Three-year degree

The main objective of the three-year program is to provide students with a thorough education in the scientific discipline of psychology, and an introduction to the practice of the discipline. The program should provide education in the following core topics:

  • abnormal psychology
  • biological basis of behaviour
  • cognition, information processing and language
  • individual differences in capacity and behaviour, testing and assessment, personality
  • learning
  • lifespan developmental psychology
  • motivation and emotion
  • perception
  • social psychology
  • history and philosophy of psychology
  • intercultural diversity and indigenous psychology
  • research and professional ethics
  • legislative frameworks (including privacy, human rights)
  • consumer and carer participation in psychological care
  • psychology, society and the workplace
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Fourth year programs

The main objectives of the fourth year psychology program are to:

  • provide for the completion of an integrated and comprehensive education in the discipline of psychology
  • permit advanced level study in a range of areas
  • provide advanced research training

The fourth year must contain a research project.

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Professional postgraduate programs

The primary objective of the fifth and sixth year component offered either as a Masters degree (in coursework) or the equivalent part of a doctoral program should be to provide training in the professional practice of psychology. This should include full coverage and mastery of the general knowledge and skills required by psychological practitioners as well as knowledge of the area of specialisation in which the program is taught.There should be three main components in the program: coursework, research and practical placement.

In addition to the specialist content, all programs should include training in the following areas:

  • Ethics, confidentiality
  • Professional practice and practice management
  • Keeping psychology files, record keeping
  • Interviewing and history taking
  • Counselling
  • Consultation
  • Intercultural and ethnic issues; working with indigenous groups
  • Planning and implementing evaluation programs
  • Planning and implementing research
  • Testing and assessment - including theory and administration
  • Report writing
  • Legal issues
  • Management and administration 
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Research higher degree programs

Research higher degree programs of two or more years of full-time study, or equivalent, include research Masters degrees with the titles Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Social Science or Master of Philosophy, or research Doctorates with the title Doctor of Philosophy.

APAC does not accredit research degrees. General membership requirements follow these guidelines:
1. The topic being researched should be mainly psychological in nature.
2. The sole supervisor or, in the case of joint supervision, at least one supervisor, should be:

  • eligible for membership of the APS
  • hold both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in psychology hold a PhD.

The research should be presented as a thesis, which makes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge. The thesis should be externally examined by at least two experts in the field, each with a PhD. PhD degrees should contain no less than 67% research. The remaining percentage can be coursework, placements or entirely research.

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