Graduate Diploma of Science in Psychology (GradDipSc)

• Structuring Your GradDipSc in Psychology
• Contacts

The Graduate Diploma in Science (GradDipSci) in Psychology is ideal for students who have completed tertiary study in another discipline and now wish to study psychology. By successfully completing a GradDipSc students can go onto postgraduate study.

Under the GradDipSci, students will study just the necessary courses for a major in psychology. The normal 100 level pre-requisites do no apply. However students are expected to perform at the required 200 course level. Course Coordinators can recommend readings for you to read prior to the course beginning or as additional reading material. Entering study at the 200 level can be difficult without preparation.

Although STAT 193 is not a requirement, it is highly recommended for students who do not have any experience of statistics in their prior learning. Students that wish to go onto postgraduate study should also consider completing statistics beyond the 100 statistics level.

Ideally students would complete 200 level courses before advancing onto 300 level courses. While it would make sense it is not always possible. Students must however complete PSYC 232 in the first trimester of your enrolment. At this point it is impossible for a student to enrol in the GradDipSc in trimester 2.

The GradDipSc can be completed part time or full time.

Structuring Your GradDipSc in Psychology

The GradDipSci requires at least 120 points of study from a mixture of 200 and 300 level courses (the equivalent of eight courses). At least 75 points (of the 120 points) must be at the 300 level (the equivalent of five courses).

For the GradDipSci in Psychology, seven of your total eight courses must be psychology courses, these need to include:
a. PSYC 232 Research Methods
b. PSYC 325 Advanced Research Methods
c. at least three other 300-level PSYC courses
d. at least two other papers from PSYC 200 - PSYC 300

Regardless of whether you study full-time or part-time, you must complete Psyc 232 (Research Methods) during your first trimester of study.

Fig. 3 Necessary Requirements of a Major

PSYC 232	PSYC 200 or 300	PSYC 200 or 300	PSYC 200 or 300
PSYC 325	PSYC 300	PSYC 300	PSYC 300

You should refer to the undergraduate prospectus to identify courses for a programme of study. If you are considering postgraduate study such as the clinical programme you should find out the pre-requisites for entry into the programme.

Contacts

For general information on admission to and enrolment in the GradDipSci in Psychology (including fee structure), contact the Faculty of Science.
The Adviser to contact depends on the first letter of the your surname:

A - H: Belinda Tuari, email Belinda.Tuari@vuw.ac.nz
I - Q: Rachel Zhang, email Rachel.Zhang@vuw.ac.nz
R - Z: Celia Simpson, email Celia.Simpson@vuw.ac.nz

After you have structured your programme of study you can contact Dr. Carolyn Wilshire in the School of Psychology to provide advice and approve your programme.