Degree Structure

For admission to the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) degree, students must have satisfactorily completed 18 compulsory courses totaling 144 units, with a grade of Course Requirements Satisfied (CRS) in each.

PSYC8101 Clinical Coursework I

PSYC8102 Clinical Coursework II

PSYC8103 Clinical Coursework III

PSYC8104 Clinical Coursework IV

PSYC9101 Clinical Coursework V

PSYC9102 Clinical Coursework VI

PSYC8201 Clinical Field Placement I

PSYC8202 Clinical Field Placement II

PSYC8203 Clinical Field Placement III

PSYC8204 Clinical Field Placement IV

PSYC9201 Clinical Field Placement V

PSYC9202 Clinical Field Placement VI

PSYC8301 Clinical Research I

PSYC8302 Clinical Research II

PSYC8303 Clinical Research III

PSYC8304 Clinical Research IV

PSYC9301 Clinical Research V

PSYC9302 Clinical Research VI

Clinical Coursework

The coursework covers the areas of basic and clinical research, clinical assessment, psychological intervention, as well as professional and ethical issues. A variety of teaching methods are used including didactic teaching, problem and case based learning, skills workshops and site visits.

Sub-courses in Clinical Coursework I and II (first year for full time student)

Presentation of Psychological Abnormality

Clinical Psychological Assessment

Child and Family Assessment and Treatment

Psychological Interventions

Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy

Models and Methods in Clinical Psychology

Professional Ethics and Professional Development

Research Methods in Clinical and Health Psychology

Clinical Case Presentations

Sub-courses in Clinical Coursework III and IV (second year for full time student)

Neuropsychology

Health Psychology

Interpersonal processes in psychotherapy

Community Psychology

Clinical Workshops

Clinical Case Presentations

Sub-courses in Clinical coursework V and VI

Advanced Clinical Workshops

Forensic Clinical Psychology

Clinical Case Presentations

Clinical Field Placements

In their first semester, students attend courses preparing them for their first clinical placement which begins in June-July of the first year in the ANU Psychology Clinic. Subsequent to this placement they undertake three or more supervised clinical field placements. The total amount of clinical placement exceeds 1500 hours for the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) degree. Clinical Placements are undertaken in the ANU Psychology Clinic and in a variety of community and hospital based settings within Canberra or nearby country areas. All students are required to take at least one adult-based placement and at least one child-based placement during their course

Research

The Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) degree requires the completion of an appropriate program of empirical research normally supervised by a member of staff of the School of Psychology and leading to the submission and examination of a substantial thesis. Students begin work on this research from the beginning of the first year of the course and are expected to submit the thesis by the end date of their enrolment in the degree. Because the length of thesis is expected to vary with the area of research and methodology employed, it is difficult to be definitive about an appropriate length for the DPsych thesis. However, as a guide, the thesis is expected to be between 30 000 and 40 000 words.

Performance and attendance

The Clinical Program is a professional training program and the School has a responsibility to ensure that graduates complete certain training requirements to a high standard. Both attendance and the satisfactory completion of assessment processes are necessary conditions for the successful completion of any of the degrees offered in the clinical program. High standards of academic and professional performance as well as ethical conduct are expected of all our students. All components of the program   will be assessed. Students must satisfy course requirements in each and every component of the program (coursework, clinical placements and research) in order for the degree to be awarded. Students will not be permitted to proceed with their research if failures are recorded in the coursework or clinical placement components of their study program.

More information http://www.anu.edu.au/psychology/teaching/graduate.php

The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.