• Program summary 
• Program overview  
• Professional membership
• Admission requirements
• Program structure  
• Program requirements and notes
• Enquiries

Program summary

Program title: Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Award abbreviation: MPsych(Clin)
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time
Commence: Semester 1
Fee type 2010: Commonwealth supported places, postgraduate coursework places
Total courses: 16
Program code: AR703
CRICOS code: 070701B

Accreditation

This program is accredited by The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as a fifth and sixth year program in Psychology. Graduates of the Master of Psychology (Clinical) are eligible to apply to the Psychologists Board of Queensland for removal of probationary conditions.

Program overview

The purpose of Master of Psychology (Clinical) is to train psychology graduates in clinical psychology, to meet the requirements for registration to practise as clinical psychologists and for eligibility for Associate Membership of the Australian Psychological Society's College of Clinical Psychologists. The content of the program is designed to meet the accreditation requirements of APAC and the membership requirements of the College. The program has three major components:

• coursework in professional and clinical psychology
• supervised practicum placements
• research project and thesis

Coursework will be taught by a combination of lectures, seminars, practical exercises, written assignments, and skills demonstration and practice. Practicum placements involve students working as clinical psychologists, under appropriate supervision, in a range of settings, beginning in the University’s teaching clinic. This work is assessed through case reports and observation by field supervisors and the Course Coordinator. The research project involves a review of relevant literature leading to a research question, design and conduct of an appropriate study, data collection and analysis, and preparation of a thesis consisting of the literature review and a report of the research study. It is assessed by independent examination.

Adhering to the APAC standards and the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Psychologists course approval guidelines, the education and training of clinical psychologists will proceed with the aim of graduating students who can show mastery of the course content, including:

• including methods of assessment
• application of core principles and methods to problems of professional practice
• competence in application of specialist skills across all stages of the lifespan and in diverse clinical settings
• expertise in conducting and evaluating research directly relevant to the field of clinical psychology
• advanced knowledge of professional ethics in psychological practice
• healthy, critical appraisal of ongoing development in the profession

Professional membership

Graduates will be eligible for Associate Membership of the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Psychologists.

Admission requirements

The entry requirements for admission to the Master of Psychology (Clinical) are:

1. Successful completion of an APAC accredited four-year degree or fourth year in Psychology.
2. Normally a minimum GPA of 6.0 in fourth year Psychology units or demonstrated equivalent experience in the successful practice of the profession.
3. Applicants must be registered or be eligible for registration as a psychologist with probationary conditions in Queensland.
4. Offer of a quota place.

The selection process involves an interview with clinical members of the discipline of Psychology. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.

Program structure

The degree consists of the three major required components, as follows: 50 percent coursework (8 courses), 25 percent research project and thesis (4 courses) and 25 percent Practicum placements (4 courses).

These components are programmed into 4 courses per semester over 2 years full-time study, or equivalent part-time study. Coursework takes up the major part of the early semesters, to equip students for practicum placements and research. The research project and thesis take up the major part of later semesters. It is essential that the skills and knowledge learned during the coursework courses can be applied around the same time in practicum placements, so these components run in parallel and are integrated. Students will undertake a minimum of 1,000 hours of practicum placement in total across the 4 practicum placement courses.

16 required courses:

PSY700 Advanced and Transcultural Counselling
PSY701 Advanced Psychology Assessment and Reporting
PSY702 Clinical Psychological Practice 1
PSY703 Practicum Placement 1
PSY704 Advanced Research Design and Methods
PSY705 Clinical Psychological Practice 2
PSY706 Practicum Placement 2
PSY707 Research Project 1
PSY750 Ethical Professional Practice of Psychology
PSY751 Clinical Psychological Practice 3
PSY752 Practicum Placement 3
PSY753 Research Project 2
PSY754 Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology
PSY755 Research Project 3
PSY756 Research Project 4
PSY757 Practicum Placement 4

Program requirements and notes 

1. Refer to the Academic Rules for further information.
2. Refer to explanation of terms.
3. Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns.
4. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
5. Only a full-time study option is available to International students on a Student Visa.

Enquiries 

How to apply

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

Program Leader
Professor Mary Katsikitis
Tel: +61 7 5456 5034
Email: mkatsiki@usc.edu.au

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