Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Specialist Practice 1

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

 

 


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1463

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014

BESC1463

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 1 2025

BESC1475

Bundoora Campus

Research

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013

Course Coordinator: Dr Jesse Gates

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: jesse.gates@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses

Successful completion of:

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.


Course Description

Specialist Psychological Practice 1 is designed to build on theoretical and practical knowledge and skills by extending and focusing training on specific ‘specialised’ areas of professional practice. This course focuses on the application of empirically validated interventions in the management of specific psychological problems in adults and the broader issues associated with chronic health conditions. During the course you will focus on the following aspect of psychological practice:

  • Adult Clinical Interventions & Health Psychology


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for MC002 Master of Clinical Psychology:

  • PLO 1:  Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the theories, models and scientific underpinning of professional psychological practice and its application across behavioural and organisational systems.
  • PLO2:  Develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the legislative frameworks and ethical codes and guidelines that guide professional psychological practice at a personal and professional level.
  • PLO 3:  Design, analyse, synthesise and communicate information from a wide variety of psychological assessments and techniques appropriate to the developmental stage, cognitive level and cultural background of the client, and appropriate to the purpose of the assessment.

 


On successful completion of this course you should be able to: 

  1. Identify the historical basis of the biomedical and biopsychosocial theoretical models of health care and identify the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
  2. Critically evaluate the empirical research literature relating to a variety of clinical interventions used in the treatment of adult psychological problems and identify major models of health protective behaviour as they relate to clinical populations.
  3. Select appropriate psychological techniques for intervention in a variety of specific adult psychological problems and discuss sources of stress associated with acute and chronic illnesses.
  4. Evaluate, in the context of day-to-day clinical practice, the effectiveness of a variety of interventions used in the treatment of adult psychological problems.
  5. Reflect on and synthesise practical experiences gained in health care agencies with the psychological theory pertinent to illness behaviour.
  6. Appraise behaviour patterns in patients experiencing illness and hospitalisation and identify appropriate interventions.


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities include a mixture of lectures/seminars, tutorials and skill development activities. Lectures will build on knowledge gained in the program and provide a solid theoretical and practice-driven basis to help to achieve professional practice proficiency. The skill development activities will support entry into professional psychological practice. You are expected to read widely in the areas related to this course.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Evidence based treatment essay
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 2: Intervention Plan in a Group Setting
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 3, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 3: Oral Presentation of Health Psychology Client
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.