Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February, July
Fees
$10,720.00+
+estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
3 years full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
ATAR 69.35
English (Units 3/4,C)
QTAC Codes
- 311081
Course detail
Gain expertise in analytical thinking and scientific research methods relevant to a broad range of careers and further study.
Study a core program in Psychology along with additional electives to suit your interests. Choose from a range of specialised subjects, including forensic psychology, memory and cognition, cognitive neuroscience, psychopathology, intercultural psychology, and social psychology.
Your knowledge of psychological theory is highly applicable to professional practice in numerous areas including behaviour insights, marketing, experimental science, data interpretation and more. Combine this degree with business or sports and exercise science to broaden your skillset.
JCU Psychological Science graduates are innovative, critical thinkers who are widely-skilled and contribute valuably in their chosen fields.
Additional information
View the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.
About JCU's Bachelor of Psychological Science
Are you eager to learn how the science of human behaviour and how the study of the mind can shape our world for good? With a Bachelor of Psychological Science (similar to a Bachelor of Behavioural Science) from JCU, you will be a strong critical thinker understanding how to improve the quality of life of others.
Learn from lecturers committed to student success and build a strong theoretical foundation with your behavioural science degree studies at JCU. Throughout your degree, apply theory into hands-on practice, learning the research skills you need to make practical use of your knowledge.
Become a skilled analytical thinker, a master of modern scientific research methods, and an innovative problem solver.
Study Behavioural Science and Master the Human Mind
With access to JCU's world-class research facilities, develop your insight into how major theories and concepts of psychology have practical application to the human condition. As you learn more about yourself, you will be ready to choose your own path through specialisations in areas like cognitive neuroscience, intercultural psychology, or memory and cognition.
A Behavioural Science Degree Gets You Ready for the Jobs of the Future
With your degree in behavioural studies, you will be ready to contribute valuably in your chosen field.
Graduates who study behavioural science at JCU, take their degrees into academic disciplines, research facilities, or private practice. You could serve the community with counselling services or in the courts or defence forces. Your degree, accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, will make you a valuable employee to hospitals, schools, and even prisons.
Use your psychological science degree as a stepping stone to become a licensed clinical, educational, sport, or even forensic psychologist. As a graduate, you will be part of an elite group of highly sought-after professionals.
A Psychological Science Degree That Makes a Difference
Develop your skills and knowledge to move beyond theories and basic practical abilities. Throughout your behavioural science courses, you have the chance to reflect on how the scientific method applies to the human mind. Learn how to work within the ethical contexts that makes us human.
Gain skills as an effective communicator and collaborator, working with colleagues and peers while still exercising the intellectual independence you need to be a leader. With a keen understanding of cultural diversity, work with people across the cultural spectrum.
Experience a World-Class Education With JCU’s Bachelor of Psychological Science
Make a difference in the lives of your community, contribute to research that makes a difference, or be part of the solution. Build an understanding of human behaviour to help solve societal issues.
Whatever you choose to do with your degree, it all starts with a world-class education. Benefit from JCU Psychology’s strong focus on research and contribute to discoveries or interactions that make a difference.
Hide additional information
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Honours
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees. Refer to the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) Handbook for eligibility information. Complete an application through our Online Application Portal.
JCU Psychological Science graduates are sought-after professionals who excel in their chosen fields.
Graduates pursue careers in areas including private practice, academic and applied research settings, counselling services, law courts, police and defence forces, prisons, hospitals, and schools.
With further study, you could find employment as a clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, educational psychologist, forensic psychologist, occupational psychologist, sport and exercise psychologist, or psychotherapist.
To become eligible for registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, you are required to complete a minimum six-year sequence of education and supervised training. View the handbook for professional accreditation requirements.
Entry score threshold
These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2022. Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in June each year. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee admission.
ATAR/Selection Rank: 69.35
Entry score range
This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the Bachelor of Psychological Science for Semester 1, 2022. The table includes offers deferred to Semester 1, 2022 which may have been assessed using the entry score threshold of an earlier year.
JCU Townsville
Without adjustments | With adjustments* | |
|---|---|---|
Highest | 92.55 | 98.55 |
Median | 80.00 | 83.1 |
Lowest | 65.65 | 70.05 |
Notes:
<5 – indicates less than 5 OP/ATAR-based offers made.
* Refer to Adjustment Factors
Find out more about who you might study with by viewing this course’s student profile.
