Program summary
Program overview
Professional membership
Admission requirements
Program structure
Enquiries
Recommended enrolment patterns
Program summary
Award abbreviation: MPsych(Clin)
Degree type: postgraduate coursework program
Duration: 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time
Fee type: Commonwealth supported places
Total courses: 16
Modes of study: on campus
Commence: Semester 1
Program code: AR703
CRICOS code: not currently available to international students on student visas
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 a clinical psychologist and for eligibility for Associate Membership of the College of Clinical Psychologists of The Australian Psychological Society. The content of the program is designed to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council 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 problem-solving, 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 program 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 Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (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 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 at the least with probationary conditions in Queensland.
4. offer of a quota place.
The selection process involves an interview with clinical members of Faculty.
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 four practicum placement courses.
16 required courses:
PSY700 Advanced and Transcultural Counselling (Core coursework) **
PSY701 Advanced Psychological Assessment and Reporting (Core coursework) **
PSY702 Clinical Psychological Practice 1 (Specialist coursework) **
PSY703 Practicum Placement 1 (Specialist practicum) **
PSY704 Advanced Research Design and Methods (Core coursework) **
PSY705 Clinical Psychological Practice 2 (Specialist coursework) **
PSY706 Practicum Placement 2 (Specialist coursework: clinical practice) **
PSY707 Research Project 1 (Core research) **
PSY800 Ethical Professional Practice of Psychology (Core coursework) *
PSY801 Clinical Psychological Practice 3 (Specialist coursework) *
PSY802 Practicum Placement 3 (specialist practicum) *
PSY803 Research Project 2 (Core research) *
PSY804 Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology (Specialist coursework) *
PSY805 Research Project 4 (Core research) *
PSY806 Research Project 3 (Core research) *
PSY807 Practicum Placement 4 (Specialist practicum) *
Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns.
Enquiries
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259
** Accreditation: Submitted to APAC.