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Are you interested in how we learn, remember and think; or how and why people behave the way they do? Studying Psychology will provide you with a scientific understanding of human behaviour and mental processes.

UWA offers two undergraduate Psychology majors - Psychology in Society ¹ (under the Bachelor of Arts) and Psychological Science ² (under the Bachelor of Science). You may choose either of these majors to complement your chosen degree-specific major in any area; however, students hoping to gain professional accreditation as a psychologist must undertake both undergraduate majors to qualify for additional study at honours and postgraduate levels.

Depending on the qualification you wish to graduate with, you can achieve this with either a Bachelor of Science (Psychological Science will then become your degree-specific major) or Bachelor of Arts (with Psychology in Society as your degree-specific major). In either case, you will complete the same core units, but your choice of broadening units may differ.

Upon completion of your three-year undergraduate degree, you will have the option of undertaking an honours degree (one year) before proceeding to postgraduate studies in areas such as Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Industrial and Organisational Psychology; or School Psychology (via the Graduate Diploma in Education, or Master of Teaching [Secondary]).

Leigh Patterson, who studied Psychology at UWA says:

"Studying Psychology at UWA has provided me with an insight into the inner workings of human thought and behaviour. During the first year of Psychology, I was introduced to a broad range of topics, including cognitive psychology, neuroscience and psychopathology. In later years, I was able to study more specific concepts, which enabled me to develop a greater understanding of the intricacies of the mind."

Psychology is a wide-ranging discipline that can be applied to numerous careers in which knowledge of human nature is valuable, such as teaching, market research, welfare and politics. For those who aren't necessarily hoping to gain professional qualifications in Psychology, but are interested in the subject, you can choose to undertake either of our Psychology majors in conjunction with studies in other areas. Popular major combinations include (but are not limited to):

• Marketing
• Population Health
• Human Resource Management
• Anthropology and Sociology
• Anatomy and Human Biology
• Philosophy
• Neuroscience

Psychology student Prudence Heppel discusses her time studying at UWA:

"I have learned a vast array of skills to equip me for my postgraduate studies and future career, through theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on tasks. I even learned how to use and read an EEG (which measures the electrical activity of the brain) in just my second year!"

¹ Previously known as Social and Applied Psychology

² Previously known as Neuropsychology and Cognitive Science

For more information, contact the Admissions and Prospective Students Office