Course and Subject Handbook 2021 Courses Postgraduate Courses Master of Psychology (Clinical)

Information valid for students commencing in 2021.

Master of Psychology (Clinical)

Handbook year	2021
Course code	102304
Course type	Masters Degree (Coursework) (AQF Level 9)
Professional accreditation status	The Townsville course offering is fully accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). The Singapore course offering is not professionally accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
Owner	Division of Tropical Health and Medicine
College	Healthcare Sciences

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Domestic students must hold provisional registration as a psychologist in Australia.

Completion of an AQF level 8 bachelor honours degree with Class 1 or 2A honours from a course accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council or equivalent qualification from an overseas institution; or

Other qualifications or practical experience recognised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine as equivalent to the above.

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 3c – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Additional selection requirements

Interview (by invitation)

Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points	48 credit points as per course structure
Additional completion requirements	Students may be excluded from continuing if they are awarded less than a Pass grade on two occasions during their course of study.
Course learning outcomes	On successful completion of the Master of Psychology (Clinical), graduates will be able to: Adapt and apply complex and contemporary knowledge, skills, and technical competencies in clinical psychology to facilitate quality client outcomes across a variety of populations including tropical, Indigenous, and rural and remote. Apply mastery knowledge of research principles, methods, and ethics to plan and execute a substantial piece of research that addresses a complex theoretical or professional practice issue in clinical psychology. Expertly communicate with clients, families, community and organisational representatives, and other health professionals. Synthesise, evaluate, and apply theories, evidence-based practice, and ethical considerations to design and deliver safe and effective assessment and interventions for client groups of varying age, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status. Operate individually and inter-professionally in accordance with legal, ethical, and organisational guidelines, incorporating referral processes where relevant. Reflect critically and respectfully on the practice of one’s self and others within the inter-professional health care team to ensure quality practice, and to plan ongoing professional learning.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the fundamental abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to complete the learning outcomes of a course while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. Students and prospective students must be able to demonstrate that they have acquired or have the ability to acquire the inherent requirements for their degree. For more information refer to Inherent Requirements page.
Reasonable adjustments	Reasonable adjustments may be made to assist students manage additional circumstances impacting on their studies provided these do not change the academic integrity of a degree. Reasonable adjustments do not alter the need to be able to demonstrate the inherent requirements of the course.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

Year 1

Teaching period 1

PY5301:03 Professional Practice

PY5302:03 Evidence-based Practice

PY5303:03 Mental Health Disorders Across the Lifespan

PY5304:03 Assessment in Psychology

Teaching period 2

PY6301:09 Clinical Psychology Placement A

PY6401:03 Clinical Psychology Masters Research Proposal

Year 2

Teaching period 1

PY5305:03 Biopsychosocial and Cultural Models of Health

PY6302:06 Clinical Psychology Placement B

PY6402:03 Clinical Psychology Masters Research Thesis Part 1 of 2

Teaching period 2

PY6303:09 Clinical Psychology Placement C

PY6403:03 Clinical Psychology Masters Research Thesis Part 2 of 2

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT

NOTES

JCU Singapore

This course offering is not accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

No mid-year entry.

JCU Townsville

This course offering is fully accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

No mid-year entry.

Candidature

Expected time to complete	2 years full-time
Maximum time to complete	3 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Students must complete PY6301 Clinical Psychology Placement A prior to undertaking any other placement subjects.
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	Minimum 1000 hours. Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure. Students may be required to undertake placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled at their own expense.
Special assessment requirements	Refer to Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement policy.
Professional accreditation requirements	Please note that while successful course completion via the Townsville course offering leads directly to general registration as a psychologist in Australia, endorsement as a clinical psychologist in Australia requires an additional period of approved supervised practice. Please see https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au for further information.
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure.
Maximum allowed	12 credit points, unless part of an approved articulation process.
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 15 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	Nil

Award Details

Award title	MASTER OF PSYCHOLOGY (CLINICAL)
Approved abbreviation	MPsych(Clin)
Exit with lesser award	Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed the appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive a Graduate Certificate of Clinical Psychology or a Graduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology offered by the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine.
Course articulation	Nil