Course Outline

PSY202 Physiological Psychology

Course Coordinator:Odette Norton (onorton@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Psychology

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

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

In this course, you will examine the structural and functional organisation of the nervous system. You will focus on interrelationships between physiological functioning with special reference to sensory processes, sleep and arousal, motivation and emotion, learning and memory and language. You will be introduced to basic principles of neuroscience that affect thought and action. In addition, you will explore the different diseases affecting brain function to understand the relationships between brain structure and function.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Whole of class (large class) on campus workshop - 2 hours 2hrs Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – Small group tutorials, on campus only 1hr Week 2 11 times
Learning materials – Online e-lectorials, quizzes, supplemental directed learning activities and reading. Includes assessment preparation and research activities 7hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

Content covered in this course includes the following topics:

Cell function and structure, neuroanatomy, movement, eating and drinking, vision, other sensory systems, language, human sexual function, learning and memory, neuroplasticity, executive functions, emotional regulation, dementias, cerebrovascular accidents, traumatic brain injury, toxins and infectious processes of the brain, unusual neurological/neuropsychological disorders

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

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 Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1 Understand and explain the terminology and theories relating to the study of physiological psychology Knowledgeable
1, 1.1.5, 1.1.6, 1.1.7, 1.1.8, 1.1.9, 1.1, 1.3
2 Know, understand, and apply information on the structures, functions, and connections of the brain in particular, and the nervous system in general Knowledgeable
Empowered
1, 1.1.5, 1.1.6, 1.1.7, 1.1.8, 1.1.9, 1.1, 1.3
3 Critically evaluate research conducted in physiological psychology, and to synthesis the information in clear and concise written arguments on topics in physiological psychology Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
1, 1.1.8, 1.1, 1.3, 1.6
4 Understand different disorders of the brain and diagnostic conditions Knowledgeable
Ethical
1, 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.1.6, 1.1.7, 1.1.8, 1.1.9, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
1 FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES: Graduates at this level have broad and coherent knowledge and skills in the scientific discipline of psychology. Programs for foundational competencies typically comprise an APAC-accredited sequence in psychology either as part of a 3-year program leading to a Bachelor Degree or as an equivalent stand-alone sequence of psychology units combined with a Bachelor Degree in a different discipline.
1.1.5 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including learning and memory
1.1.6 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including cognition, language and perception
1.1.7 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including motivation and emotion
1.1.8 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including neuroscience and the biological bases of behaviour
1.1.9 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including lifespan developmental psychology
1.1.4 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including psychological disorders and evidence-based interventions
1.1 Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the following topics:
1.2 Graduates will be able to apply knowledge and skills of psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
1.3 Graduates will be able to analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
1.5 Graduates will be able to demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.
1.6 Graduates will be able to demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.

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

PSY100 and PSY101

Co-requisites

Not applicable

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

Early feedback will be provided in week 4 following the first online quiz. Please use this feedback to seek additional supports if necessary.

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 0%
5 x online quizzes, 30 multiple choice questions each
Refer to Format Online Submission
All 2 Essay Individual 50%
2000 words
Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 50%
2 hours and 10 minutes
Exam Period Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Online multiple choice exams
Goal:
This is an ungraded formative assessment. The goal of the quizzes is to assist you with development and application of the course content, and to demonstrate your understanding of this knowledge.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Online MCQ exams will be available on Canvas across the trimester and will cover the content of the learning materials and textbook chapters from the weeks immediately prior to the Quiz.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Knowledge and comprehension of related course content
1 2 3 4
2
Recognition, evaluation and application of theories within various contexts
1 2 3
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 2:Essay
Goal:
The goal of this assessment is to communicate your understanding of a topic in physiological psychology in an academic and formal way, using current research literature to evaluate and analyse the essay question. You will be given the topic for the essay in Week 1 and further information and guidelines will be placed on Canvas at that time.
Product: Essay
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The essay must be written and submitted via CADMUS to ensure security of assessment. The word limit for the essay is 2000 words (±10 percent) and includes headings and the in-text citations (inside and outside the brackets), but not the title page or reference list. Include the word count on your title page. This assessment task will be due between Weeks 9 and 11 of the teaching trimesters. The final date of submission for this task 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
Situation of essay in topic area, identification of appropriate concepts and processes, and definition of key terms
1 2 4
2
Reference to current experimental research
3
3
Correctness and accuracy of relevant information, that is without omission
1 2 4
4
Clarity of expression appropriate to the audience
3
5
Evidence of critical analysis of the research literature and original thinking
3
6
Appropriate organisation, including APA style
1
Generic Skills:
Organisation
All - Assessment Task 3:Examination
Goal:
 
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The final examination will contain multiple choice and short answer questions that cover material that is selected from the whole curriculum.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Accuracy of responses
1 2 3 4
2
Knowledge and comprehension of related course content
1 2 3 4
3
Recognition, evaluation, and application of theories within various contexts
1
Generic Skills:

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 James W. Kalat 2023 Biological Psychology 14 Cengage Learning

Specific requirements

Please make yourself aware of the following information on the Policies and Procedures of Assessment of Courses, http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures/academic-learning-and-teaching/assessment-courses-and-coursework-programs-procedures.htm and the Policies and Procedures for academic misconduct, http://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures/student-academic-misconduct-academic-policy

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: