The Diploma of Psychology introduces you to subjects relating to statistical modelling, psychology and human behaviour, with a focus on clinical neuroscience. You’ll also learn about the psychology of culture and global citizenship, human relationships, or even animal-human relationships.
This Diploma will set you on the knowledge path towards careers that help people emotionally and psychologically. You may also look at careers that include social planning and company resource management. You’ll learn about human behaviour, neuroscience, brain structure and professional communication within the psychology field. You will have the opportunity to critically discuss how people and societies may have been impacted by global events and consider pathways to recovery.
When you successfully complete the Diploma of Psychology, you are eligible to transfer directly to the second year of your Bachelor of Psychological Science at La Trobe University.
Correction to the La Trobe University Undergraduate Course Guide 2024
Please note: In the printed Guide received before April 14th, the Diploma of Psychology is incorrectly listed as a pathway course into the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). See correct details on this page – we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Students require a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) to progress into second year as listed on the Transferring to La Trobe University page.
All of these modules must be completed to successfully complete the Diploma of Psychology.
Students are strongly encouraged to undertake PPSY1SFP and PPSY1BAM together; 1-2 elective modules may also be undertaken, unless otherwise indicated.
In this subject you will be introduced to the philosophical, historical, and methodological foundations of the discipline of psychology. You will critically examine how theories are developed and used in psychological science and examine how they are operationalised in experimental contexts. As part of a team, you will propose your own research question in an applied area of psychology and present this enquiry to your class, and as an individual you will analyse, present, and discuss the results in a written report
Assessment: Group discussion and display poster oral presentation (15%), 1500-word Laboratory essay (35%), 4x Online Quizzes (2x mid-trimester, 2x end of trimester; 50% total)
In this subject you will discover how your brain works in creating your behaviour, how your brain and behaviour change across the lifespan, how, why and in what way you are different from other 6 people. You will learn about how you sense the world and how you process and understand the information that arises from your senses. Assessment: Group Oral Presentation (15%), 1500-word Critical Essay (35%), Exam (50%).
Students are strongly encouraged to undertake PPSY1PAC and PPSY1APP together; 1-2 elective modules may also be undertaken, unless otherwise indicated.
In this subject you will be introduced to key areas of psychology with a socio-cultural perspective. People share knowledge with others in society. The shared knowledge (i.e., culture) gives meanings to people’s lives as well as influencing their everyday behaviour, the sense of who they are, their personal relationships and psychological wellbeing. We will discuss psychology of individuals in diverse contexts to understand how personal experiences, including emotions, motivation, intimacy with others and health behaviours are shaped by cultural understanding and social expectations in those contexts.
Assessment: Reflective Video Oral Presentation (15%), 1200-word Critical Essay (35%), 3x Online Topic Quizzes (50% total)
In this subject you will learn about how the discipline and practice of psychology can be applied in different ways (e.g., to promote mental health, physical health, social participation, and inclusion), and in different areas including individual and public health, sports, forensic, and community-based psychology. You will consider how psychological theories and evidence can be applied to a range of psychology and health-related fields and be introduced to key practical skills relevant to these fields. You will create a personal development plan, which will involve self-reflection and evaluation of existing skills, skills to be developed, and strategies to developing self-efficacy, self-confidence, and self-esteem, with a view to your future career goals.
Assessment: Group oral presentation (20%), Personal development plan and portfolio (40%), Online quizzes (40%)
Four available modules from any other diploma offered at LTCA must be completed to successfully complete the Diploma of Psychology. The recommended modules are below.
1-2 of the following elective modules are recommended to be undertaken in conjunction with PPSY1SFP and PPSY1BAM unless otherwise indicated.
Introduction to Professional Practice is a subject which will introduce you to the health care system; as a consumer participants, as a health and human services practitioner and as part of a health care team.
This subject also offers you the opportunity to reflect on your own experiences within the health care system, and to use this to analyse and develop your understanding of health and human services. Group work is an essential component of university studies, and you will explore the nature of group work and team-based assessment, as used across all subjects. Concurrent with HHLT1IPP is HHLT1LHS Learning in Health Sciences, which covers academic skills such as referencing, academic writing and presentations, critical analysis, and academic integrity.
