Course Title: Coursework 2

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Coursework 2

Credit Points: 24.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BESC1256	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006

Course Coordinator: Dr David Smith

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7523

Course Coordinator Email: david.smith@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Satisfactory completion of Coursework 1

Course Description

Coursework 2 is undertaken in Semester 2 of the first year of the Masters/Doctorate in Psychology for both professional training streams: Education-Developmental and Clinical. All students undertake the following units: Advanced Research Methods 2, Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychology 2, and Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology. Students in the Education-Developmental stream also complete a unit in Educational Psychology while students in the Clinical stream complete specialist units in Psychological Assessment (Adult) and Psychopathology. Coursework 2 is designed to extend students’ theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in professional practice.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Students will extend their understanding of the theoretical and conceptual bases of psychological assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for children and adolescents subject through attending lectures and participating in class-room activities and discussion. Students in the Educational-Developmental stream will learn about the application of psychology to education by studying contemporary issues regarding student learning, curriculum design and strategies for teaching and classroom management. Students in the Clinical stream will also acquire an understanding of adult psychological assessment as well as issues in the diagnosis of adult psychopathology. In addition, all students will develop generalist skills and knowledge in clinical neuropsychology (e.g., assessment and approaches to management) as well as knowledge of the standard nomenclature and classification systems of drugs and review the basic principles of drug action and pharmacokinetics. Skills and knowledge in understanding research design and evaluation will also be extended through practical exercises and assignments.

Learning experiences and activities vary according the specific unit of study undertake and include participation in lectures/seminars, class discussion, skill development activities, and personal study.

Overview of Learning Activities

For all units, students will receive guidance from lecturers in terms of specific readings, references, and library resources. Guidance is also given in terms of relevant online resources and agencies.

Overview of Learning Resources

For all units, students will receive guidance from lecturers in terms of specific readings, references, and library resources. Guidance is also given in terms of relevant online resources and agencies.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment tasks vary according to the specific Coursework 2 unit being examined. All assessments are linked logically to the learning objectives for each unit. Assessments include formal examinations, tests (written and/or oral), assignments, and practical exercises.