Program Overview

Foundation Studies prepares you for a successful transition to degree-level study, providing a pathway to the first year of study of a bachelor’s degree at Murdoch University.

This course is suited to you if you:

• Need an entrance qualification for Murdoch University
• Want to accelerate your university preparation after Year 11, or equivalent
• Want to change your degree stream after Year 11, or equivalent

Course Structure
For Foundation Studies you will complete eight units over two study periods, studying a combination of core and elective units. The units you will undertake will be determined by your chosen degree. All students must complete the two English units and at least one unit from each Discipline Group.

Each unit of study builds concepts from an introductory level through to university entrance level. The units are designed to develop your learning techniques as well as bridging gaps in your unit knowledge.

• English
  • Essential Australian Studies
  • Introduction to Academic Communication
• Mathematics
  • Introductory Mathematics
  • Mathematics for Science
• Science and Technology
  • Information Technology for Academic Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• The Arts
  • Introduction to Media
  • Media Production
• Business and Legal Studies
  • Accounting
  • Management
  • Economics

Leading to: Bachelor of Science (Psychology)
What makes people think, feel and behave the way they do? Explore the major fields of psychology including neuroscience, human development, and emotion to gain an understanding of how both nature and nurture shape us as people.

Learn about all the major fields in psychology to gain an understanding of how individual psychological differences develop. You’ll explore perception, emotion, learning, cognition, language, neuroscience and human development through the lifespan, as well as looking at the biological, social, and cultural influences on the individual person.

In doing so you’ll learn how personality and individual differences develop, and the interplay between these things and psychological health and wellbeing. You’ll also gain an understanding of psychological disorders and treatments.

You’ll have the chance to study psychology along with other subjects in science when you choose a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Build special expertise in the areas of psychology that most interest you.

With a focus on the latest research in these fields, you’ll integrate your learning of subject matter with the research methods used to discover new knowledge in these fields.

3 reasons to study Psychology at Murdoch

• This course is a first step towards becoming a registered psychologist.
• Get exposure to how research studies are conducted in your first year units, with participation in ongoing research rewarded with course credit.
• Five-star rating and number one university in Australia for skills development for psychology.

What you’ll learn
Build the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career or study goals. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:

• Techniques used by cognitive neuroscientists
• How people think, plan, remember and make decisions
• How biology influences behaviour
• How human beings change and develop through the lifespan
• How society, culture and the people around us influence our behaviour
• How individuals differ in their personality and talents
• Psychological disorders, what causes them, and how psychologists can help
• Techniques for investigating people’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour