Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced

Unit Code: PSY4051

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

Unit Code: PSY4131

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

Psychology is a scientific discipline which spans a diverse range of areas. This unit provides a continuation of two psychology topics that you will have learnt about in the foundational units. Developmental psychology encompasses physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes across the life span and how these are shaped by macrosystems such as culture, and microsystems such as peers and the family. Biological psychology includes states of consciousness, mental disorders and addiction, mechanisms and disorders of learning and memory, and the regulation of emotional and motivated states. Unit activities provide further training in research techniques, report writing, oral presentations and teamwork.

Unit Code: PSY4032

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

This unit develops your understanding of how human behaviour is classified as ‘pathological’ through examination of the historical influences and the theory of the aetiology, assessment, and treatment of psychological disorders.
Adopting a biopsychosocial-cultural perspective across the lifespan, this unit will provide broad and comprehensive knowledge of both scientific and professional aspects of psychopathology.

Unit Code: PSY4041

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

Testing and assessment is a major component of psychological research and practice, which is why ‘Psychological testing and ethics’ teaches the underlying principles and processes of test development, administration and interpretation, as well as the ethical and legal responsibilities that underpin psychological research and practice. By investigating widely used psychological tests, critiquing various criteria including test reliability and validity, with a focus on theories of ability, and how our thinking about human abilities is influenced by our cultural framework. You will also learn how ethical principles apply to psychological research and practice by examining specific ethical dilemmas and case studies.

Unit Code: PSY4062

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

This unit will enhance your scientific aptitude and critical thinking abilities applicable to empirical research in psychology, and enhance your pragmatic problem-solving skills. In this unit, you will continue your training in psychological inquiry across three areas: theory, methods, and practice. In the theory component, you will learn about different theoretical perspectives on knowledge and research, including various quantitative and qualitative theories. In the methods component, you will develop your knowledge and ability to design complex research methodologies using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

In the practice component, you will undertake complex statistical analyses, such as parametric and nonparametric procedures that compare three or more variables, the use of planned and post hoc comparison techniques, as well as techniques that investigate relationships and predictions involving three or more variables. There are strong practical components incorporated into the unit designed to advance and showcase your competency in undertaking individual research. To bring together your knowledge and skills in research theory, methods, and practice, you will undertake a research project under the supervision of a staff member.

Unit Code: PSY4081

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

‘Perception and cognition’, divided in two interrelated halves, covers both perception and cognition. Following a cognitive psychology methodology, you will learn about the sensory processes involved in vision, audition and speech perception, sensory coding mechanisms and perceptual processing. The second half of the unit encompasses the acquisition, organisation, and retrieval of knowledge, with an emphasis on contemporary research techniques, cognitive architecture, attentional processes, models of learning and memory, mental imagery, language and higher-order thinking.

Unit Code: PSY4151

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

Investigate the history and philosophy of social psychology and personality, two fields that have radically altered our understanding of social identity, meaning and relationships. The first half of ‘Personality and social psychology’ will demonstrate how social psychology theories – such as behaviour in groups, aggression, attraction, dehumanisation and attitude change – are applied and critiqued in light of contemporary behaviour and new knowledge. In the second half of the unit, you will examine and compare distinct personality theories, including psychoanalytic, phenomenological, trait, and social learning approaches to personality.

Unit Code: PSY4140

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

‘Introduction to counselling’ is a broad overview of counselling psychology theory and practice, providing students the opportunity to contrast various perspective. You will learn about various counselling theories – evaluating how personal beliefs and values influence the counselling process – and build your awareness of the legal and ethical responsibilities that underpin counselling psychology.

Unit Code: PSY4180

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

In this elective unit you will develop your capacity to critically engage with contemporary issues, emerging trends and new directions in psychology. The unit will highlight the social, political, and cultural contexts that influence the discipline of psychology, as well as the contemporary challenges facing psychologists in both research and practice. Specific topics include: cutting edge developments in psychological treatment, challenges in psychological research, new directions in psychological theory and practice, and contemporary applications of psychology for individual, social, and environmental change. There is a focus on authentic assessment tasks designed to improve your critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and your ability to communicate effectively with key stakeholders in research, practice, and policy arenas.

Unit Code: PSY4405

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

‘Ethical and professional issues in psychology’ takes a conceptual approach – grounded in theories and definitions – to focus on the pragmatic issues of psychological practice from an ethical, legal and professional perspective. You will learn about a range of topics, including legislation governing psychologists, professional organisations, codes of professional conduct, and ethical issues raised by: conflicts of interest, children as clients, using psychological tests, and the provision of psychological services to a multi-cultural population, managing the suicidal client, reporting child abuse, and service delivery over the internet.

Unit Code: PSY4406

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

‘Psychological assessments and intervention’ provides students with a theoretical and practical overview of the assessment of individual difference, as a component of evidence-based practice. You will explore various classes of tests and classification tools – including a detailed examination of distinct models that measure ability and individual difference – and the role psychological assessment plays in evidence-based interventions for common clinical disorders. Another core focus of your study will be test evaluation methods, from a contemporary perspective that engages with recent trends in development theory, while covering the practicalities of test administration, scoring and interpretation.

