Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) - Inherent Academic Requirements | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) - Inherent Academic Requirements

Committed to equity and diversity

At UniSC, we are committed to facilitating the integration of all students into the University Community.

Reasonable adjustments in teaching and/or assessment methods can be made for students provided those adjustments do not compromise the inherent requirements of the program.

The inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) are the fundamental skills and abilities that the student must be able to achieve in order to demonstrate the essential learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology).

This Statement provides realistic information about the inherent academic requirements that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) so you can make an informed judgement about your ability to fulfil them.

Skills you need

The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) has inherent academic requirements in five categories:

  • Observational skills
  • Communication skills
  • Intellectual, such as conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
  • Behavioural and social skills
  • Sustained Performance 

Before you enrol

If you intend to enrol in a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) degree at the UniSC, look carefully at the inherent academic requirements listed in this statement and think about whether you might experience challenges in meeting them.

If you think you might experience challenges related to your disability, health condition or for any other reason, you should discuss your concerns with a University Ability Adviser or School staff.

Reasonable adjustments

Students with disabilities or other special circumstances may be provided with reasonable adjustment to enable them to meet the inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) if the adjustment is:

  • logistically reasonable
  • likely to result in the student being able to perform the skills adequately and in a timely manner.
Support and further information is available from UniSC

Observational Skills 

The ability to be receptive to, and interact with, the learning environment.

Justification

This is an inherent requirements of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) because students must demonstrate the ability to learn from or respond to inputs required for effective learning.

Adjustments

Adjustments must consider effectiveness, timeliness, clarity, and accuracy.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

  • interact with staff and other students
  • assess situations and respond appropriately
  • interact with learning materials such as textbooks, lecture notes, video / slide / computer content, which can be presented visually or aurally
  • observe multiple people and events simultaneously 

Communication Skills

The capacity to demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication in English to a standard that allows fluid, clear, timely, and comprehensible two-way discussions. Written communication should be timely, clear, and professional, with language tailored to the audience. Students will demonstrate sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences and be attentive, empathetic, and non-judgemental.

Justification

These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) because effective and respectful communication (via verbal and non-verbal means) is required to participate in and create safe learning environments. Further, there is a need to demonstrate applied skills in academic writing and presentations via a sustained and organised academic argument.

Adjustments

Adjustments must consider effectiveness, timeliness, clarity, and accuracy to ensure learning outcomes are not compromised.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

  • understand and respond to verbal and non-verbal communication accurately and appropriately in a time-constrained environment
  • convey spoken and written messages, including complex academic perspectives, accurately and effectively
  • present information and engage in discussions with students and staff, including tutorial participation and professional presentations
  • summarise and appropriately reference a range of literature in assignments

Behavioural and Social Skills

The capacity to demonstrate behavioural stability and adaptability in environments which may be at times challenging and unpredictable. Students should also demonstrate sensitivity and behave ethically.

Justification

These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) because of a need to work individually and within teams in diverse and changing environments. Students are required to manage personal emotional responses and adapt behaviour appropriately during times of stress. Behaving ethically in line with relevant standards, codes, guidelines, and policies ensures the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being of all.

Adjustments

Adjustments must support stable, effective, and professional behaviour and must not compromise relevant codes or standards or result in unethical behaviour.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

  • adjust ways of working within teams (e.g., group work) of varied backgrounds and opinions
  • manage own behaviours and emotions effectively
  • be receptive and respond appropriately to academic feedback
  • maintain respectful communication in times of increased stress or workloads
  • adjust to changing circumstances in a way that allows self-care while maintaining a focus on academic achievement 

Intellectual – Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities

The capacity to demonstrate numeracy, literacy, knowledge, cognitive skills, and metacognition appropriate to the discipline. This involves: accurate processing and reasoning with numbers and numerical concepts; possessing English literacy skills that allow the creation and interpretation of clear meaning; knowledge acquisition, utilisation, and retention spanning all coursework material; cognitive skills for focus, memory, attention to detail, theoretical deliberation, and practical functioning to meet academic standards; awareness of own thinking and skills to reflect, evaluate, adapt, and implement new cognitive strategies for improved learning.

Justification

These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) because competence across numeracy and literacy, and ability to understand and retain information about coursework and one’s own learning, are necessary to complete academic tasks.

Adjustments

Adjustments must not compromise the student’s ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity and cognitive skill.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

  • accurately score, analyse, and interpret data in a variety of formats
  • comprehend, summarise, and reference a range of literature and produce documentation in line with academic conventions
  • acquire, comprehend, conceptualise, and apply appropriate information in response to academic tasks
  • manage one’s own learning and respond appropriately to academic set-backs through self-evaluation

Sustained Performance

The capacity to demonstrate sustained physical, cognitive, and psycho-social performance sufficient to achieve learning outcomes.

 Justification

These are inherent academic requirements of the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) because a range of complex, multi-component or extended academic tasks are required to be carried out over a period of time and in a time-constrained environment.

Adjustments

Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a required period and assessment is submitted within a reasonable timeframe.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

  • sustain study practises, assignment work, and participation to sufficiently engage with the learning workload for the program, within a constrained timeframe as regulated by external accreditation bodies
  • maintain sufficient concentration to focus on a task to completion