Select from a diverse range of majors across the creative arts, humanities, and social sciences, taught by world-class scholars, to create a degree that is expressly yours with the ANU Bachelor of Arts.
You will have the flexibility to engage in hands-on projects, take your studies abroad, or undertake an internship. You will gain valuable analytical and research skills transferable to the global workplace while developing expertise in critical analysis, written and oral communication, and the ability to drive global and local change.
Discover how the ANU Bachelor of Arts can equip you with enduring and highly sought-after skills to shape both the world's future and your own by visiting our College website.
Meet some of our recent graduates and learn about their stories on our graduation page.
What makes the human brain tick?
Find out with the Bachelor of Science (Psychology), which provides you with a great base in the key areas of psychology: developmental, social, personality, health and mental health, research methods, cognition and the biological bases of behaviour.
In your later year courses, you’ll apply this knowledge and your skills in more specialised areas such as neuroscience, counselling, health, mental health and organisational (business) psychology.
Once you’ve completed your third year, you can apply to undertake an Honours year and pursue further postgraduate study. This will allow you to practice as a psychologist or clinical psychologist.
Find out more about psychology, the degree structure, the university experience, career opportunities and student stories on our website.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.
Learning Outcomes
- critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
- identify relevant sources of information, and judge the importance, reliability and ethical implications of those sources;
- evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods; and
- communicate and debate orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media.
- Understand, critically evaluate, apply, integrate and generate psychological knowledge in educational and professional contexts.
- Develop and engage in a range of skills and methods to identify, analyse, critique and respond to complex problems involving psychological processes.
- Systematically identify relevant psychological theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence, and draw appropriate conclusions.
- Apply appropriate psychological research methods, including statistical techniques, to evaluate data.
- Communicate psychological concepts and results clearly and effectively in written and oral formats to diverse audiences.
- Work and learn in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives on psychological issues.
- Critically examine psychological knowledge and skills, and their application, from diverse cultural perspectives, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives.
- Utilise psychological knowledge and skills for exercising personal, professional and social responsibility as a global citizen.
Further Information
Completing the Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Course Requirement
Students completing the Bachelor of Arts are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD) courses as part of their program. Please see the recommended courses in the Other Information section in each major for guidance on which courses are recommended for your discipline. If you would prefer to complete TD courses from outside your discipline, please consult Programs and Courses and select the Transdisciplinary filter.
Additional areas of study - Completing a minor in the BARTS
In addition to your compulsory major, we recommend that you complete at least one additional minor during the course of your studies. The following minors are available in the Bachelor of Arts and must be undertaken in a different discipline to your major. The CASS Student Office can provide tailored advice on how to best plan your studies:
Advanced Ancient Greek
Advanced Arabic
Advanced Chinese Language
Advanced French Studies
Advanced German Studies
Advanced Italian Studies
Advanced Japanese Language
Advanced Korean Language
Advanced Latin
Advanced Persian
Advanced Sanskrit Language
Advanced Spanish Studies
Ancient Greek
Anthropology
Anthropology of Asia
Applied Linguistics
Arabic
Archaeology
Art History and Curatorial Studies
Asian and Pacific Archaeology
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Asian and Pacific Linguistics
Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
Asian History
Asian Studies
Asia-Pacific Politics
Asia-Pacific Security Studies
Australian Indigenous Studies
Biological Anthropology
Burmese Language
Chinese Language
Chinese Studies
Classical Studies
Criminology
Demography
Design
Development Studies
Economic Studies
English
Environmental Policy
Environmental Studies
Forensic Linguistics
French Studies
Gender and Sexuality
German Studies
Health, Medicine and the Body
Heritage and Museum Studies
Hindi Language
History
Historical International Security
Human Ecology
Indian and South Asian Studies
Indonesian Language
Indonesian Studies
International Communication
International Relations
Italian Studies
Japanese Language
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Studies
Korean Language
Korean Studies
Latin
Linguistics
Literary Chinese
Mathematics
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
Middle Eastern Politics and Security
Mongolian Language
Music Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Pacific Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Persian
Philosophy
Philosophy and Science
Political Science
Russian Studies
Russian and Central Asian Studies
Sanskrit Language
Science Communication
Social Research Methods
Sociology
Southeast Asian Studies
Spanish Studies
Sustainable Development
Tetum Language
Thai Language
Tibetan Language
Tok Pisin Language
Vietnamese Language
Visual Arts Practice
APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses. At ANU this includes minimum required learning achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2002, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC3018, PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses. Students in an ANU Bachelor of Arts who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete the specific set of courses that satisfy the APAC accreditation requirements.
