Course Outline

PSY102 Current Directions in Psychology

Course Coordinator:Angela Hinz (ahinz@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2026Trimester 2

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

The purpose of the course is to provide you with an engaging, contemporary introduction to current fields of practice in psychology. Each week you will be introduced to a different area or career in psychology and discuss recent developments in each area of practice. You will be exposed to the current trends in psychology, career options, and challenges within these areas. The assessment will include the opportunity for you to further examine and critically evaluate various psychology topic areas covered within the course, and examine your personal attributes in relation to these areas of practice.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Learning materials – 1 hour online material to review on Canvas in student's own time 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online workshop - 2 hours 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Seminar – Refer to CANVAS for details 1hr Week 2 Once Only

Course Topics

  • Fields of practise (e.g., health, cognition, neuropsychology, development),
  • Careers in psychology (pathways, training, experiences),
  • Current trends and challenges for psychology graduates.

Mature Content

Drug Use, Sex/Sexual references, Violence, Adult themes

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Describe and evaluate concepts, theories, and research relating to the study of psychology. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
2 Demonstrate an awareness of self and others, and individual differences. Knowledgeable
Empowered
3 Communicate knowledge appropriately for the psychology discipline. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in AB314, AR302, AR364, AR374, AR405.

Co-requisites

PSY100 or PSY101

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Quiz/zes will be used to provide ongoing feedback on the understanding of course content.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 15%
1 hour
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Essay Individual 35%
1000 words
Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Oral Group 50%
15 minutes
Refer to Format In Class
All - Assessment Task 1:Quiz/zes
Goal:
The goal of this assessment task is to demonstrate an understanding of the content covered in the course.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format:
There will be weekly multiple choice quizzes across the trimester from weeks 2 to 11.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Accuracy and correctness of a response.
1
2
Recognise distinctions between applied examples of course content that demonstrate individual differences.
2
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Written piece
Goal:
The goal of this assessment task is to critically reflect on the fields of psychology, specific course topics, readings, videos, in relation to your own personal attributes, values, interests and career goals.
Product: Essay
Authorship Statement:
Format:
A reflective writing piece that clearly identifies your critical review and reflection of course topics in relation to your personal attributes, values, interests and career goals. This will be due in week 9 or 10 pending public holidays. Due date will be available via Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Self-reflection
2
2
Critical evaluation
1 3
3
Communication
3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Group Presentation
Goal:
1. Develop an oral presentation as a group (3 to 4 students per group) on a topic (see format section for further details).
2. Deliver presentation during a workshop.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will be required to work in groups to prepare a presentation on a contemporary issue in psychological practice and/or research, approached through the lens of one of the major branches of psychology (e.g., biological, cognitive, developmental, social, or clinical). You will consider the aetiology, meaning, relevance, and importance of the issue within your chosen branch, drawing on key theories and research. This assessment task will be due between weeks 11 and 12 of the teaching trimester. The final date of submission for the assessment will be determined once public holidays and the course timetable have been published prior to the commencement of trimester. Please refer to your course Canvas site at the commencement of the teaching trimester to confirm the due date for this assessment task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Describe the selected issue and its relevance to the chosen branch of psychology
1 3
2
Integrate and apply psychological theory to explain the issue.
1 3
3
Clarity, organisation, and engagement in presentation delivery
3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Machin, T., Machin, T., Jeffries, C., & Hoare, N. 2022 The Australian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science 1 University of Southern Queensland PressBooks

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: