APAC Accreditation Assessment Summary Report Higher Education Provider Bond University; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Department of Psychology Date of Determination 10 December 2012 Standards Version June 2010 ver 10 Programs of Study Assessed for Accreditation (Internal Mode) Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) Graduate Diploma of Psychology Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) with Honours Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology Master of Psychology (Clinical) Master of Psychology (Forensic) This is a summary of the outcomes of an APAC accreditation assessment of the Department of Psychology at Bond University and its programs of study. This summary highlights selected key features of the assessment. Comprehensive analysis of the assessment is contained in the full APAC Assessment Team Report. The Department of Psychology resides in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Bond University which is located on the Gold Coast. The Head of the Department of Psychology has the necessary academic, financial, and administrative control to ensure the provision of a high standard of education and training in psychology in all programs of study offered by the Department. The Faculty and its disciplines operate under a shared services model, which is common to many universities. The current administrative model does not pose operational problems for the Department or its staff. The Department of Psychology is well serviced under this plan and has excellent administrative support. Teaching spaces were inspected and were deemed to be state of the art. Typically, class sizes are relatively small, lectures around 50 students and tutorials/practicals 10-15 students. Some limited dedicated space is available for Psychology staff, with much of that available through the Research Centres. University and Library computer spaces available to students are modern and excellent. The University ILearn (a version of Blackboard) and Psychology software packages are available for teaching and analyses in Psychology. A well organised and run test library has a wide range of modern versions of APAC Accreditation Assessment Summary Report for Bond University 1
tests available. A well equipped Bond University Library with modern resources is available to Psychology Students and staff. An excellent moot court is available for Forensic students. The Department offers one three year program of study in psychology in internal mode on the Bond University Gold Coast campus, the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), and an undergraduate bridging program of study, the Graduate Diploma of Psychology. The three year degree program more than satisfies Standards for program of study structure and content. However, it was not evident to the assessors that all core knowledge areas in Graduate Attribute 1 were adequately covered in the Graduate Diploma of Psychology and this program received a grade of Accreditation with Conditions. The Department offers two fourth year programs of study in internal mode at the Bond University Gold Coast campus; the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) with Honours and Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology. Students in the fourth year programs of study complete five coursework units and two units which make up the research thesis component. There are three compulsory coursework units: Principles of Psychological Assessment, Multivariate Research Methods, and Human Experimental Psychology. Two elective units are offered from a range of options that include applied areas of psychology specialisation, all of which cover the scientist-practitioner model and evidence-based intervention. Adequate coverage of core psychology graduate attributes beyond the first three years was evident, with exposure to applied topics, and coursework teaching was appropriately supported by journal reference material. Research methods and ethics are adequately covered across various units within the 3 year undergraduate course. In addition, compulsory fourth year coursework units are completed prior to students undertaking supervised testing and assessment or research. Students are required to complete a substantial research project which is worth 37.5% credit of the fourth year. Students have their own individual research topic, are supervised by academic staff and are required to complete a written report of between 9,000-15,000 words. A satisfactory external audit of student work was conducted in 2011 and included fourth year student theses. The Head of the Department is on the Boards of Examiners which operates at the Faculty level at Bond University for the Psychology AOU. With respect to coursework, the Assessors sighted assignments across all marking grades, including laboratory reports, essays and examination papers. Fourth year students, interviewed by the assessors offered positive comments regarding the timeliness and responsiveness of academic staff. All fourth year Standards are met. Bond University offers postgraduate professional coursework programs in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) and Master of Psychology (Forensic). Both are two year fulltime programs of 6 semesters. Bond no longer offers postgraduate programs of study in accelerated mode. All of the Bond University clinical and forensic program staff are registered psychologists with endorsement to practice in the areas of clinical and or forensic psychology since a number have endorsement in both areas. All staff are involved in applied (clinical or forensic) practice. APAC Accreditation Assessment Summary Report for Bond University 2