Completing the Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Course Requirement
Students completing the Bachelor of Arts are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD) courses as part of their program. Please see the recommended courses in the Other Information section in each major for guidance on which courses are recommended for your discipline. If you would prefer to complete TD courses from outside your discipline, please consult Programs and Courses and select the Transdisciplinary filter.
Additional areas of study - Completing a minor in the BARTS
In addition to your compulsory major, we recommend that you complete at least one additional minor during the course of your studies. The following minors are available in the Bachelor of Arts and must be undertaken in a different discipline to your major. The CASS Student Office can provide tailored advice on how to best plan your studies:
Advanced Ancient Greek
Advanced Arabic
Advanced Chinese Language
Advanced French Studies
Advanced German Studies
Advanced Italian Studies
Advanced Japanese Language
Advanced Korean Language
Advanced Latin
Advanced Persian
Advanced Sanskrit Language
Advanced Spanish Studies
Ancient Greek
Anthropology
Anthropology of Asia
Applied Linguistics
Arabic
Archaeology
Art History and Curatorial Studies
Asian and Pacific Archaeology
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Asian and Pacific Linguistics
Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
Asian History
Asian Studies
Asia-Pacific Politics
Asia-Pacific Security Studies
Australian Indigenous Studies
Biological Anthropology
Burmese Language
Chinese Language
Chinese Studies
Classical Studies
Criminology
Demography
Design
Development Studies
Economic Studies
English
Environmental Policy
Environmental Studies
Forensic Linguistics
French Studies
Gender and Sexuality
German Studies
Health, Medicine and the Body
Heritage and Museum Studies
Hindi Language
History
Historical International Security
Human Ecology
Indian and South Asian Studies
Indonesian Language
Indonesian Studies
International Communication
International Relations
Italian Studies
Japanese Language
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Studies
Korean Language
Korean Studies
Latin
Linguistics
Literary Chinese
Mathematics
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
Middle Eastern Politics and Security
Mongolian Language
Music Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Pacific Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Persian
Philosophy
Philosophy and Science
Political Science
Russian Studies
Russian and Central Asian Studies
Sanskrit Language
Science Communication
Social Research Methods
Sociology
Southeast Asian Studies
Spanish Studies
Sustainable Development
Tetum Language
Thai Language
Tibetan Language
Tok Pisin Language
Vietnamese Language
Visual Arts Practice
APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses. At ANU this includes minimum required learning achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2002, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC3018, PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses. Students in an ANU Bachelor of Arts who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete the specific set of courses that satisfy the APAC accreditation requirements.
Admission Requirements
- ATAR:
- 80
- International Baccalaureate:
- 30
Prerequisites
Adjustment Factors
Adjustment factors are combined with an applicant's secondary education results to determine their Selection Rank. ANU offers adjustment factors based on equity, diversity, and/or performance principles, such as for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.
To be eligible for adjustment factors, you must have:
- achieved a Selection Rank of 70 or more before adjustment factors are applied
- if you have undertaken higher education, completed less than one year full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) of a higher education program
- applied for an eligible ANU bachelor degree program
Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.