Unit Code: PSY4407

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

The knowledge you gain studying psychology is relevant to a wide range of career pathways. ‘Psychology in industry: Pathways to employment’ will help you identify and enhance your employability skills, and provide a sense about the kinds of careers that are possible with a psychology qualification. You will familiarise yourself with the steps required to become a registered and licensed psychologist in Australia, and the various alternative career pathways available. The ways in which their knowledge and skills are relevant to other industries will also be explored.

Unit Code: PSY4401

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

In this unit you will be introduced to advanced psychological inquiry, covering ideas about the nature of psychological knowledge and understanding. You will engage with both quantitative and qualitative methods. You will prepare for, and conduct, a semi-structured interview followed by a process of self-reflection. You will also analyse a quantitative dataset and prepare a short report to communicate your findings, allowing you to develop the critical thinking and writing skills required to generate a high-quality research project.

At the conclusion of this unit, you will have a greater understanding of the different forms of knowledge that exist, and the research methodologies that can be used to enhance our understanding of the world around us.

By equipping you with this knowledge and skill set, this unit is designed to prepare you for your GDPA research project. More broadly, the critical thinking, writing, reflection and interpersonal skills developed in this unit are relevant and transferable to various career pathways both within and beyond psychology.

Unit Code: PSY4412

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

The GDPA research project is completed over the course of three units, where you will undertake a supervised research project in psychology that aims to provide training in both discipline-specific and transferable research skills.
PSY4412 marks the beginning of your research project journey where you will focus on the development of your research project. You will complete the pre-registration of your research proposal, providing context and justification for the investigation of your research project. You will then assist in preparing the ethics application for a low-risk quantitative or qualitative research project.
This unit will also provide you with an opportunity for formative feedback on a draft of your Journal Manuscript introduction, supporting you in the development of a high-quality Journal Manuscript as the capstone assessment of the GDPA.
Throughout PSY4412, emphasis will be placed on professionalism and fitness for practice, ethical considerations and the development of research methodologies, ensuring a robust foundation for your future academic and professional endeavours.

Unit Code: PSY4413

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

The GDPA research project is completed over the course of three units, where you will undertake a supervised psychology research project that aims to provide training in both discipline-specific and transferable research skills.
PSY4413 is the second unit of the research project sequence where you will commence data collection for your research project. Additionally, you will continue to build your research portfolio and the programmatic development of your research skills through a suite of engaging, authentic assessment tasks.
In PSY4413, this involves the pre-registration of your data analysis plan, providing a comprehensive overview of the coordinated steps required to conduct an independent data analysis.
You will also engage in self-reflection of the graduate attributes required for effective and ethical research and practice in the discipline of psychology. This unit will additionally provide you with an opportunity for formative feedback on a draft of your Journal Manuscript method, supporting you in the development of a high-quality Journal Manuscript as the capstone assessment of the GDPA.
Throughout PSY4413, emphasis will be placed on professionalism and fitness for practice, implementing research methodologies and planning analyses, ensuring a robust foundation for your future academic and professional endeavours.

Unit Code: PSY4414

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

The GDPA research project is completed over the course of three units, where you will undertake a supervised research project in psychology that aims to provide training in both discipline-specific and transferable research skills.
PSY4414 is the third and final unit of the research project sequence where you will submit your Journal Manuscript, the capstone assessment of the GDPA research project units.
This unit will additionally provide you with an opportunity for formative feedback on a draft of your Journal Manuscript results. In this unit you will also complete your research portfolio, representing the culmination of your research skills developed through assessment tasks undertaken across PSY4412 and PSY4413.
Finally, this unit also awards the overall research project grade, including your Journal Manuscript assessment and Research Portfolio assessments completed across PSY4412, PSY4413 and PSY4414. Throughout PSY4414, emphasis will be placed on professionalism and fitness for practice, critical thinking and synthesis, time management and effective communication, ensuring a robust foundation for your future academic and professional endeavours.

Unit Code: PSY4409

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

‘21st century applications of psychology’ is a multi-disciplinary unit that draws together distinct strands of psychological theory and practice. Divided across 6 modules, you will study psychology from the following perspectives: the mind/body and self (e.g. body modification, embodied cognition, the ‘selfies’ epidemic), family and relationships (e.g. step-families, same-sex families), society and culture (e.g. modern racism, psychological perspectives in terrorism, acculturation and integration within multi-cultural Australia), health, stress and coping (e.g. resilience, positive education, cross-cultural approaches to therapy), ePsychology (e.g. cyber-bullying, virtual reality, artificial intelligences), and psychology of work (e.g. flow, flourishing).

Unit Code: PSY4408

Contact Hours: 20-24 hours of study per week

Duration: 6 weeks

Description:

‘Perspectives in clinical and developmental neuroscience’ takes a lifespan approach to examine elements of neuroscience, developmental psychology, and mental health and illness, Your study will focus on aspects of mental health and illness that integrate traditional clinical information (e.g. symptoms, prevalence, aetiology), neuroscience (both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders), and evidence-based treatments. The topics you explore will relate to specific psychopathologies (e.g. posttraumatic stress disorder), specific life stages (e.g. childhood and adolescence), broad issues in mental health that transcend specific disorders (e.g. sleep, social support), and examine mental health in numerous settings (e.g. clinical, medical, and occupational).