The Psychology teaching area provides students with a broad and structured understanding of human behaviour across the lifespan. It focuses on how biological, social and cultural factors interact to shape behaviour, learning and development in different contexts.You will explore key psychological concepts and theories that underpin the study of human behaviour, with an emphasis on helping you understand learners, classrooms and communities. This teaching area builds a strong conceptual foundation that supports effective teaching practice and informed decision‑making in educational settings.This teaching area is designed for students preparing for careers in education and related fields. It does not constitute an APAC‑accredited psychology major and does not provide a pathway to registration as a psychologist.

Credit points

20-80

Approved locations

  • Melbourne
  • Strathfield
  • Online

Note:

Undergraduate courses: Melbourne and Strathfield

Postgraduate courses: Normally studied online.


Additional information

Psychology as a teaching area introduces students to the scientific study of human behaviour, cognition and development, and prepares them to teach Psychology confidently in secondary school settings. Students explore key areas such as learning and memory, motivation, development across the lifespan, mental health and wellbeing, social behaviour, and research methods. Emphasis is placed on understanding psychological concepts and on developing the skills needed to explain complex ideas clearly and ethically to diverse learners. Through their studies, students learn to apply psychological theory to real‑world contexts and contemporary issues relevant to young people. When undertaken as part of an education pathway, Psychology provides the disciplinary knowledge, analytical skills and pedagogical foundations required to design engaging lessons, support student wellbeing, and teach Psychology effectively within secondary curricula.


Admission requirements

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission.



Completion requirements

Students in the

  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete:

First teaching area:

  • 60 cp from Psychology Discipline Area units (Part A)
  • 20 cp from Psychology Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)

OR

Second teaching area:

  • 40 cp from Psychology Discipline area units (Part B)
  • 20 cp from Psychology Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)


  • Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) must complete:

First Teaching area:

  • 60 cp from Psychology Discipline Area units (Part A)
  • 20 cp from Psychology Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)


  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/Bachelor of Arts must complete:
  • 20 cp from Psychology Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)

*Please note students should also complete the Psychology Major (First Teaching Area) or Minor (Secondary Teaching Area) as part of the Bachelor of Arts

  • Master of Teaching (Secondary)
  • Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Internship)
  • Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Leading Learning)
  • Master of Teaching (Secondary) /Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
  • must complete:
  • 20 cp from Psychology Postgraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.2)
Open all

Schedule of unit offerings

Students taking Psychology as their First Teaching Area in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) or Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) must complete 60 credit points of Psychology Discipline units as outline below.

Part A.1 AND Part A.2 AND Part A.3

    Part A.1 : 100-level units

    Complete 10 to 20 credit points from the following:

  • PSYC100Foundations of Psychology10 CP
  • PSYC101Applications of Psychology10 CP
  • PSYC110Research Design and Data Analysis 110 CP

    • Part A.2 : 200-level units

    Complete 10 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • PSYC200Life Span Development10 CP
  • PSYC212Abnormal Psychology10 CP
  • PSYC220Personality and Individual Differences10 CP
  • PSYC227Social Psychology10 CP

    • Part A.3 : 300-level units

    Complete at least 20 credit points from the following:

  • PSYC314Psychological Assessment10 CP
  • PSYC315Brain and Behaviour10 CP
  • PSYC324Learning and Behaviour10 CP

Complete exactly 40 credit points from the following:

  • PSYC100Foundations of Psychology10 CP
  • PSYC101Applications of Psychology10 CP
  • PSYC200Life Span Development10 CP
  • PSYC212Abnormal Psychology10 CP

Part C.1 OR Part C.2

    Part C.1 : Undergraduate CPA units

    Part C.1.1 AND Part C.1.2

    Part C.1.1 : Junior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDSS250Pedagogical Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (7 to 10)10 CP

    Required for all students

  • EDSS291Place-based Humanities and Social Science Pedagogies for Sustainable Futures10 CP

    Only for students with two Teaching Areas in Humanities and Social Science, where EDSS250 is already studied.

    • Part C.1.2 : Senior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDCU350Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 110 CP

    Study as part of the First Teaching Area

  • EDCU351Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 210 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

  • EDCU352Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 310 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

    • Part C.2 : Postgraduate CPA units

    Part C.2.1 AND Part C.2.2

    Part C.2.1 : Junior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDSI550Pedagogical Studies in Science (7 to 10)10 CP

    Required for all students who completed a Science-related Undergraduate course

  • EDSS550Pedagogical Studies in Humanities and Social Science (7 to 10)10 CP

    Required for all students who completed an Arts/Humanities-related Undergraduate course

    • Students with two Teaching Areas in Science-related areas may complete the below Junior Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units as part of their course:

    • EDSI550 and EDSI551 OR
    • EDSI550 and EDSS550.


    Students with two Teaching Areas in HASS-related areas may complete the below Junior Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units as part of their course:

    • EDSS550 and EDSS551 OR
    • EDSS550 and EDSI550.

    Part C.2.2 : Senior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDCU650Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 110 CP

    Study as part of the First Teaching Area

  • EDCU651Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 210 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

  • EDCU652Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 310 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

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