Indicative fees
Bachelor of Arts - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $53,700.00
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
A minimum of 12 units must come from the completion of Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving courses
A minimum of 18 units must come from the completion of 3000-level courses
The 96 units must consist of:
48 units from the completion of one of the following majors:
Disciplines and Fields
Anthropology
Archaeology
Art History and Curatorial Studies
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Australian Indigenous Studies
Biological Anthropology
Classical Studies
Criminology
Demography
Design
Development Studies
Economic Studies
English
Environmental Studies
Gender, Sexuality and Culture
History
International Relations
Linguistics
Music Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Public Policy
Sociology
Language and Geographic Area Studies
Ancient Greek
Arabic
Asian History
Asian Studies
Chinese Language
Chinese Studies
French Studies
German Studies
Hindi Language
Italian Studies
Indonesian Language
Japanese Language
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Studies
Korean Language
Korean Studies
Latin
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Pacific Studies
Persian
Sanskrit Language
Southeast Asian Studies
Spanish Studies
Thai Language
Vietnamese Language
A minimum of 24 units from completion of courses not previously taken from the following subject areas, which may contribute towards the completion of a minor:
ANTH - Anthropology
ARAB - Arabic
ARCH - Archaeology
ARTH - Art History & Curatorial Studies
ARTV - Visual Arts
ASIA - Asian Studies
BIAN - Biological Anthropology
BIOL - Biology
BURM - Burmese
CHIN - Chinese
CLAS - Classics
COMP - Computer Studies
CRIM - Criminology
DEMO - Demography
DESN - Design
ECON - Economics
ENGL - English
ENVS - Environmental Studies
FREN - French Studies
GEND - Gender and Sexuality
GERM - German Studies
GREK - Ancient Greek
HIND - Hindi
HIST - History
HUMN - Humanities
INDG - Indigenous Studies
INDN - Indonesian
INTR - International Relations
ITAL - Italian Studies
JPNS - Japanese
KORE - Korean
LANG - Language Studies
LATN - Latin
LING - Linguistics
MATH - Mathematics
MNGL - Mongolian Language
MUSI - Music
PASI - Pacific Studies
PERS - Persian
PHIL - Philosophy
POLS - Political Science
POPH - Population Health
PORT - Portuguese
PSYC - Psychology
RUSS - Russian Studies
SOCR - Social Research
SOCY - Sociology
SPAN - Spanish
STST - Strategic Studies
TETM - Tetum
THAI - Thai
TIBN - Tibetan
TOKP - Tok Pisin
TURK - Turkish
VIET - Vietnamese
Students completing a Flexible Double Degree must nominate different majors in each degree.
The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) requires completion of 144 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from the completion of 1000-level courses
A minimum of 84 units must come from completion of courses from the discipline area PSYC – Psychology
The 96 units must include:
A minimum of 84 units, which must come from completion of courses from the following lists
72 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:
PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour (6 units)
PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context (6 units)
PSYC2001 Social Psychology (6 units)
PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour (6 units)
PSYC2008 Cognition (6 units)
PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology (6 units)
PSYC2012 Culture and Psychology (6 units)
PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods (6 units)
PSYC3020 Health Psychology (6 units)
PSYC3025 Psychopathology Across the Lifespan (6 units)
PSYC3026 Personality Psychology (6 units)
PSYC3202 Developmental Psychology (6 units)
12 units from completion of 3000-level courses in the subject area PSYC- Psychology
Majors
Bachelor of Arts Majors
- Ancient Greek
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Art History and Curatorial Studies
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Biological Anthropology
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Classical Studies
- Criminology
- Demography
- Development Studies
- Economic Studies
Minors
Bachelor of Arts Minors
- Advanced Ancient Greek
- Advanced Arabic
- Advanced Chinese Language
- Advanced French Studies
- Advanced German Studies
- Advanced Italian Studies
- Advanced Japanese Language
- Advanced Korean Language
- Advanced Latin
- Advanced Persian
- Advanced Sanskrit Language
- Advanced Spanish Studies
- Ancient Greek
- Anthropology
- Anthropology of Asia
- Applied Linguistics
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Art History and Curatorial Studies
- Asian and Pacific Archaeology
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian and Pacific Linguistics
- Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Asia-Pacific Politics
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Biological Anthropology
- Burmese Language
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Classical Studies
- Climate Science and Policy
- Criminology
- Demography
- Design
- Development Studies
- Economic Studies
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Studies
- Forensic Linguistics
