HPSC30019 Minds and Madness
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is HPSC30019 hard?
HPSC30019: Harder. Makes it easier: No final exam. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (8 reviews).
What you learn
The history and philosophy of madness and mental illness: whether such illnesses are real kinds, and how treatments came about.
After it you can
- Trace changing ideas of madness over time
- Discuss whether mental illnesses are natural kinds
- Link theories of cause to forms of treatment
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 60%, Assignments 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 8 students on StudentVIP (2016–2024)
- Reviewers in 2018-2022 found the history of psychiatry and mental illness eye-opening, especially for psychology and biomedicine students, though it is not a WAM booster.
- From 2023 the tone changed: content delivered as short weekly videos, dense material and unclear assessment briefs. A 2024 reviewer warned that essays are judged as history, not philosophy.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate HPSC30019
Quick answers
- When is HPSC30019 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking HPSC30019?
- No prerequisites.
- Does HPSC30019 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Reports and essays 60%, Assignments 40%.
- Is HPSC30019 hard?
- From 8 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers in 2018-2022 found the history of psychiatry and mental illness eye-opening, especially for psychology and biomedicine students, though it is not a WAM booster.
- What do students say about HPSC30019?
- Reviewers in 2018-2022 found the history of psychiatry and mental illness eye-opening, especially for psychology and biomedicine students, though it is not a WAM booster. From 2023 the tone changed: content delivered as short weekly videos, dense material and unclear assessment briefs. A 2024 reviewer warned that essays are judged as history, not philosophy.
- How many class hours a week does HPSC30019 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take HPSC30019 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate HPSC30019?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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