APAC Accreditation Assessment Summary Report Higher Education Provider Curtin University Name of the Psychology AOU School of Psychology & Speech Pathology Date of Determination 8 October 2012 Standards Version June 2010 (Version 10) Programs of Study Assessed Bachelor of Science (Psychology) Bachelor of Science (Psychology) & Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations) Bachelor of Psychology Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) Master of Psychology (Clinical) Master of Psychology (Counselling) Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) Doctor of Philosophy (Counselling) This is a summary of the outcomes of an APAC accreditation assessment of the School of Psychology & Speech Pathology at Curtin 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 Psychology AOU consists of 25 (FTE) psychologists. All Standards for staffing are met. Currently, the School has sufficient administrative and technical resources to meet the relevant Standard. The School has its own technical officer, and the School is well supported by a very responsive and helpful central IT department. Access to physical resources such as appropriately equipped teaching spaces, undergraduate laboratory space, and computers/software are satisfactory. The number of research/laboratory spaces available for staff and students is not large, but is sufficient for current needs. Laboratory training is offered in all three undergraduate years. Research student accommodation is provided in a Faculty-wide hub, some distance from the School. This is the result of the Faculty s research strategy, which is to base together research students from its constituent Schools (including Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, and Occupational Therapy). Such an arrangement risks some isolation for what is a relatively small group of 1
PhD students, although these students are very satisfied with the level of supervisor support they receive. The School s test library is adequate in terms of holdings and organisation, although the space is in need of significant renovation (which is planned). The Curtin University library facilities are extremely good in terms of both its books and ejournal titles. There are no units taught by Distance Education; one postgraduate unit (Psychology 703, Research methods is offered as an on-line WebCT unit). Curtin University s version of Blackboard is excellent. All Standards for managing the learning process are met. The only three-year degree offered by the School is a Bachelor of Science (Psychology), which is provided solely as an exit award for students who do not progress to the 4 th year of the Bachelor of Psychology or Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). The units offered in the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) are identical to those for the first three years of the Bachelor of Psychology degrees. The School also offers a three-year psychology sequence as part of a five-year joint degree - Bachelor of Science (Psychology) & Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations). The 3-years sequence psychology units offered in this degree are those provided for the Bachelor of Psychology degrees. This degree is popular and, despite the availability of relevant postgraduate courses at other universities in Perth, Curtin University may wish to consider the development of an organisational Master of Psychology. The undergraduate 3-year sequence provides a strong emphasis on psychological science, preparing students well for 4 th study, via current references, the development of writing skills, and the provision of practical/laboratory experience in each undergraduate year. Both graduate attributes and core topics in psychology are covered well. These programs of study offer a wide range of assessment methods, including multiple choice exams, lab workbooks, essays and exams for the core topics. The assessors were able to examine a number of assignments, covering a range of marks. The 3-year sequence met all relevant Standards. Curtin University does not offer a stand-alone 4 th year Honours degree. A 4 th year is provided as part of the Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degrees. These combine the undergraduate 3-year sequence and 4 th year components. Students are required to obtain a minimum credit average in core psychology units in years two and three to progress into 4 th year; those who don t, but who pass years 1-3, exit with a a Bachelor of Science (Psychology). Those students who obtain a minimum distinction average in years 2-3 are able to enter the Bachelor of Psychology 4 th year Honours stream. The objective of providing an integrated and comprehensive education in the discipline of psychology is met by the Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) programs. Their units cover the key empirical and applied aspects of the discipline. Assessment Standards covering both coursework and theses are met. However, a joint benchmarking exercise of the thesis with another university has not been carried out for 2
more than five years; the accreditation assessment team understands that such an exercise will be carried out during 2012. Therefore Standard 4.1.20 is not. Students interviewed by the assessment team were very positive, viewing both four-year degrees as providing a very good developmental approach to the study of psychology. They felt well prepared for the research component of the 4 th year. An interesting innovation in these four-year degrees is the introduction of clickers into teaching sessions; these are used both for the lecturer to gauge the level of understanding of presented concepts, and for students to gain feedback on their level of understanding visà-vis their classmates. The staffing requirements for both the postgraduate clinical and counselling programs of study are met, with staff holding appropriate qualifications and experience. The counselling program will lose two staff later in 2012 and the Assessment Team was informed that processes are in place to replace these important staff members. Both Masters courses have appropriately constituted Advisory/Liaison Committees, including student representation. In terms of available resources, there are excellent clinic facilities for the clinical program, including state-of-the-art recording facilities. Both degrees satisfy the core capabilities and attributes and their assessment. The use of log books and the assessment of coursework meet the required Standards. In addition, the Standards coursework and research are also met. The visiting team were able to meet large groups of students from both the clinical and counselling degree programs of study. Both groups were very satisfied with the training they were receiving and indicated they would recommend their program. A number of the counselling students had specifically organised their personal lives to be able to undertake postgraduate training at Curtin rather than other Australian counselling programs. Practical placements were assessed by the accreditation team via available documentation including student log books, interviews with staff and students, and external supervisors. The clinic is well run, and has enough clients to provide the necessary internal clinical experiences for students. The students have the appropriate training preparatory to their placements, they are required to meet the 1000 hours of placements and 400 hours of face to face client contact, supervision log books were sited and supervisors had signed off on them. All supervisors were appropriately qualified and there was appropriate prior, mid and end placement contact with the University. External supervisors were very positive towards the clinical training program and reported that Curtin University postgraduate students are well prepared to undertake external placements. Similar comments were made by the external supervisors in the counselling program. External supervisors and students on practicum alike were glowing in their commendation of the efforts of Curtin staff to liaise and oversee external placements. The School is commended for the clinical training facilities provided in its clinic, and for the leading-edge recording system developed in the School. Commendation for the efforts of counselling program staff to improve and deepen the effective relationships between external supervisors and the School should be noted. 3
APAC Accreditation Summary Checklist for use with APAC Standards June 2010 Version 10 Name of Higher Education Provider: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University Date of Site Visit: 14-16 August 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 Four Year Sequence Program of Study Standard Program of Study Structure 3.1.2-5 /4.1.3 Program of Study Content (Years 1-4) 3.1.6-7 /4.1.4-7 Research Methods and Professional and Research Ethics 4.1.8 Research Project 4.1.9-15 Assessment 3.1.11-16 /4.1.16-17 Assessment of 4 th Year Research Project 4.1.18-20 Awarding of Credit or Advance Standing 3.1.17-19 1
Fifth and Sixth Year Masters Program of Study (Clinical) Standard 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 Standard (Counselling) 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 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 Authorised: Professor Trevor Waring AM FAPS Chair, Australian Psychology Accreditation Council Date: 8 October 2012 3