Psychology (Diploma of Health Sciences)

• Academic Communication Skills (Pre-requisite = Academic Research and Writing)
• Academic Research and Writing
• Chemistry
• Essential Mathematics
• Human Biology
• Studies in Society
• Computer Skills

• Management
• Marketing

Semester 1

Semester 2

*Service Taught Units are units where Curtin College students join Curtin University students in the same classroom. Such units are taught by university staff and Curtin College students will be enrolled as Curtin University students. Curtin University Policies and Processes will apply to these units. 

Examination of the structural and functional organisation of the central nervous system. Maturational and evolutionary brain development. Introduction to the basic methods used to study brain structure and function. lnter-relationships between physiological functioning and behaviour, with special reference to sensory processes and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, sleep and arousal, and language.

Students critically appraise public health and clinical epidemiological research literature and perform basic statistical analysis. You will encounter basic statistical and graphical description and analysis of epidemiological and biomedical data with appropriate graphs, tables, and summary measures; statistical inference and statistical hypothesis testing applied to problems in health and clinical medicine using parametric and non-parametric tests; calculation of common epidemiological measures of disease frequency and association such as incidence rate, prevalence, attributable risk, risk ratios and odds ratio; role and significance of inferential statistics such as confidence intervals and probability values.

Broad outline of the study of mental processes. Introduction to perception, thinking, language, intelligence, consciousness, psychological disorders, and psychological therapies.

Introduction to ethical decision making in the context of professional health practice. Application of academic standards and development of skills required for studying at university. Introduction to professional requirements which impact on the safety and quality of client centred service/care when working in a health setting. Examination of differences in Australian and international health systems. Students will learn the value of diversity in inter-professional practice through working in teams. Students will reflect on their learning and begin to develop lifelong learning skills.

Anatomical organisation of the body and the relationships between body systems and cells. Human requirements for metabolism and life. The structure and function of the body. Basic control and interactions of the circulatory, respiratory, digestive and excretory systems. Primary defence against microorganisms. Mechanisms for growth, repair and reproduction.

In this unit students will examine culture and diversity within local, national and global, Indigenous populations; impacts of specific policies and historical events on Indigenous Australians and their effects on health and health care access. Students will analyse health outcomes of Indigenous Australians and explore underlying social determinants, and how health professionals can work collaboratively in consultation with Indigenous individuals, families, communities and organisations.

Broad outline of the nature, methods and fields of psychology. Introduction to psychology and methodological issues related to the study of human beings and the relevance of both interactions with individuals and groups. Introduction to social psychology, personality, development, learning, memory and motivation.

Introduce the scientist- practitioner model for psychology. Explores the historical origins of psychology, the scientific mindset and logic of its core research methods, and the role of ethics in psychological research and practice. Examines the manner in which theory, research and practice are mutually informed.