Brain and Behaviour
Hawthorn: 36 hours + blended, SOL: 150 hours online
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This unit introduces students to the structure and function of the brain and how it interacts with the external world to generate thoughts, emotions and behaviour. Applications in health and mental illness are also introduced as well as ethical practice in psychological research.
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
06-July-2026
04-October-2026
04-October-2026
Last self-enrolment date
19-July-2026
Census date
04-August-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
25-August-2026
Results released date
27-October-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
01-March-2027
30-May-2027
30-May-2027
Last self-enrolment date
14-March-2027
Census date
30-March-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
20-April-2027
Results released date
06-July-2027
Winter
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
21-June-2027
01-August-2027
01-August-2027
Last self-enrolment date
21-June-2027
Census date
06-July-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
13-July-2027
Results released date
17-August-2027
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-August-2027
31-October-2027
31-October-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-August-2027
Census date
31-August-2027
Last withdraw without fail date
21-September-2027
Results released date
07-December-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Explain the general methods of investigation employed in psychological research and the main issues in research ethics
- Explain key concepts from major content areas in psychology. These include: biological underpinnings of psychology; sensory processes, perception, and consciousness; motivation, emotion, health, and psychological disorders
- Locate, organise and integrate information from various sources concerning topics and problems relating to psychology
- Communicate in a logical and clear manner the results of investigating a topic or problems relating to psychology
- Apply psychological theories, methods, and data to explain everyday experiences and behaviours.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Lecture | 24 | 12 weeks | 2 |
| On-campus | Class | 12 | 12 weeks | 1 |
| Specified Activities | Various | 24 | 12 weeks | 2 |
| Unspecified Activities | Various | 90 | 12 weeks | 7.5 |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | |
Swinburne Online
| ctivity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online | Class | 12 | 12 weeks | 1 |
| Online | Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 138 | 12 weeks | 11.5 |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Individual | 35-45% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | 25-35% | 1,3,4 |
| Examination | Individual | 20-30% | 2,5 |
Content
- Sensation and perception
- Biological aspects of psychology
- Consciousness
- Motivation and emotion
- Neuropsychology
- Health and psychological disorders
- Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
- Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
- Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.
