Recommended Study Sequence

This unit develops basic counselling skills and ethically oriented practice in practising and research psychologists. It reviews the theoretical underpinnings of counselling practice and provides training in fundamental counselling skills of attending and listening. Ethical practice is grounded in a study of moral philosophy, sequential decision making, and relevant Codes of Ethics of the Australian Psychological Society and NSW Registration Board. The unit considers major practice problems faced by practitioners and researchers and modes of resolutions acceptable within the profession.

This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to the psychological assessment of children, adolescents and adults. It is designed to assist students in the professional psychology programs to develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the assessment of clients. Through lectures, seminars and independent study, students will become familiar with the current theoretical and empirical foundations of psychological assessment, and the application of these theories and research findings to the development of empirically-based assessment practice. Students will be introduced to contemporary practice in the assessment of cognition, behaviour, mood, personality, and other psychological constructs, and popular psychological measures of these functions will be critically evaluated. Training in the administration of key instruments will be provided. Students will be instructed in the integration of assessment data into clinically-useful reports. Different approaches to psychological assessment will be compared and evaluated. Ethical and professional issues in psychological assessment will be discussed.

This unit provides a comprehensive examination of the nature and assessment of adult psychopathology. Students will review and the origins and structure of current diagnostic systems, and examine the diagnostic criteria for a range of major psychopathological syndromes. Skills in the assessment of adult disorders through interview will be acquired.

This unit acquaints students with the use of the experimental and clinical psychological literature to develop a critical empiricist perspective on the use of therapeutic interventions. The unit begins with an overview of clinical psychology practice models and a critique of the effectiveness of psychotherapy. It proceeds to introduce students to the major paradigms of psychotherapeutic intervention and presents a critical review of psychological interventions for the major psychological disorders. Students will be encouraged to critically consider the application of therapeutic interventions and in particular to develop an awareness of the broader person and ecological issues in the psychotherapeutic process.

This unit introduces the nature, assessment and treatment of psychological disorders in children and adolescents. Students will examine the diagnostic classification, epidemiology and aetiology of common psychological problems, including anxiety disorders, depression, behaviour disorders, learning disabilities, and attention-deficit disorder. The theoretical and empirical foundations of a range of cognitive and behavioural techniques will be discussed, along with a number of major conceptual and practical issues in the treatment of psychological disorders in childhood and adolescence.

This unit has a forensic focus and will provide opportunities for practical experience. Sessions will depart from the traditional lecture/tutorial format since these are not the ideal ways to learn about this practical application of psychological knowledge. The approach will be interactive and flexible within the framework of thirteen three-hour sessions. Please note that the unit is also experiential in the sense of being a "training group". This does not mean that it is "therapeutic" in intent; simply that it focuses on here-and-now processes in order to teach this experientially.

This unit provides an introduction to the theory and practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). It provides basic instruction in case formulation and the development of treatment plans for specific psychological disorders and selected client populations. A widely used and evidence-based form of therapy, CBT is an important tool for psychologists working in diverse settings. The unit is designed to describe the theoretical and historical foundations of CBT, develop foundational skills in CBT assessment and therapy, and nurture critical appreciation of the effectiveness of CTB across a number of applications.

This unit is a companion to the year-long research project and thesis. It aims to equip students with a detailed appreciation of research possibilities and procedures and guides the development of their research projects. Only some students enrolling for this degree program have completed an honours year and for many this is their first experience of independent research. Assuming that students' well-known fear of research methods is an artefact of their being overwhelmed by their computational inadequacies, this is a non-statistical introduction to research design, which proceeds from the elementary to the sophisticated in one session.

This unit orients students to the many settings that forensic psychologists work in justice administration including police, adults and juvenile offenders, institutional and community based corrections, offenders and victims. The unit examines many of the current issues and debates in forensic psychology, and includes theoretical perspectives, research evidence and related areas of forensic practice. As such, this unit provides students with a contextual framework for forensic psychology and will equip the student to operate within a range of forensic organisations when on placement and thereafter. It will equip the student with the fundamentals of ethical conduct based upon the codes of conduct of the APS and the registration board as well as child protection issues. This unit will introduce students to priniciples of psychopharmacology in preparation for their first placement.

This is a "Work Experience in Industry" unit, for which no student contribution or fee is charged. Enrolment in the unit will not consume Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). This is an introductory placement to orient intern psychologists to the fundamentals of psychological practice in a relevant setting.