Adjustment factors
James Cook University applies bonus ranks under the Regional Preference Scheme and QTAC’s Educational Access Scheme (EAS). Learn more about JCU’s adjustment factors.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2023 |
Course Code | 112810 |
Course type | Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7) |
Professional accreditation status | This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Graduates of this course, who wish to become fully registered as psychologists, must complete an accredited fourth year course (e.g. BPsychSc(Hons) or GDipPsych) plus either a two year Psychology Board of Australia approved postgraduate program, or a one year Psychology Board of Australia approved postgraduate program plus one year of supervised practice. |
Owner | Academy |
College | Healthcare Sciences |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course prerequisites | English (Units 3/4,C) |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
| Additional selection requirements | 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 | 72 credit points as per course structure |
Course learning outcomes | On successful completion of the Bachelor of Psychological Science, graduates will be able to:
|
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Bachelor of Psychological Science. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
Level 1
PY1101:03 Exploring Psychology: From Brain to Practice
PY1102:03 Exploring Psychology: From Perception to Reality
PY1103:03 Critical Thinking in Psychology: How to Think About Weird Things
PY1106:03 Communicating Psychology: Listening, Translating & Disseminating
Level 2
PY2103:03 Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis
PY2107:03 Experimental Investigation and Analysis of Behaviour
PY2111:03 Learning Processes, Behaviour and Performance
PY2112:03 Memory and Cognition
PY2101:03 Behavioural Neuroscience: Understanding the Brain and its link with
behaviour
PY2106:03 Through the Looking Glass: Development Across the Lifespan
Level 3
PY3101:03 Psychological Research Methods and Interpretation
PY3102:03 Social Psychology in Everyday Life
PY3103:03 Mining the Mind: Psychopathology
PY3107:03 Psychological Assessment in Action
PY3108:03 Personality Psychology: Decoding the Mysteries of Humans
OPTIONS
Select 12 credit points of any undergraduate subjects
PLUS
Select 6 credit points of specified PY level 2 subjects from List 1
PLUS
Select 9 credit points of specified PY level 3 subjects from List 2
List 1
PY2018:03 Intercultural Psychology and Cross Cultural Communication
PY2104:03 Connecting Social, Psychological and Physical Health
PY2109:03 The World around Us: Environmental Psychology
PY2110:03 Intersections of Psychology and Law: Forensic Psychology
List 2
PY3104:03 Counselling Principles and Practice for Diverse Environments
PY3105:03 Working it: Psychology in the Workforce
PY3106:03 Historical Narratives: Foundations of Modern Psychology
PY3109:03 Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of Mind
PY3110:03 Sensing and Interpreting the World: a Psychology Perspective
PY3111:03 Population Clinical Health Promotion and Communication
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Singapore | |
JCU Townsville |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 7 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year |
Progression
Course progression | Must successfully complete all level 1 requirements before attempting any level 2 subjects. Must successfully complete 50% (12 credit points) of level 2 subjects before attempting any level 3 subject. |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Special assessment | Nil |
Professional accreditation | Graduates of this course, who wish to become fully registered as psychologists, must complete an accredited fourth year course (e.g. BPsychSc(Hons) or GDipPsych) plus two years of supervised practice in the field; or an accredited masters degree (e.g. Master of Psychology (Clinical)) with one further year of supervised practice. |
Supplementary exam for | Not applicable |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure. |
Maximum allowed | 48 credit points |
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 17 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the candidate has not completed this course. |
Other restrictions | A maximum of 9 credit points of credit may be granted at level 3. Up to 24 credit points may be granted only to applicants who have been awarded a Diploma of Higher Education (Psychological Science). |
Award Details
Award title | BACHELOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE |
Approved abbreviation | BPsychSc |
This is a joint degree | No |
Inclusion of majors on | Not applicable - this course does not have majors |
Exit with lesser award | Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. Students who have completed 48 credit points of their professional course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Associate Degree of Health Sciences. |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Honours
Honours availability | Available as an additional 24 credit points of study [end-on] |
Eligibility | Completion of an AQF Level 7 bachelor degree that includes an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council approved three-year sequence in psychology completed within the past 10 years; and a minimum program GPA of 5.5; or Completion of an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council approved bridging degree that achieves foundational competencies within the past 10 years; and a minimum program GPA of 5.5. Special note: Applicants for the 2022 or 2023 intakes that have completed a JCU AQF Level 7 bachelor degree that includes an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council approved three-year sequence in psychology within the past 10 years, and that do not meet the above–stated entry requirement, may be assessed as a transitional arrangement under the previous entry requirement of a credit average (GPA 5.0) across PY2103, PY2107 and a minimum of a distinction average (GPA 6.0) across 15 credit points of level 3 PY subjects, including PY3101. |
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD10,720.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
An ATAR is the score required for entry into most undergraduate courses. If you are not a Year 12 school leaver or do not have an ATAR, you can be assigned an equivalent score. Scores are calculated from previous study that you might have completed, either secondary, tertiary or vocational, or previous paid employment experience.
JCU offers pathway courses to help you move into a degree. Pathway courses provide you with an individualised study plan and specialised support as you transition to university.
Contact us to find out more.
Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.
ATAR score is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.
Real stories
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Student
Patrick Twivey
Bachelor of Psychological Science
I chose to study at JCU as I knew of the great reputation it has for job success and educational outcomes. The small class sizes mean that the lecture and tutorial staff are more accessible if you have any questions. One highlight so far is learning about biological processes and how these drive behaviour.
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Student
Luana Healey
Bachelor of Psychological Science
I was impressed with the variety of subjects while studying the Bachelor of Psychological Science, including Forensic Psychology and Personality Psychology. My experience with Indigenous staff and peers has been a highlight throughout my university years and has provided rewarding and culturally strong opportunities.
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Alumni
Julie Marshall
Bachelor of Psychological Science
The highlights of my course are the lifelong friendships that I have made with classmates, and the connections that I have made with those already working in different areas of psychology. Thinking about studying psychological science at JCU? Do it!
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Employer
Ann Nicholls
Manager Offender Development, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, Custodial Operations
It is great having JCU graduates on staff. The JCU school of Psychology clearly has experienced and knowledgeable lecturers, tutors and staff. The graduates bring a solid knowledge base, enthusiasm and energy to grow and build on their study, plus a genuine care to support the team around them.