The Department has Advisory Liaison Committees that consists of members of the respective programs, senior psychologists from the community, and student representatives from each year of the programs. The committees meet once a year. It was of some concern to the site team that these committees seemed particularly heavy in staff membership, and that the Department of Psychology might be better served with more student and community representatives. The rooms and teaching equipment provided by the University appear adequate to the teaching needs of the applied programs. There is a very well equipped clinic with five state of the art consulting rooms with full audio visual facilities appropriately furnished and equipped for interviewing and undertaking assessments. There is also a large room with a large number of computers and appropriate furnishings for students, an office for the clinic director, waiting areas with reception space and so on. It is an excellent facility for teaching professional psychological skills. The University is commended for creating an excellent and well resourced Psychology Clinic and Psychological Test Library. The application documentation outlined in detail how the core capabilities are developed and how these are assessed. In addition to this the assessors inspected the coursework of the professional students and noted coursework meets the core capabilities Standards, includes coverage of the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce, and includes teaching and training in practice management, record keeping and storing psychology files. The assessors were able to inspect work samples, professional practice logs, speak to professional supervisors and note that the professional skills of students was assessed and monitored during their course, and that at the end of their final placement their competence would be documented. The assessors confirmed that the students in the professional programs had a completed portfolio which included a single log book. The research project for the Masters degree involves a project designed to be consistent with the Standard and a final written report totalling between 9,000 and 15,000 words in standard thesis format. It is noteworthy that the Department has undertaken a bench marking exercise with another university to assess the marking of the theses, with satisfactory results. As part of assessment of these Standards groups of students from each course, and supervisors responsible for the supervision of students in each course were interviewed. The students generally were very happy with their program. With the development of the Psychology Clinic, a new professional programs director, and new clinic director, and part time clinic supervisors, it was clear that there are appropriate policies, processes and procedures for ensuring that Standards are met. All Standards for the Fifth and Sixth Year Masters Courses of Professional Education are met. The accreditation outcomes are summarised in the attached Accreditation Summary Checklist. APAC Accreditation Assessment Summary Report for Bond University 3
APAC Accreditation Summary Checklist for use with APAC Standards June 2010 Version 10 Name of Higher Education Provider: Bond University, Department of Psychology Date of Site Visit: 18-20 July 2012 Accreditation of the AOU Rules Rule Section 5 Accreditation Status 5.1-5.6 General Accreditation Standards Standard The Psychology AOU 2.1.1-10 Multi-Campus Institutions 2.2.1-2 Degree Nomenclature 2.3.1-13 Academic Staffing 2.4.1-11 Resources 2.5.1-12 Teaching and Materials: Managing the Learning Process 2.6.1-14 Special Arrangements for Offshore Teaching 2.6.15 Undergraduate 3-Year Sequence Program of Study Standard Length 3.1.1 Program of Study Structure 3.1.2-5 Program of Study Content 3.1.6-10 Assessment 3.1.11-16 Awarding of Credit or Advance Standing 3.1.17-19 Undergraduate Fourth Year Program of Study Standard Entry Requirements 4.1.1 Length 4.1.2 Program of Study Structure 4.1.3 Program of Study Content 4.1.4-7 Research Methods and Professional and Research Ethics 4.1.8 Research Project 4.1.9-15 Assessment 4.1.16-22 Awarding of Credit or Advance Standing 4.1.23-25 1
Fifth and Sixth Year Masters Program of Study Clinical Standard Stream Staffing 5.1.1-3 Advisory/Liaison and Quality Review Committee 5.1.4 Resources 5.1.5-8 Credit for Previous Study 5.1.9-11 Core Capabilities and Attributes Knowledge of the 5.1.12(a) Discipline Core Capabilities and Attributes Ethical, Legal and 5.1.12(b) Professional Matters Core Capabilities and Attributes Psychological 5.1.12(c) Assessment & Measurement Core Capabilities and Attributes Intervention Strategies 5.1.12(d) Core Capabilities and Attributes Research and 5.1.12(e) Evaluation Core Capabilities and Attributes Communication and 5.1.12(f) Interpersonal Relationships Core Capabilities Assessment 5.1.13-16 Log Book 5.1.17 Assessment 5.1.18-19 Entry Requirements 5.3.1-2 Length 5.3.3-4 Program of Study Structure 5.3.5-8 Coursework 5.3.9-10 Research 5.3.11-16 Practical Placements 5.3.17-30 Fifth and Sixth Year Masters Program of Study Forensic Standard Stream Staffing 5.1.1-3 Advisory/Liaison and Quality Review Committee 5.1.4 Resources 5.1.5-8 Credit for Previous Study 5.1.9-11 Core Capabilities and Attributes Knowledge of the 5.1.12(a) Discipline Core Capabilities and Attributes Ethical, Legal and 5.1.12(b) Professional Matters Core Capabilities and Attributes Psychological 5.1.12(c) Assessment & Measurement Core Capabilities and Attributes Intervention Strategies 5.1.12(d) Core Capabilities and Attributes Research and Evaluation 5.1.12(e) Core Capabilities and Attributes Communication and 5.1.12(f) Interpersonal Relationships 2
Core Capabilities Assessment 5.1.13-16 Log Book 5.1.17 Assessment 5.1.18-19 Entry Requirements 5.3.1-2 Length 5.3.3-4 Program of Study Structure 5.3.5-8 Coursework 5.3.9-10 Research 5.3.11-16 Practical Placements 5.3.17-30 Comments: The 3 year undergraduate program of study, the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), received a grade of Accreditation Without Conditions. The undergraduate bridging program of study, the Graduate Diploma in Psychology, received a grade of Accreditation With Conditions. Authorised: Professor Trevor Waring AM FAPS Chair, Australian Psychology Accreditation Council Date: 10 December 2012 3