Assessment: Class Tests (20%), Case Study (20%), Essay (30%), Exam (30%)
Requirement and availability for this subject is under review for 2024 and 2025
This subject introduces you to the concept of sustainability, and a systems approach to understanding the complex interactions between the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability. The subject attracts students from a range of fields, bringing a multidisciplinary team perspective to the researching, analysis and problem-solving aspects of creating positive change for sustainability. In teams, you are required to critique, design and present an action plan aimed at resolving a sustainability issue that impacts current and future generations. 8 This subject provides you with the opportunity to enhance, demonstrate and document work-ready skills appropriate to your chosen career path.
Assessment: Online quizzes (20%), Individual Case study Analysis (40%), Exam (40%)
In this subject, you will develop a broad understanding of health and wellbeing, examining key theories that underpin concepts in contemporary health and wellbeing. You will investigate the complex range of interactions that influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and populations. As health is a dynamic concept, you will further examine the social, environmental, and biomedical determinants of health and wellbeing within an Australian and global context.
Assessment: Early assessment Piece (5%), 3 x Tests (30% = 10% each), Media Analysis (25%), Health and Wellbeing Plan Review (40%)
Teams are the core of any successful business venture. Advancements in technology which has made the world a much smaller place facilitating cross country collaborations on various projects, where teams from multiple countries work together remotely to achieve the desired goals by collectively solving complex problems which require innovative solutions.
In this subject, you will learn how to form teams, set effective goals, develop interpersonal skills, focus on advanced communication techniques, and attain the necessary skills needed for leading your teams towards organisational success, you will apply and evaluate the organisational behavioural theory to businesses plagued with issues like motivation, group decision-making, teamwork, and cultural diversity.
Acquiring these skills will make you a more effective employee/manager.
Assessment: Online quizzes (20%), Group Assignment (20%), Individual Assignments (20%), Exam (40%)
Thinking and reasoning are essential components of human life. But much of our thinking and reasoning is biased, distorted, and uninformed. This subject trains you to reason well, to think clearly and independently, and also to engage fairly with others in discussions and debates. You will develop useful skills in presenting, analysing and evaluating different types of arguments. You will learn to apply these skills to real cases from popular culture, current affairs, and philosophy. You will 9 also learn to use diagrams and symbols to assist higher and more abstract levels of logical reasoning and systematic thinking. Because the ability to think and to argue clearly and fairly is central not just to philosophy but to university studies in general, many students find the experience gained in this subject immensely valuable, both within the university and later in employment whatever their subsequent areas of specialization.
Learning to write well brings benefits within and beyond university. This interdisciplinary unit offers you the opportunity to strengthen your professional, creative and academic writing skills. We develop a conceptual framework for analysing the writing of others and editing your own work effectively, as well as improving your skills in the generation of ideas, elements of style and identification with the audience. These areas of writing will be explored through modules with theoretical and practical components:
This subject addresses La Trobe's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Essential. Innovation and Entrepreneurship entails developing the ability to tackle problems creatively, generating new ideas, taking calculated risks and creating change to achieve ambitions – now and in the future.
In 2022, trimester 1, the Diploma of Psychology at La Trobe College Australia realigned the modules offered. Subject/module equivalencies in core subjects are as follows:
| Pre-2022 If you have successfully completed this module… | 2022 onwards … you receive credit for and do not need to do this module. | |
| History, Philosophy and Methodology of Psychological Science | = | Scientific Foundations of Psychology |
| Experimental Foundations of Psychology | = | Introductory Psychology: Brain and Mind |
| Clinical Foundations of Psychology | = | Introductory Psychology: People and Culture |
| Statistics for Psychology | = | Applied Psychology |
Any four available modules from any offered diploma at La Trobe College Australia may be undertaken as electives in this diploma. The suggested recommended elective modules are based on complementing course work to core modules and those that offer additional skills and knowledge beneficial to further studies at a Bachelor level. Students need complete only 4 elective modules.
Availability and course requirement of HPHE1IDH and HHLT1IPP are under review for 2024 and 2025.
View entry requirements for domestic and international students.
Contact one of our representatives for further details about this Diploma, units, trimester structures and more.
Ready to apply for this Diploma? Follow the application process for La Trobe College Australia.
^October intake students may undertake their diploma over 3 trimesters and should be eligible to articulate to LTU in March (semester 1), 18-months after beginning their diploma; this includes an expected 4-month study break between diploma and Bachelor.