3 minute read
Interview with Committee
PSYCHOLOGY PATHWAYS
Students who wish to pursue a career in psychology can study one of the following programs:
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Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Bachelor of Psychological Science
If they wish to do so, students may choose to study a complementary major in addition to the core psychology requirements.
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) (Psychology Major)
Students have the choice to complete a double major in another area of science. Honours is a year of independent research where you develop and present your own thesis. You can apply for Honours after three years of an undergraduate psychology degree.
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Life Sciences (Psychology Major)
Other Bachelors degrees, followed by a Graduate Diploma of Psychology
HONOURS
EXAMPLES
Students studying these undergraduate degrees can apply for honours at the end of their program:
Bachelor of Psychological Science Bachelor of Science (Psychology) Bachelor of Life Sciences (Psychology) Graduate Diploma of Psychology
However, this year may be embedded into some degrees, such as a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) or Advanced Science (Honours).
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To apply for a Honours year, an undergraduate Psychology WAM (Weighted Average Mark) of at least 75 or higher is required.
This is calculated using the first attempted marks for only the core PSYC courses and three of the highest first attempted marks of Level 3 PSYC electives.
Entry to the Honours program at UNSW is very competitive and a WAM of 75+ may not guarantee entry.
POST HONOURS YEAR
Completing the Honours year prepares you for the next steps to becoming a psychologist as this is a pre-requisite for a Masters in Psychology. However, there are other ways to work in psychologyrelated fields without having to undergo an Honours year.
UNDERGRAD JOBS
Finding jobs/volunteering opportunities as an undergraduate student can provide a chance to develop professional skills and gain a greater insight into the field of psychology.
For some ideas of jobs, you can take on whilst studying, we have interviewed fellow psychology students and asked them these three questions:
1. What does your job include? 2. What’s something that you have learnt about the field of psychology through this job that you weren’t aware of before? 3. How did you find this job?
Psychologist Consultant at Sykee
1. My employment focuses on connecting clients who need various forms of psychological assistance with the most suitable professional help. This requires me to liaise with different people within the industry through phone consultation, reviewing their medical histories and speaking to their past support network.
2. I have learnt that there are various forms of interventions besides seeing a psychologist, such as psychosocial support or in-house counselling. This allowed me to see that there are more pathways to choose from other than the traditional route after completing my undergraduate degree.
3. As a 2021 PsychSoc Subcommittee member, I had to liaise directly with the head of Sykee prior to the PsychSoc Annual Careers. After speaking further, I was offered a position as a consultant.
- Matthew (2nd year psychology student)
ABA Therapist
1. My job includes conducting specialised behavioural intervention programs using the principles of ABA for children aged 2-12 with autism spectrum disorder.
2. Although I learnt about this in psychology, it was still surprising to witness just how diverse and varied a single psychological disorder can be. It helps you realise how important it is to ensure treatment is personalised to each individual’s needs.
3. I found this job through an online job site.
- Gemma (4th year psychology student)
Psychology Clinic Administrator
1. I support the psychologists at my clinic through administrative work and clinic maintenance. While there are more general tasks, I also get to scan and organise client files, interact with clients, and ask the psychologists about their experience both in the industry and personally.
2. Helping to run the clinic behind the scenes has allowed me to gain lots of insights into what it’s like to operate a private mental health practice, and more broadly, the everyday work of mental health professionals. I often come across concepts at university I’ve seen in practice at the clinic and vice versa – working has added a layer of depth to my studies to make it feel more real than just words on a screen and really revitalised my interest in my academics! I’ve also learnt the importance of consistent education in a career like clinical psychology as I am regularly organising journal articles the psychologists are reading to keep themselves updated on scientific developments and new ways of clinical practice.
3. I found it advertised on the PsychSoc UNSW group on Facebook!
