Program Overview

Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Counselling

The Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Counselling is a dual degree program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour and the skills to promote mental and emotional wellbeing. This program combines the study of psychology and counselling, giving students a strong foundation in both fields.

Program Overview

The program explores the human mind and teaches students the skills to help improve people's wellbeing. Students will study the core areas of psychological science, including human development, cognitive perception, personality, learning, and abnormal psychology. They will also learn about the range of scientific methods, analyses, and ethical standards used in psychological research.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of this program can pursue a variety of career paths, including:

• Administration of counselling services
• Aged services
• Careers Disability support
• Child protection
• Community development
• Community health
• Corrections
• Education
• Families and groups
• Government departments
• Mental health
• Non-government organisations
• Research
• Telephone counselling
• Welfare work
• Working with individuals
• Youth work

Accreditation

This program is designed to meet the national accreditation requirements for The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), The Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Program Structure

The program consists of 32 courses and 384 units, which can be completed in 4 years of full-time study or equivalent part-time study. The program is divided into three stages: introductory courses, developing courses, and graduate courses.

Introductory Courses

The introductory courses provide a foundation in psychology and counselling, covering topics such as:

• Counselling for Addiction Disorders
• Theories of Counselling: From Freud to Integrative Practice
• Group Processes and Practice
• Therapeutic Communication Skills
• Introduction to Psychology A
• Introduction to Psychology B
• Research Methods and Analysis 1
• Introduction to Indigenous Australia

Developing Courses

The developing courses build on the introductory courses, covering topics such as:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications
• Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches
• Physiological Psychology
• Introduction to Human Development
• Social Psychology
• Motivation and Emotion
• Interpersonal and Group Skills
• Research Methods and Analysis 2
• Ethics, Law and the Helping Professions

Graduate Courses

The graduate courses provide advanced training in psychology and counselling, covering topics such as:

• Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss
• Positive Psychology for Counselling
• Counselling Placement and Development 1
• Counselling Placement and Development 2
• Developmental and Family Counselling
• Advanced Methods in Psychology
• Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology
• Intercultural and Indigenous Psychologies
• Personality and Assessment
• Human Associative Learning
• Psychological Disorders
• Psychology of Health and Wellbeing
• Adult Development and Ageing

Program Requirements

To graduate, students must successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the program structure. Students must also complete two counselling placements, working with multidisciplinary teams across a range of human services agencies.

Entry Requirements

For entry into the program, students must meet the minimum ATAR/Rank requirement, which is 55.00 for both the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay campuses. Students must also meet the English language requirements and any additional entry requirements, such as recommended prior study in English.

Fees and Scholarships

The estimated tuition fee for one year of full-time study is A$10,519 for Commonwealth-supported students and A$30,500 for international students. Students may be eligible for scholarships and bursaries to help cover the costs of study.

How to Apply

Domestic students can apply for admission through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). International students can apply directly to the University of the Sunshine Coast.