learning in a changing scientific and professional context. - Why are reflective skills inherent requirements?
The ability to understand and apply psychological principles to a wide range of situations and contexts is a key graduate attribute of psychology students, and the capacity for reflection is an important component of this process. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to meet the reflective skills requirement must not compromise the student’s ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum capacity in this area.
- Examples of ways in which reflective skills apply to this course
Identifying how one’s ability to relate to others may impede or enhance work with peers and academic teachers in classroom practice settings.
Accurately assessing one’s own performance in assessments and integrating feedback effectively into subsequent tasks.
Reflecting on and responding appropriately to feedback and other comments and suggestions from research supervisors.
- Inherent requirement statements
- Successful completion of this course requires achievement of a minimum level of sustained mental and physical stamina.
- Students need to demonstrate:
Capacity to meet minimum attendance requirements.
Capacity to complete all compulsory assessments.
Capacity to complete examinations. - Why is sustainable performance an inherent requirement?
Minimum attendance requirements and compulsory assessments are features of the course. - Adjustments offered by ACAP to assist students to the sustain performance requirement must facilitate the completion of compulsory components of the course within acceptable timeframes.
- Examples of ways in which sustainable performance applies to this course
Completion of examinations under appropriate conditions.
Sustained effort over a series of units to facilitate the completion of a research dissertation.