- French Studies
- Gender and Sexuality
- Geography
- German Studies
- Heritage and Museum Studies
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Ecology
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Literary Chinese
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Middle Eastern Politics and Security
- Mongolian Language
- Music Studies
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Philosophy and Science
- Political Science
- Popular Music
- Russian and Central Asian Studies
- Russian Studies
- Sanskrit Language
- Social Psychology
- Social Research Methods
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish Studies
- Sustainable Development
- Tetum Language
- Thai Language
- Tibetan Language Minor
- Tok Pisin Language
- Vietnamese Language
- Visual Arts Practice
Study Options
| Year 1 | Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units | PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour 6 units | BSPSY or ANU elective course 6 units |
| Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units | PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context 6 units | BSPSY or ANU elective course 6 units | |
| Year 2 | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology 6 units | PSYC2012 Culture and Psychology 6 units |
| Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | PSYC2001 Social Psychology 6 units | PSYC2008 Cognition 6 units | |
| Year 3 | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods 6 units | PSYC3025 Psychopathology Across the Lifespan 6 units |
| Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour 6 units | PSYC3020 Health Psychology 6 units | |
| Year 4 | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | PSYC3202 Developmental Psychology 6 units | 3000 level PSYC course 6 units |
| Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | PSYC3026 Personality Psychology 6 units | 3000 level PSYC course 6 units |
Back to the Bachelor of Arts page
Enrolling for the first time can be overwhelming. Below, you will find information that will assist. Please note that advice on this page is indicative, and you are encouraged to contact the CASS Student office at students.cass@anu.edu.au or visit the CASS student office website if you require tailored information.
Important items to note:
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you plan for your later year courses.
- The Bachelor of Arts can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD). When the Bachelor of Arts is combined with another undergraduate degree through a Flexible Double Degree, 48 units of ANU electives units are replaced with the core requirements of the other degree and the total program duration is expanded to 192 units (4 years Full-Time) or 240 units (5 years Full-Time) depending on the duration of the other program.
Semester 2 commencers
Please note that if you are commencing your studies in Semester 2 there may be restrictions on the courses available for enrolment. If you have concerns, please contact students.cass@anu.edu.au
Single degree
The Bachelor of Arts requires 144 units (24 courses), including:
- A maximum of 60 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 10 x 6 unit courses)
- A minimum of 18 units from 3000-level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses)
- One major listed in the study orders
- A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses)
With careful enrolment choices, you can complete an optional second major or a minor. The College of Arts and Social Sciences offers a range of optional minors as listed in the “overview’ tab of the Bachelor of Arts study orders.
Double degree
The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination e.g. Flexible Double Degree - Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Science (4050): 192 units Flexible Double Degree - Law (Honours) (4350), Flexible Double Degree PhB Advanced Arts Social Sciences Business & Science (4569), or Flexible Double Degree - Engineering and Advanced Computing (Honours) (4750): 240 units Of which a minimum of 12 units (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD. The Bachelor of Arts component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:
- A maximum of 36 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 6 x 6 unit courses)
- A minimum of 18 units from 3000-level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses)
- One major listed in the Bachelor of Arts
With careful enrolment choices, you can complete an optional second major or a minor. See the 'overview’ tab of the Bachelor of Arts study orders.
Enrolment Status
The Bachelor of Arts typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four x six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.
In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of Arts This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken.
If you combine the Bachelor of Arts with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 192 units (32 six-unit courses) or 240 units (40 six-unit courses) depending on the combination. This will typically take four years for a 192-unit degree or five years for a 240-unit degree on a full-time basis.
Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.
