Master of Professional Psychology

Course overview

Build advanced skills in psychological assessment, ethics and therapeutic interventions with the Master of Professional Psychology. This fifth-year, APAC-accredited psychology course prepares you for a final year of supervised practice that leads to general registration as a psychologist.

If you want to elevate your understanding of human behaviour to an expert level, why not do it at a university that’s ranked #1 in Victoria for education experiences in postgraduate psychology?

The Master of Professional Psychology is all about preparing you for the next stage of your career. If your aim is to progress to the one-year internship that leads to registration as a psychologist, you will graduate with professional practice skills that allow you to thrive in your chosen setting. If registration isn’t your goal and you’re ready to explore new, more challenging roles in the workforce right away, the specialised knowledge you will develop throughout the course set you up to make a positive impact in people’s lives from day one.

Haven’t mapped out your path beyond graduation? This course exposes you to the many different roles, topics and challenges that exist within psychology, allowing you to sample different career options before making your choice.

Key areas of study include:

• psychology across the lifespan
• working with diverse populations
• ethics in professional psychology

psychological intervention strategies such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches

the application of different psychological assessment methods such as personality, intelligence and ability tests.

All of these skills are ingrained through practical experience. Take your learning beyond textbooks to participate in demonstrations, role-play, individualised feedback and collaboration sessions that give you a chance to apply your skills to authentic scenarios. These techniques are a step up from those learned at the undergraduate level and allow you to apply more complex interventions to a broader range of psychological symptoms.

Your studies will be enriched further by professional practicums that consist of three key activities: workshops, placement and supervision. Practicums are another opportunity to apply the principles learned in the classroom in real-life settings. Learn on your feet, build relationships and problem-solve under the guidance of established professionals.

Combine this extensive practical experience with a strong focus on applied research to graduate as a well-rounded professional. Learn how to apply research to your decision-making, become confident at critically analysing research and discover what it takes to conduct your own.

Entry into the Master of Professional Psychology is competitive. That’s because Deakin is ranked in the top 1% worldwide for psychology, and leads all Victorian universities for education experience, learning resources and support services. If you want to join a high-achieving group of students with a shared passion for exploring the human mind and helping others, the Master of Professional Psychology is the course to take your career forward.