FAQs - First year psychology

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour. It is a very diverse discipline and encompasses many aspects of functioning. For example, psychology is concerned with such things as the way people behave in groups as well as individual behaviour patterns; it is concerned with motor behaviour as well as cognitive functioning and it is concerned with our interaction with the physical world as well as our interaction with others.

What prerequisites are there for Psychology?

None. You are not required to have studied a particular subject at school in order to enrol in Psychology. Provided your tertiary score permits entry to The University of Sydney you are eligible to study Psychology.

What is taught in Psychology?

Because Psychology is not a subject that is taught at school, most students enter the discipline with little or no real knowledge of the area. For this reason, first year psychology subjects at The University of Sydney have been designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the discipline. As is appropriate for any scientific subject, students are instructed in scientific method, conceptual analysis, statistical methods and the history and philosophy of psychology.

  • Psychology 1001(PSYC1001, 6 credit points, March semester) introduces you to the concepts of psychology, the biological bases of behaviour, applied psychology, social psychology, psychological measurement, and personality theory.
    • Assessment: 1000 word essay, 7 x online quizzes on tutorial material, 2.5hr examination, optional participation in research.
    • Contact: 3 x 1hr lectures and 1 x 1hr tutorial per week.
  • Psychology 1002 (PSYC1002, 6 credit points, August semester) introduces you to learning theory, motivation, emotion, perception, cognitive processes, developmental psychology, and individual differences in ability.
    • Assessment: 1250 word experimental report, 7 x online quizzes on tutorial material, 2.5hr examination, optional participation in research.
    • Contact: 3 x 1hr lectures and 1 x 1hr tutorial per week.
What is the syllabus for first year Psychology?
What are the textbooks for Psychology and where can I purchase them?

There are two textbooks for first year psychology subjects in 2008:

  • Weiten, W. (2007). Psychology. Themes and variations. 7th Ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
  • Burton, L. J. (2007). An interactive approach to writing essays and reports in psychology. 2nd Ed. Milton, QLD: John Wiley & Sons
  • You should also purchase the Tutorial Handbook (there is one Handbook for Psychology 1001, available in March, and a separate Handbook for Psychology 1002, available in August).

The textbooks and Handbooks are on sale the Co-operative Bookshop in the New University Sports Centre Complex (near the Wentworth Building).

There are plenty of copies of the textbooks in the library.

Are there any subjects that should be taken with Psychology 1?

Depending on your ultimate plans, it could be beneficial to take a number of subjects with Psychology. For example, a combination of Biochemistry and Psychology would be extremely valuable for someone interested in the biochemistry of behaviour, so here Chemistry 1 and Psychology 1 would need to be taken together. Other useful combinations might be Mathematics and Psychology (some people are interested in the mathematical modelling of behaviour), or Biology and Psychology (for those interested in the physiology of behaviour), or Computer Science and Psychology (for those interested in artificial intelligence and computer models of behaviour). Other potentially useful subjects might be Linguistics, Philosophy, Economics, Anthropology or (if you are an Arts student) General Statistical Methods.

What do I need to study to major in Psychology?