This unit orients students to the many settings that forensic psychologists work in justice administration including police, adults and juvenile offenders, institutional and community based corrections, offenders and victims. The unit examines many of the current issues and debates in forensic psychology, and includes theoretical perspectives, research evidence and related areas of forensic practice. As such, this unit provides students with a contextual framework for forensic psychology and will equip the student to operate within a range of forensic organisations when on placement and thereafter. It will equip the student with the fundamentals of ethical conduct based upon the codes of conduct of the APS and the registration board as well as child protection issues. This unit will introduce students to priniciples of psychopharmacology in preparation for their first placement.

This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary neuropsychological theories, methods and measures, including aspects of the neuropsychological assessment, diagnosis and understanding of developmental and acquired cognitive disorders likely to be encountered by clinical and forensic psychologists. The functional neuroanatomy of the brain will be discussed, with nature of the cognitive systems involved in attention, memory, language, spatial processing, and executive functions will be reviewed, with discussion of the neuropsychological assessment of each of these systems. The application of neuropsychological theories and methods in clinical and forensic psycholgoical practice will be explored, with consideration of a range of devleopmental and acquired disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders and other common conditions. Ethical and professional issues in forensic neuropsychological practice will be discussed.

This unit provides an overview of psychology in the legal context. It introduces students to psychological perspectives and current issues in various forensic settings. This unit provides an understanding of the contextual framework within which the law and legal systems operate: how well the law works, whose rules and for whom. By studying various theoretical approaches and research students critically evaluate practices and procedures and examine proposed models for reform and change within the criminal justice process.

Organisational Psychology is a branch of psychology that applies the principles of psychology to the workplace and other organisational settings. Organisational Psychology is concerned with issues of leadership, job satisfaction, employee motivation, organisational communication, conflict management, organisational change, and group processes within the organisation. Forensic psychologists generally work in organisational contexts. This unit includes issues related to organisational behaviour, such as culture and psychological socialisation, work stress, personnel selection evaluation and training, working in institutional settings, and organisational change. Emphasis is given to organisaitons in forensic environments, with specific reference to the forensic psychologist's role in the process of organisational cultural change.

This is a "Work Experience in Industry" unit, for which no student contribution or fee is charged. Enrolment in the unit will not consume Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). Master of Psychology students on their second placement are provided with experience of specific area of professional specialisation of psychological practice in a relevant setting.

This is a "Work Experience in Industry" unit, for which no student contribution or fee is charged. Enrolment in the unit will not consume Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). This is the final placement for intern psychologists in Master of Psychology awards where they refine specialist psychological practice in a relevant setting.

The Applied Research Project requires one year of supervised study that has theoretical and/or practical relevance to the student's disciplinary specialisation. The research project will make some original contribution to the field, and be the student's own work, with due acknowledgement of any sources that are drawn upon. Students will work in small groups with an appointed supervisor. The project is to be reported in the form of a research report of approximately 10,000 words. To acknowledge the importance of the research project and report it will be numerically graded.

This unit extends the orientation of students to the various settings and practices that forensic psychologists work in justice administration including police, adults and juvenile offenders, institutional and community based corrections, offenders and victims as provided in Forensic Professional Practice Seminar A. In particular this seminar series will provide expert knowledge and skills in the area of crisis intervention, forensic report writing, and forensic investigatory psychological skills. It will also provide the student with the opportunity to reflect upon their placement experience via the medium of case discussions.

This is a "Work Experience in Industry" unit, for which no student contribution or fee is charged. Enrolment in the unit will not consume Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). Master of Psychology students on their second placement are provided with experience of specific area of professional specialisation of psychological practice in a relevant setting.

This is a "Work Experience in Industry" unit, for which no student contribution or fee is charged. Enrolment in the unit will not consume Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). This is the final placement for intern psychologists in Master of Psychology awards where they refine specialist psychological practice in a relevant setting.

The Applied Research Project requires one year of supervised study that has theoretical and/or practical relevance to the student's disciplinary specialisation. The research project will make some original contribution to the field, and be the student's own work, with due acknowledgement of any sources that are drawn upon. Students will work in small groups with an appointed supervisor. The project is to be reported in the form of a research report of approximately 10,000 words. To acknowledge the importance of the research project and report it will be numerically graded.

This unit extends the orientation of students to the various settings and practices that forensic psychologists work in justice administration including police, adults and juvenile offenders, institutional and community based corrections, offenders and victims as provided in Forensic Professional Practice Seminar A. In particular this seminar series will provide expert knowledge and skills in the area of crisis intervention, forensic report writing, and forensic investigatory psychological skills. It will also provide the student with the opportunity to reflect upon their placement experience via the medium of case discussions.