If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.
International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.
Maximum time for completion
- The maximum period for completion of the single Bachelor of Arts degree is 10 years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This 10 years includes any periods of leave.
- The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is 10 years for a 192-unit degree or 11 years for a 240-unit degree from the date of first enrolment in the program. The maximum period includes periods of leave.
A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
In your first year, you will enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. Eg ENGL1100, POLS1002.
You can take a maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses within the single degree, or 6 x 1000-level courses if taking a Bachelor of Arts within a double degree. Most of these courses will be taken in your first year. Many 2000 and 3000 level courses build upon the specific knowledge achieved through 1000-level courses.
There is room in your first year to pick and choose courses depending on your interests but, you must also ensure that you select the 1000-level courses that are prerequisites for 2000 and 3000 level courses. When selecting your courses, please pay close attention to the semester in which it is offered. This is particularly important if you have a preferred major in mind. The 1000- level course that are prerequisites for each major can be found in the Programs and Courses entry for each major or each individual course.
Details of the semester/s in which courses are offered can be found in the individual course entries on the Programs and Course website on the Class tab.
Majors and Minors
See available majors and minors for this program
What is a major?
A major is a sequence of 48-units (i.e. 8 x 6 unit courses). The major has been structured to develop relevant skills and knowledge in the discipline and to prepare you for further study or entry to the workforce. The majors that contribute towards the core requirements of the Bachelor of Arts are listed in the “Program Requirements” on the “Study” tab.
What is a minor?
Minors are sequences of 24 units (i.e. 4 x 6 unit courses). Minors can bring structured breadth to your degree. You do not need to take a second major or a minor towards your degree. But you may have enough electives to do this if you wish. This is optional not compulsory. Majors and minors if taken together must have different names.
Advanced minors in a selection of language studies is offered in the Bachelor of Arts. Advanced minors are sequences of 24 units (i.e. 4 x 6 unit courses) which offer structured depth to your degree and are aimed at students who have prior knowledge or experience in the discipline area.
Electives
Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).
In the Bachelor of Arts you can select 24 units from courses offered within the Bachelor of Arts majors, or from other Colleges at the University. You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a non-arts subject, such computing, science or marketing. The choice is yours.
In your first year, we recommend taking some electives from a range of discipline areas in the Bachelor of Arts to help you get a feel for which major could be the best fit for you. This will give you some flexibility to change plans if you find your preferred subject area isn’t what you expected it to be.
We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.
You may have noticed that the Bachelor of Arts does not have any specified “compulsory” courses. There are lists of majors, but no specific course that absolutely must be taken. A major in the Bachelor of Arts might have compulsory courses, but the program itself does not.
Study Options
Study Options - single program
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Study Options - FDD
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Disciplines
Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Courses (TD)
Transdisciplinary courses at the ANU are courses that encourage students to collaborate across different disciplines and perspectives to solve complex problems. These courses help students develop skills to synthesise knowledge from different fields.
In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine.
You can satisfy this requirement through a course/s listed in the program or through the ANU electives it all depends on how you structure your degree and your other enrolment choices.
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
For further information on prerequisites and Arts and Social Science disciplines you can:
Email us at students.cass@anu.edu.au, or
Come and talk to someone - you can attend a drop in session with an academic advisor here
Back to the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) page
What is
consciousness? Do people see colours the same way? How do we make decisions?
Contrary to popular belief most psychologists work with healthy people, trying
to find the answers to questions like these.
Studying psychology at ANU will expose you to a wide range of psychological
sciences, covering topics as varied as how groups interact, vision and how it
can be tricked to see what is not really there, how the brain develops as a
baby and how it will change again as you get older, how impulses are carried
from brain to muscle, and how things go wrong in abnormal psychology.
The ANU Bachelor of Science (Psychology) teaches you skills sought after by
employers including statistics and experimental design, critical thinking and
communication, and provides an excellent grounding to enter the workforce or
continue with further study.
