Sydney Campus Units
PS Behavioural Science

PS100 Developmental Psychology
Pre-requisites - None
Developmental Psychology covers the process of human life from the metamorphoses of cells at conception to the drawing of the final breath at death. The lifespan approach assumes the human organism is in a state of constant development: psychologically, socially and biologically, and that understanding development within each of these realms can enable an educated response to challenges that arise across the lifespan. As each of us is both student and participant in human development the course aims to integrate theory, empirical research and personal insight. The major theories of human development are covered and the practical implications of those theories for working with people at different stages of life are discussed. There is a strong emphasis on the critical thinking skills required to evaluate and utilise developmental theories and perspectives. The course will discuss the individual within the context of meso and macrosystems to provide a context for individual development.

PS103 Introduction to Behavioural Science 1
Pre-requisites - None
PS103 encourages students to explore and appreciate the scope of scientific approach to the understanding of human behaviour and experience. Several areas included in this unit emphasize the importance of the interacting nature of body and mind, social and cultural context, and the evolutionary process in the emergence of human nature. The theoretical diversity and its application in psychology and its influence is considered central to behavioural sciences. This unit outlines the nature, methods, and areas of psychology and behavioural science. It offers an introduction to the selected aspects of social and abnormal psychology, personality theories, psychotherapy, and health psychology.

PS104 Theories and Methods of Behavioural Science
Pre-requisites - None
This unit is an introduction to the subject matter of psychology with specific reference to the topics of learning, memory, language, thought, intelligence, intelligence testing, motivation, emotion, emotional intelligence, sensation, perception, and consciousness. It is designed to encourage students to differentiate between the commonsense, often an uncritical approach, and the scientific approach to the understanding of human behaviour and experience. Several areas included in this unit emphasize the importance of diversity of perspectives, models, and theories of perception, consciousness, learning, memory emotions, motivations, intelligence, language, and the interacting influence of environment and heredity.

PS215 Professional Practice
Pre-requisites - PS100, PS103 or PS104
This is a significant unit focuses on the development of essential skills for independent professional practice. It is a core unit for the Bachelor of Behavioural Science. This subject must be completed prior to student enrolment in the Internship. This unit prepares undergraduate Behavioural Science students for their formal Internship and for the transition from student to human service professional. This unit is open to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Behavioural Science who have completed PS100 and PS221. Specific skills developed will include the capacity to critically analyse current ethical issues in Behavioural Science; Understanding of the legal requirements of the Privacy Act; Understanding of quality management and skills in the use of evaluation, reflexive feedback tools and reporting procedures; Professional skills in team development and capacity building.

PS221 Social Psychology
Pre-requisites - PS100, PS103 or PS104
Social Psychology is an examination of the effects of the group and the social context on individual cognitions, affective states and behaviours. The social context includes the actual physical presence of others as well as the effects of those who are imagined to be present and/or are symbolised by internal representations such as norms and values. Social psychology seeks to explain social behaviours and therefore focuses heavily on the inter-personal realm. This unit explores the major social psychological theories of the domain and the micro, meso and macro-social contexts that impinge on individual behaviour. It will include critical examination of one's own social context to understand the impact of worldview, values, attitudes and social subjectivity that impacts human behaviour.

PS225 Culture and Psychology
Pre-requisites - PS100, PS103 or PS104
This unit will introduce students to the debates and issues underlying the field of Cross-Cultural, Indigenous and Cultural Psychology to understand diverse conceptions about the role of culture and its implication for professional practice. To promote cultural competence in the Australian context, distinctions between migrant issues and Indigenous issues will be explored. A diversity of psychological theoretical frameworks and methods will guide more appropriate responses to deal with racism and oppression. Alternative paths, which enhance and empower cultural identity and wellbeing, will be pursued to address the broader issues of social justice. The role of culture, worldview, and other contextual factors in shaping our realities, and subsequently our adaptations to societal contexts, will be considered. A major aim of the course is to support conscientization (Freire, 1970, 1972) about the role of self in promoting culturally competent practice in diverse contexts.

PS229/329 Mediation and Dispute Resolution
Pre-requisites - PS100
This unit develops an understanding of conflict and the self as a negotiator and provides a general introduction to the theories, practices and processes of negotiation, mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in a variety of settings including business and administration. The unit examines the potential for conflict to develop awareness, understanding and agreement among parties as well as providing an opportunity to explore skills that contribute to the management of conflict. The differences among ADR processes, the roles of both mediators and participants and the effects of outcomes reached by mediation and ADR will be covered. A generic model of mediation is presented and students have the opportunity to apply the model to disputes in commercial and business settings.

PS264 Psychology of Work
Pre-requisites - PS100, PS103 or PS104
This is an eclectic combination of the theoretical & the practical in examining the roles of individuals as members of organisations. Through lectures, workshops, case studies & workplace-oriented assignment, students will be challenged to develop new paradigms of thinking about the psychology of the individual in the workplace. The Psychology of Work is a blend of organisational behaviour, sociology, organisational theory, leadership, human resource issues & psychology. It examines contemporary management thinking in the context of cause-&-effect on individuals & subsequent performance & encourages dialectic about organisations as rational decision-making bodies.

PS327 Culture and Psychology
Pre-requisites - PS100, PS103 or PS104
This unit will introduce students to the debates and issues underlying the field of Cross-Cultural, Indigenous and Cultural Psychology to understand diverse conceptions about the role of culture and its implication for professional practice. To promote cultural competence in the Australian context, distinctions between migrant issues and Indigenous issues will be explored. A diversity of psychological theoretical frameworks and methods will guide more appropriate responses to deal with racism and oppression. Alternative paths, which enhance and empower cultural identity and wellbeing, will be pursued to address the broader issues of social justice. The role of culture, worldview, and other contextual factors in shaping our realities, and subsequently our adaptations to societal contexts, will be considered. A major aim of the course is to support conscientization (Freire, 1970, 1972) about the role of self in promoting culturally competent practice in diverse contexts.

PS335 Health Psychology
Pre-requisites - PS100
Health psychology is a discipline at the intersection of the biomedical and psychological sciences. It draws heavily from the field of psychoneuroimmunology and gives students exposure to macro, meso and micro level theories accounting for individual health in a range of global and national contexts. It provides pragmatic understanding of the usefulness of theories for human health behaviours. It includes examination of psychological principles relevant to the areas of stress and health, pain perception and pain management, aging and health, chronic and terminal illness. This domain also examines psychological theory relevant to patient interaction including theories of social interaction, personality theory and developmental aspects of patient/illness management. Students will develop knowledge of the skills that support patient recovery and the promotion of health and wellbeing.

PS392 Internship
Pre/Co-requisites - Successful Completion of 2 nd Year of Behavioural Science Program
Internships form a vital part of the Behavioural Science degree. The Internship requirement of 6 weeks' work within an organisation allows for productive, first-hand experience of how people engage with one another, communicate and operate together in a work or community setting. Students may undertake specific projects or tasks, engage in directed research, facilitate groups, write reports or develop specific projects or program initiatives. At the completion of the 6 weeks, students reflect on these learning experiences and write a comprehensive report. They are also evaluated by their agency.

PS393 Community Psychology, Policy and Practice
Pre-requisites - PS221 & PS225
This is a significant unit for the development of essential community capacity building skills. It is a core unit for the Bachelor of Behavioural Science, offered in the final year of the undergraduate degree to prepare students for working in the field of community development, project management, policy or community consultation. It is designed to be completed prior to the community internship. Course content has been established in consultation with community development professionals in the private and public sector. The unit will be taught by the Coordinator of Behavioural Science and will have significant input from human service professionals in the community.