| Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Ipswich | |
| Short Description: | Psychology Practicum 2 |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Psychology and Counselling |
| Student contribution band : | Band 1 |
| ASCED code : | 090701 - Psychology |
| Grading basis : | Pass/Not Pass |
Staffing
Examiner:
Requisites
Pre-requisite: PSY5130 and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS or be undertaking the course as professional development
Rationale
To practise with a level of expertise required by a professional psychologist, psychologists must be able to understand and critically apply general psychological models and practice to specific fields. The practicum builds on the generalist skills and knowledge acquired in Practicum 1. It is anticipated that students will be capable of more independent work at this stage in their training and will self-manage the mandatory requirements for practice and supervision log books and placement reviews.
Synopsis
The practicum course provides students with a structured situation in which to develop practical knowledge and skills within the psychology field. While the objectives are similar to Practicum 1, the level of independent practice and the application to specialist areas further challenges the student to broaden and diversify beyond their responsibilities in the first placement.
Objectives
At the end of the practicum, students should be able to:
- conduct a preliminary intake interview;
- formulate questions to guide further assessment and intervention;
- plan, conduct and evaluate assessment case studies;
- plan, conduct and evaluate intervention case studies;
- articulate the role of psychological interventions within an interprofessional team
- construct and present case reports in oral and written formats setting;
- conduct insightful self-analysis of clinical intervention expertise.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Specific goals for assessment and intervention skills to be arranged between the student and his or her supervisors according to the opportunities afforded at the practicum site. See additional guidelines in the Practicum Handbook. | 100.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=PSY5230)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
The Australian Psychological Society Ltd 2007, Code of ethics, Rev edn, The Australian Psychological Society Ltd, Carlton South, Victoria.
The Australian Psychological Society Ltd 2017, Ethical guidelines, 14th edn, The Australian Psychological Society Ltd, Carlton South, Victoria.
Reference materials
Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Baird, B.N 2019, The internship, practicum and field placement handbook, 8th edn, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle river, NJ.
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Case Studies | 5.00 |
| Practical Experience | 150.00 |
| Supervisor Consultation | 10.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Objectives Assessed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Practicum Evaluation | 1 | 75 | 18 Jun 2020 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | |
| Mid-Practicum Evaluation | 1 | 25 | 18 Jun 2020 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as practicum seminars and group supervision) scheduled, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To obtain a satisfactory standard on the final practicum evaluation of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app, students must 1) obtain a satisfactory rating on all of the assessment criteria on the Final Practicum Evaluation Form, and 2) students must submit to the Practicum Supervisor to mark, a written case study of a de-identified client assessed or treated in the practicum. For the mid practicum evaluation, students must submit and obtain a pass grade. The case study documentation should conform to the format for case studies as set out in the guidelines, and as mandated by the Psychology Board of Australia. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To receive a passing grade in this course, students must complete the required hours of the Practicum as organised by the psychology Practicum Coordinator, obtain a satisfactory standard on the Final Practicum Evaluation, have a written case study passed by the Practicum Coordinator, and achieve a passing grade on the mid placement evaluation. All courses in the MPPS and MCPS are approved by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), which requires that students pass all assessment items in all courses. Where a student fails the mid placement evaluation the student will be allowed one opportunity to re-submit their work following feedback from the course examiner. If a student fails the mid-placement evaluation a second time, he or she will be deemed to have failed the course and will be required to undertake the course again at its next offering. Where illness, bereavement, or circumstances of similar gravity affect a student’s ability to meet the high standards expected in the program, the student should meet with the course examiner or Director of Postgraduate Psychology programs to negotiate suitable management of the person’s individual needs. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
As P is the only passing grade available for the course, all students who are qualified for a passing grade in item 4, above, will be given a grade of P. Other students will be given either a Failing grade if they do not achieve the goals stated in the Practicum Handbook or an Incomplete grade. Students who have a repeated fail in the practicum cannot continue in the program. -
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
There will be no deferred or supplementary examinations in this course. -
¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
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The examiner may grant an extension of the due date of a practicum in extenuating circumstances.
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Students will require access to email and internet access to UConnect for this course.
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A record of all practicum activity hours and supervision must be maintained by students in log books (see the Practicum Handbook for details).
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Assessment 1 includes a mid-practicum interview with the student’s on-site placement supervisor/s to determine the student's progress.
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Assessment 2 includes a final practicum evaluation from the on-site placement supervisor, based on predetermined criteria for each practicum goal, AND a de-identified case study written to meet the Psychology Board of Australia’s mandated format, to be marked by the Practicum Coordinator.
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At the start of the practicum a contract will be drawn up between the on-campus supervisor, the placement supervisor and the student regarding supervisory and practicum requirements.
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Specific goals for the practicum will be completed in each of the Board competency areas by the placement supervisor and the student before the commencement of the practicum. Goals are to make specific reference to assessment, intervention, and professional competencies listed by the Psychology Board of Australia.
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Attendance at practicum seminar meetings, unless otherwise arranged with the Practicum Coordinator, is strongly advised. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have the best chance to meet the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
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Supervision meetings will be held at the placement setting and with academic supervisors as specified in the Practicum Contract.
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APA style is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use APA style in their case studies to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The APA style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.
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There is no LP (Low Pass) in any psychology core courses as these courses are exempt from awarding the LP grade.
Other requirements
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Students will require regular access to e-mail and internet access to UConnect for this course. Reliable access to the internet is a requirement of this course as the course contains elements that are managed electronically via USQ ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk. In order to avoid internet issues, on-campus students should access the student computer laboratories to complete assignment work. External students who knowingly do not have reliable access to the internet should actively seek alternative internet access (e.g., Internet cafes, local libraries, or work places) for assessment submission and electronic assessment attempts. External students are able to use the on-campus student computer laboratories once access has been enabled. To be granted access, external students need to contact ICT and ask to have a student account enabled so that they can work on-campus.