Bachelor of Psychology

There is a large national demand for professionals in the health and welfare services industries1.

Regardless of your career path, an understanding of psychology will enhance your job prospects, especially if your career requires you to work and collaborate with others. The knowledge and empathy gained in your degree will not only help you understand people's behaviour and motivations, it will change the way you manage conflicts in your professional and personal life while also developing critical leadership skills - an essential attribute for all professionals, not just managers.

Your knowledge of research methods, ability to analyse data, communicate complex information and understand human behaviour will position you well for your future career, regardless of whether you choose to pursue a career in psychology or work in any other industry.

Your understanding of what makes people tick, and why people act in certain ways is a valuable skill in a wide variety of industries including marketing, health care and social services. Make a real impact on the lives of others. Help people overcome adversity, increase their wellbeing and live life to their full potential.

Maximise your employment opportunities and tailor your degree by choosing electives that match your career interest. Through the program electives, you'll have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as human services, disability and ageing, health, criminal justice, HR, or marketing and communications.

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Professionals in this field are focused on finding explanations for the nature of human behaviour, drawing on advanced scientific methods and tools to understand people's emotions, thoughts, and actions. Through your studies, you'll learn to conduct, dissect and interpret scientific research.

Understanding contemporary research and evidence-based practice is essential for psychologists in their work with clients. Through this program, you will learn about psychological research methods, collect and analyse data through questionnaires and sampling procedures, use SPSS software to conduct appropriate statistical analyses, and present and share your findings. This degree applies real-world research to provide a solid foundation of knowledge for those seeking to pursue further post-graduate training and a career in psychology.

Study the inner workings of the brain, discover how personality forms and uncover how memory can be enhanced. Explore the way society and culture impact behaviour, factors that make us crack under pressure, and uncover the theories behind motivation and emotion. Examine biological factors such as the structure and function of the human nervous system and brain, states of human consciousness, processes of motivation and emotion, and the major theories of learning.

While this degree does not include any formal placements, there is a strong focus on practical, real-world learning. For example, in your Health Psychology course, you'll conduct an evidence-based behavioural intervention on a health behaviour such as sleep, exercise or diet. Your Work and Organisational Psychology course requires you to assess an employee's job abilities and characteristics that are required to successfully perform their role. In the Conservation Psychology course, you'll learn to develop a behaviour change message related to a conservation issue and communicate to multiple audiences.

Throughout your studies, you'll also be supported to develop a personal and professional development plan to reach your study and work goals throughout, and beyond, your degree. You'll leave well prepared to hit the ground running when you graduate.

Job prospects for psychologists1 is forecasted to grow very strongly, with approximately 38,000 job openings over the next five years.1

A psychology degree opens a variety of career paths. Graduates will be qualified to gain employment in a wide range of areas, including the health and human services sectors; research organisations; and government and non-government organisations. Many professionals put their knowledge of psychology to work in various industries including marketing, business, advertising, criminal justice, education, health services, HR and others.

Graduates of this degree will have the option to take one of two pathways, moving directly into employment or using their degree as a foundation for further specialised postgraduate study.

1To become a psychologist, you must complete further specialised study to fulfil the requirements of the Australian Psychological Association Council and Psychology Board of Australia for registration.2Joboutlook.gov.au

Careers to consider:

• Clinical psychologist (with further study)*: Provide a range of psychological services to individuals across their lifespan; understand the broad expanse of mental health issues and how they may occur at any age; and design and implement treatment strategies in various settings including primary care, psychiatric and rehabilitation.
• Work and organisational psychologist (with further study)*:Apply psychological principles and research methods to solve problems in the workplace and improve quality of life; investigate workplace productivity and management and employee working styles; and collaborate with management to develop policies and training sessions to improve organisational performance and morale.
• Market research analyst:Study consumer behaviour and patterns; monitor and forecast marketing and sales trends; measure the effectiveness of marketing strategies; devise and evaluate methods for collecting data; communicate complex data and findings into understandable tables, graphs and written reports; and present results to clients and management.
• Psychology research assistant:Perform daily activities involved in conducting research studies including recruiting and liaising with study participants, booking appointments, administering study questionnaires and process data; record, analyse and present research outcomes to stakeholders; and produce high-quality publications.
• Case manager:Work in fields such as social and human services and community programs; specialise in aged care, alcohol and other drugs, youth and family, migration and rehabilitation.

*To be a clinical psychologist, you must fulfil the requirements of the Australian Psychological Association and Psychology Board of Australia for registration. Students who wish to be an accredited clinical psychologist can go on to study UniSA's Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree. Note that on-campus study is required. Students planning to undertake Honours must successfully complete Advanced Research Methods, which is a specialist psychology course in the degree.