Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)

Throughout your four-year degree, you will complete a range of core psychology and visual communication core units, along with a psychology elective unit.  You will also build skills in areas such as critical and creative thinking, self-awareness and digital fluency which will prepare you for a rapidly changing future with QUT You units. 

From your first year you will be introduced to the foundations of psychology including biological (physiological) and cognitive psychology and will learn the scientific method of research in psychology, research design, and data analysis. You will also learn core design processes and practices and will be introduced to existing and emerging technologies with a consideration for social, ethical and environmental impacts. You will be hands on from year one through your design fabrication unit which explores concepts, skills and methods required to prototype and fabricate physical objects from your design ideas. 

As you progress through your degree you will develop professional agility and high-level communication skills along with critical thinking and robust research skills. You will engage in self-reflection to better understand your impact on the world around you, and develop your capabilities in partnership with your peers, individuals, communities, and other professionals. 

Your design major in visual communication will develop both your practical and theoretical skills in multiple visual communication design specialisations, including graphic design, typography, image making, information design, experience design, motion design, branding and interaction design. 

Students wishing to undertake the psychology honours course must complete PYB350 Advanced Statistical Analysis as one of their elective units. PYB350 is compulsory for entry to fourth year psychology programs. 

Careers and outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)/Bachelor of Design, will be equipped with a strong set of marketable skills including creative and critical literacy and psychological insights to address real-world problems across a range of industries. 

You could apply these skills to pursue your interests in the following areas: 

• Human factors engineering: apply psychological principles to design systems to find human-friendly solutions to design problems. 
• Marketing, brand strategy and digital marketing: use your understanding of human behaviour to develop compelling marketing campaigns or to enhance brand identities. If you are interested in technology and data, a career as a digital marketing analyst will allow you to leverage insights into human behaviour to analyse digital marketing strategies, optimise campaigns, and enhance user engagement. 
• Healthcare design: look at the processes and systems that underpin healthcare delivery and find creative solutions for spatial designs in clinics, or focus on improving technology and digital systems to maximise the efficiency of health services. 
• Educational/instructional design: enhance educational outcomes and improve student engagement by applying the principles of psychology to develop high-quality learning materials and authentic learning experiences. 
• Research analysis: this double degree will teach you how to apply research methodologies to provide insights into human preferences and trends.  

To become a registered psychologist you will need to complete further study. Registered psychologists use scientific knowledge of human behaviour to assist individuals who are experiencing mental disorders, relationship problems, learning difficulties, addiction and eating disorders, among other things. Psychologists may work in a specific area of psychology such as cognition, neuroscience, or social and developmental behaviour. 

If teaching is your ambition, this course can be also followed with a graduate-entry teacher education Master of Teaching (secondary) course (check the entry requirements for specific teaching courses) which enables you to become a qualified teacher. Pathways also exist to prepare you for further study including research.  

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. To pursue a career in a professional area of psychology, you will need to undertake further study to gain registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. 

As a design graduate, you will also qualify for membership at the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), the professional body for Australian designers. Members have exclusive access to a range of services, products and discounts to advance their careers.