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Postgraduate Study

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Charmaine Bright Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) in Psychology

1.  Bachelor of Health Science (Honours in Psychology) (BHSc(Hons)) AK3662
2.  Master of Health Science (Psychology) (MHSc) AK3485
3.  Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (PgDipCounsPsych) AK1232

AUT has developed a suite of postgraduate programmes in psychology that enable students to exit with research degrees and/or provide a pathway to professional registration.  All degrees listed below have been approved by the Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) and have been provisionally accredited by the New Zealand Psychologists’ Board.

The BHSc (Hons) in Psychology
Students with an undergraduate degree majoring in Psychology are eligible to apply for the BHSc (Honours) in Psychology degree. Applicants with a B+ will be considered for selection - The selection is competitive and numbers are limited.
The BHSc (Hons) is a one year academic qualification which provides a strong academic foundation for further postgraduate study in psychology, as well as practical research experience. At the end of this year, students can apply for either a) the Masters or PhD research pathway, or b) the MHSc in Psychology which is the first year of the professional training in counselling psychology.

Masters of Health Science in Psychology
Provides the entry point into a professional training pathway. Admission is through a comprehensive selection process and numbers are limited. If students are accepted into the MHSc in Psychology, the papers in their Honours degree will be cross credited to the first year of the MHSc (Psych) programme. This degree combines academic papers in the core psychological practice areas of assessment, diagnosis and treatment along with practicum experience in these areas.

Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
If students complete the Masters they will be eligible to apply to enrol in the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology. Counselling Psychology is defined by the Institute of Counselling Psychology as:
“A psychological specialty that utilises and applies psychological knowledge and research at the individual, group and organisational level. Counselling psychologists enable and empower clients experiencing typical and atypical problems of living to enhance their personal, social, educational and vocational functioning."

The Psychology Counselling Institute
The Institute specifies that the speciality embraces a range of approaches including preventative and educational programmes, and acknowledges the importance of phenomenological perspectives as well as the influence of developmental and ecological factors more>>>. Counselling psychologists tend to work with clients who are experiencing developmental and adjustment problems while clinical psychologists need to be equipped to work with people with severe psychiatric disorders. Counselling psychologists are frequently involved in promoting clients’ resilience and strengths, mental health promotion and prevention work. Counselling psychologists may also offer vocational counselling.

Acceptance into the diploma requires completion of the MHSc in Psychology, successful registration with the New Zealand Psychology Board as an intern psychologist, and acceptance into a suitable internship position (Note: Agencies providing internships frequently interview for interns. Places are limited and many internship positions are unpaid). The PgDip (Couns Psych) provides in-depth, hands-on development in the area of counselling psychology and requires 1500 hours of supervised practice, as is mandated by the New Zealand Psychologists’ Board.

New Zealand Psychologists’ Board Registration
Pending full accreditation of the programmes by the New Zealand Psychologists’ Board, students can apply for registration as a practising Counselling Psychologist after successful completion of the PgDip (Couns Psych). more

Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) in Psychology (AK3662) 120 points

Student complete papers:
588632 Integrative Research Methods (20)
588666 Dissertation (40)
589555 Psychological Theory and Practice (40)
589645 Therapeutic Theories and Skills (20)

Master of Health Science in Psychology (AK3485) 240 points

AND:
589614 Psychological Assessment and Diagnosis (20)
589615 Psychological Intervention (20)
589616 Practice Research Project (60)
589617 Supervised Practicum (20)

Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (AK1232) 120 points

The Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology includes 1500 supervised placement experience (internship) usually structured to run from March through to the end of February the following year, 4 days a week for 48 weeks of the year. Students typically attend coursework papers and supervision one day a week.