Psychology
Students learn to appreciate how people perceive the world around them, how human learning develops, and how human beings relate to each other.
Students may undertake either 100 or 200 hours of study in Psychology. Courses are structured in the following ways:
- a 100-hour course consisting of Core 1 and Core 2 and a minimum of two options
- a 200-hour course consisting of Core 1 and Core 2 and a minimum of six options.
Psychology provides students with an understanding and a critical awareness of the nature of human behaviour and the influence of biological, cognitive and socio-cultural factors on individuals and society. Students develop knowledge and understanding of human nature by asking questions and undertaking studies into the fields of neuroscience, cognitive sciences and social psychology.
Professional learning
- Complete the department-approved elective course – Psychology microlearning (NR36898).
- Access recordings from statewide staffroom sessions via the Teaching and Learning 7–12 Statewide staffroom.
Course information for leaders
The Psychology course has been developed in consultation with schools that previously delivered Psychology as a school-developed board-endorsed course (SDBEC). There have been significant changes to the course content and requirements.
Important information:
- Psychology may be delivered as a 100 or 200-hour course
- a set of resources has been published to support the implementation of Psychology in schools, including:
- course document
- sample scope and sequences
- assessment advice.
Schools may need consider the following if delivering Psychology:
- time for planning and programming
- resourcing, including:
- staffing
- new teaching resources and materials
- budget implications to upskill teachers.
Teachers may require time to upskill and build their knowledge in order to deliver the course.
Knowledge of the Controversial Issues in Schools policy and procedures is required in planning for the teaching of various aspects of the Psychology course.
The course
Schools must use the Psychology course document (DOCX 155 KB) to develop educational programs for this course to comply with the Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K-12 Policy and associated policy standards.
Scope and sequences are flexible documents and may vary according to local school contexts and student cohorts, provided they comply with the course documents.
Assessment
Psychology assessment advice (DOCX 142 KB) is available to assist teachers to select a range of different activities for the purpose of assessing and reporting.
Department-approved elective courses are not eligible for credentialing on the Record of School Achievement (RoSA). Assessment activities should reflect the school's organisation of the course and provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning.
Teaching resources
Schools may choose to adapt or modify this content or use other materials suitable to their local context, provided they comply with the course documents.
For more information
- visit the Teaching and Learning 7–12 Statewide staffroom.
- email secondaryteachingandlearning@det.nsw.edu.au with the subject line 'Department approved elective courses'.