Inherent requirements for undergraduate psychology program

Psychology is a profession governed by a code of ethics where psychologists are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. 

You, the student, will demonstrate knowledge of – and engage in – ethical behaviour in practice. 

• Complying with standards, codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and the people they engage with.  

• Ethical behaviour protects the rights and dignity of all and supports physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. 

Reasonable adjustments must ensure that standards, codes, guidelines and policies are maintained and do not result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. 

• Manage confidential information appropriately in classroom and professional settings.

• Practice honesty and integrity in all scholarly and research endeavours. 

Behavioural stability is necessary to effectively and sensitively function and adapt in the various roles which psychology graduates may find themselves in. 

You, the student, will demonstrate behavioural stability in diverse, unpredictable and challenging academic and professional environments. 

Behavioural stability is necessary to work in diverse, unpredictable and challenging environments, whether individually or on a team. Psychology students will be exposed to difficult situations and are required to have the behavioural stability to manage themselves and their activities in these environments. 

Reasonable adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and professional settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. 

• Be receptive to constructive feedback and respond appropriately when feedback is provided. 

• Effectively manage your emotions and behaviour in classroom and professional settings. 

Appropriate non-verbal communication is fundamental to a variety of careers and graduates need to be clear in their communication. 

• The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues. 

• Consistent and appropriate awareness of your own behaviours 

• Sensitivity to individual and cultural differences. 

• The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues helps to build rapport and develop trustful and respectful relationships in academic and professional contexts. 

• Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions and eye contact – and being aware of spatial boundaries, body movements and gestures – helps to build rapport and develop trustful and respectful relationships in academic and professional contexts. 

• Being sensitive to individual and cultural differences shows respect for others and develops trustful and empathetic relationships. 

Reasonable adjustments must enable a student to effectively recognise, initiate or respond to non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. 

• You can recognise and respond appropriately in classroom situations. 

• You can recognise and respond appropriately to cues in the professional environment. 

Cognitive ability and the capacity to learn and recall complex information are essential in behavioural sciences. 

• Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information. 

• Ability to process information relevant to practice. 

• Ability to integrate, reflect on and implement knowledge in classroom and professional settings. 

Psychological research and practice relies on comprehensive knowledge that is sourced, understood and applied appropriately. 

Reasonable adjustments must ensure knowledge can be clearly demonstrated and cognitive skills are not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. 

• Demonstrate your ability to interpret, understand, retain and use appropriate knowledge in academic settings and for assessment items. 

• Appropriately apply knowledge of policy and procedures in various professional settings. 

Competent English literacy skills are essential to graduates from a psychological science program. 

• Ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate and effective messages in English. 

• Ability to read and comprehend a range of information in English. 

• Capacity to understand and apply academic conventions to write coherent English in a scholarly and professional manner. 

• The ability to acquire information and write and speak clearly and accurately in English is fundamental to the multiple career paths available to graduates from psychological sciences in Australia. 

Reasonable adjustments must ensure a student can demonstrate an appropriate capacity to acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurately in English. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. 

• Listen well to information provided in English. 

• Speak clearly and accurately in English. 

• Successfully paraphrase, summarise and reference in English, in accordance with appropriate academic conventions. 

• Create accurate, concise and clear documentation in English. 

Competent numeracy skills are essential in a variety of careers available to psychology graduates. 

You, the student, will demonstrate the ability to correctly and accurately interpret and apply numerical information, whether data, measurements, or other numbers. 

Competent numeracy skills are essential to graduates of psychological science. 

Reasonable adjustments must ensure a student can demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply numerical concepts and processes in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. 

• Use and interpret data manually and via computer based statistics packages. 

• Interpret and explain statistics from research articles and statistical methods in academia and practical settings. 

Psychology study requires both physical and mental endurance at a consistent and sustained level. 

• Consistent and sustained physical energy to complete specific tasks in a timely manner and over time. 

• The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time. 

Sufficient physical and mental endurance are essential to performing multiple tasks in an assigned period. 

Reasonable adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. 

• Participate in tutorials, lectures and skills. 

• Provide consistent, appropriate and quality involvement across courses.