Behavioural Sciences

Psychology Course

Students may attempt a Psychology (T) or Psychology (A) minor or major.  There are no prerequisites for any units in this course.

Units Offered

Developmental Psychology 1 & 2  T/A
These units allow students to investigate the interrelationship between the genetic and environmental bases of behaviour and to look at the theories that explain the development of human behaviour over the lifespan. This is the recommended beginning unit for all Psychology students.

Self Awareness and Communication  T/A
This unit allows students to investigate the physiology of the brain and nervous system, including the different states of consciousness. A study is also made of concepts, theories and factors related to emotion and motivation.

Health Psychology  T/A
This unit allows students to investigate and analyse interactions within the family. Family health, family patterns, structures and the family life cycle will be explored. Strategies are taught to manage stress and illness.

Perception  T/A
This unit allows students to investigate ideas, issues and theories related to human memory, intelligence, sensation and perception.

Social Influence & Group Dynamics  T/A
This unit allows students to investigate the nature and formation of attitudes and prejudices.  Theories of attitude change will be explored as well as a study of group processes, group dynamics and interpersonal attraction.

Personality  T/A
This unit allows students to investigate the development of personality and theories of personality. A study is also made of some of the major behavioural disorders and their treatment.

Consciousness  T/A
This unit allows students to explore and analyse the nature of consciousness and its altered states. Students study the central nervous system and the biological basis of behaviour and consciousness.

Scope and Methods of Psychology  T/A
This unit allows students to investigate the processes of learning, memory, human development, perception and the methodologies used to investigate human behaviour by critically assessing the nature, scope and research methods of psychology.

Behavioural Disorders and Mental Health  T/A
This unit allows students to examine and analyse the nature of a variety of behavioural disorders and the issues that surround them, as well as the treatment methods.

Learning and Memory  T/A
This unit allows students to study learning styles, conditioning, memory processes and behaviour modification

Motivation and Emotion  T/A
This unit allows students to investigate the role physiology plays in motivation and emotion, and the underlying factors concerning motivation and emotion, as well as the application of acquired knowledge to real life.

Mental Abilities  T/A
This unit allows students to examine and evaluate the nature of intelligence, thinking and creativity, by studying normality, measurement of intelligence, problem solving and decision making styles.

Attitudes and Prejudice T/A
This unit allows students to study such concepts as social influence, conformity, social attitudes and the nature of prejudice.



Sociology Course

Students may attempt a Sociology (T) or Sociology (A) minor or major.  There are no prerequisites for any units in this course.



Units Offered

Introduction to Sociology T/A
This unit encourages a critical awareness of the society in which students live. In addition, students develop an understanding of sociological methods, including the collection, analysis and interpretation of data.

Sociology of Religion 1& 2  T/A
These units allow students to investigate why people maintain or lose their belief in religion, and the way in which society, culture and religion interact to form particular patterns. The world’s major and alternative belief systems and world trends will be examined.

Sociology of Ethnicity and Race 1 & 2  T/A
These units allow students to investigate the origins of ethnic prejudice and how such attitudes are maintained or eliminated. A study will be made of the processes and patterns of ethnicity and racial prejudice and the effects it has on groups and individuals and society, both internationally and within the Australian context.

Social Deviance 1 & 2  T/A
These units allow students to investigate the ways society produces conformity and establishes social control of deviant behaviour. A study will be made of the theories of deviance.

Sociology of Health and Medicine 1 & 2  T/A
These units allow students to be aware of changing patterns of illness and health management, with particular emphasis on current national and international epidemics and medical problems such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), STDs, and drug use and abuse.

Sociology of Work and Leisure  T/A
This unit allows students to analyse and interpret the patterns of work and leisure in Australia and other cultures. Studies of sport and other recreational activities are featured.

Power, Wealth and Status  T/A
This unit allows students to critically analyse the diverse relationships between class, status and power within society.

Sociology of Youth and Culture  T/A
This unit allows students to critically appraise the concept of youth in society and the different social issues related to youth, subcultures and the transition to adulthood.

Sociology of Media and Culture T/A
This unit allows students to analyse and interpret the patterns of work and leisure in Australia and other cultures.  Studies of sport and recreational activities are featured.



There is more to learn about the Behavioural Sciences faculty.  Full details can be discovered by reading the relevant section of the Handbook.

Contact:
Judy Talberg
Executive Teacher
Canberra College
Phillip
ACT 2606
Telephone:  02-62056590