PSY8151 Masters Practicum 3

Contents

• Staffing
• Requisites
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

REQUISITES

RATIONALE

The final Master of Psychology Degree practicum course is designed to provide students with an opportunity for independent practice with supervision within their respective discipline specialisation that is commensurate with the level of performance of a competent and highly professional Psychologist.

SYNOPSIS

Assessment of the student's evaluations and skill development in Practicums 1 and 2 will determine areas within which the student is capable of independent practice within a structured setting. Students who have interests in areas where they have not had the opportunity to train will be able to address some of their time to that area if an appropriate setting is available. However, the primary goal is to prepare the student for entry into the psychology profession.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the practicum, students will be able to demonstrate many competencies identified in the APS Competencies for Psychologists (1996): case formulation, assessment, intervention, service implementation, professional legal and ethical principles, communication and professional and community relations in a clinical context. Actual content of the Practicum will include skills as identified in the respective College Competency document. Specifically students will be able to:

1. formulate questions to guide assessment and intervention (Assessment 1);
2. plan, conduct, evaluate and write up 4 clinical case studies at individual, group and organisational levels (Assessment 4);
3. demonstrate a working knowledge of the role of psychological assessments and interventions within a multidisciplinary team (Assessment 2);
4. construct and present individual and organisational reports in oral and written formats appropriate to the setting (Assessment 2).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Baird, BN 2005, The internship, practicum and field placement handbook, 5th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

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.

Directed reading as assigned and recorded in the Goals and Objectives Form. Students will consult relevant Psychological Journals.

Bramston, P 2008, Practicum contract plan: review forms, USQ Psychology Department, Toowoomba.

The Australian Psychological Society Ltd 1999, Code of ethics, The Australian Psychological Society Ltd, Carlton South, Victoria.

The Australian Psychological Society Ltd 2002, Ethical guidelines, 3rd edn, The Australian Psychological Society Ltd, Carlton South, Victoria.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as practicum seminars and supervisor consultations) scheduled for them, 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.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To obtain a satisfactory standard on the final placement evaluation of the University and setting supervisors, the student must obtain a satisfactory rating on all of the assessment criteria which are predicated on the Goals and Objectives Form and indicated on the Practicum Evaluation Form. Part of the 300 hours of Practicum Activity includes the writing up of 4 case studies of clients worked with in this and the previous two practicums. These case reports need to be at least 2,000 words each in length and should reflect the problem formulation, hypothesis testing approach where treatment programs are constructed on the basis of detailed assessments and history taking, problem formulation, intervention monitoring and final evaluation. Case studies are required to reflect a wide range of client issues (acute as well as chronic), across various age ranges (child, adolescent, adult and older adult), in a variety of settings (inpatient, outpatient, community) and use a variety of clinical skills (assessment, treatment, professional).
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   Not applicable.
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 Practical Experience as organized by the Psychology Practicum Coordinator and obtain a satisfactory standard on the Final Practicum Evaluation.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   As P is the only passing grade available for this course, all students who are qualified for a passing grade as in Assessment 4 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 Booklet (referred to in Assessment Note 10) or an Incomplete grade. Students who fail the Practicum cannot continue in the Program.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 27 May 2008.