Note:
Advice on this page is indicative only. Where a number of courses has
been identified, it assumes that all of your courses are 6-units.
If you take a course worth 12-units please refer to the unit-load in the
study requirements in the program orders.
This degree can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD).When
the Bachelor of Science is combined with another undergraduate degree through a
Flexible Double Degree, 48 units of ANU electives units are replaced with
the core requirements of the other degree and the total program duration is
expanded to 192 units (4 years Full-Time) or 240 units (5 years Full-Time)
depending on the duration of the other program.
Semester 2 commencers
Please
note that if you are commencing your studies in Semester 2 there may be
restrictions on the courses available for enrolment. If you have concerns,
please contact students.cos@anu.edu.au.
Advisory sessions will be held the week before semester commences.
Single degree
The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) requires 144 units (24 courses), including:
- A maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses
- A minimum of 7 x 3000-level courses PSYC coded courses
- 12 x compulsory PSYC courses
- A minimum of 2 transdisciplinary problem-solving (TD) courses (embedded in the compulsory courses)
- A maximum of 10 courses from the lists in the BSPSY not previously taken or other ANU electives
Double degree
The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination eg.
- 4050: 192 units
- 4350, 4569, 4750: 240 units
Of which a minimum of 2 courses must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD.
The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:
- A maximum of 6 x 1000-level courses
- A minimum of 7 x 3000-level courses PSYC coded courses
- 12 x compulsory PSYC courses
- A minimum of 2 transdisciplinary problem-solving (TD) courses (embedded in the compulsory courses)
- A maximum of 2 courses from the lists in the BSPSY not previously taken or other ANU electives
About this degree
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). You will need to complete a minimum of 14 Psychology (84 units) including the following APAC accredited sequence of courses:
- PSYC1003 Psychology 1
- PSYC1004 Psychology 2
- PSYC2001 Social Psychology
- PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour
- PSYC2008 Cognition
- PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology
- PSYC2012 Culture and Psychology
- PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods
- PSYC3020 Health Psychology
- PSYC3025 Psychopathology across the Life Span
- PSYC3026 Personality Psychology
- PSYC3202 Developmental Psychology
In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine.
In the Bachelor of Science (Psychology), this requirement will be satisfied through PSYC2007 and PSYC3020.
Enrolment Status
Duration
The Bachelor of Science (Psychology) typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.
In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of Science. This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units, but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken.
- If you combine the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 192 units (32 six-unit courses) or 240 units (40 six-unit courses) depending on the combination. This will typically take four years for a 192-unit degree or five years for a 240-unit degree .
Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.
If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.
International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.
Maximum time for completion
- The maximum period for completion of the single Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree is ten years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This ten years includes any periods of leave.
- The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is ten years for a 192-unit degree or 11 years for a 240-unit degree from the date of first enrolment in the program. The maximum period includes periods of leave.
A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will
reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree.
When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end
date for your degree in your credit offer.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
There are 2 compulsory 1000 level courses you must take in your first year:
You may take 1000-level courses later in your program. But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or six 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your Psychology half of the double degree.Electives
Remember you can choose up to 10 courses from another ANU College if you are undertaking the single Bachelor of Science (Psychology) program. You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a non-psychology subject, such as philosophy, history or computing. The choice is yours.
How do I use my electives?
Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).
We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.
Study Options
Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - single degree
This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Psychology).Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour 6 units | ANU elective 6 units | ANU elective 6 units | ANU elective 6 units |
| PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context 6 units | ANU elective 6 units | ANU elective 6 units | ANU elective 6 units |
Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - double degree
This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) with another three year degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour 6 units | ANU elective 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units |
| PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context 6 units | ANU elective 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units | Degree B Course 6 units |
Academic Advice
For further information, you can:
- Download the Science first year course guide available here, or
- View the information at our New commencers & first year students page, or
- Email us at students.chm@anu.edu.au, or
- Come and talk to someone - you can make an appointment with an academic advisor here