Module Descriptions
BA Honours in Psychology (BPsych Equivalent)
Below is all the Module Descriptions for 2024.
Important Notice:
Welcome to the module descriptor for the BA Honours in Psychology (BPsych Equivalent) program. This comprehensive curriculum spans 18 months of full-time studies, encompassing 132 credits and delivered through on-site interactions. Aspiring candidates should note that meeting the specified admission criteria does not guarantee automatic selection, as a limited number of students are accepted annually. The selection process involves a meticulous review by a committee, including the Head of the Psychology Department and three other faculty members. This committee assesses the BPsych Equivalent Programme Application Form, reference forms, and academic transcripts, inviting successful candidates to participate in an interview. This introduction provides an overview of the program’s structure, duration, mode of delivery, and the rigorous selection process in place.
Note: If you already have an Honours in Psychology, you may apply for CAT (Credit Accumulation and Transfer)
Study Year 1 (basic level; NQF 8)
This module is designed to facilitate the independent planning, execution and reporting/writing up of a research project in a community setting. A community setting is any placement which addresses the psychosocial issues present within the South African context (i.e., substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and community violence among others). Students will conceptualize the research project as a group although they write on an individual basis. The project is guided by the assigned supervisor. This module comprises (i) the research proposal, (ii) the research report and (iii) a poster and oral presentation.
This course is designed to equip students with the skills to plan, execute and critically evaluate research studies. Qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and analysis will be explored. Students will be able to select appropriate techniques for various research situations, execute these techniques and interpret the findings contextually within the conventions of the relevant research traditions.
This module focusses on counselling skills and praxis suitable for counsellors in a variety of settings. In this module the student is introduced to the scope of a registered counsellor, as designed by the HPCSA. Skills, models, techniques and theories are discussed to equip the student in becoming an ethical and well-trained registered counsellor.
This module aims to introduce students to basic concepts of psychological assessment and provide students with a general overview of psychometric assessment. Students will be exposed to the practical components of assessment and gain a clear understanding of scoring and interpreting various assessments. Emphasis will be placed on the assimilation of various assessment methods. The interpretation and integration of psychometric assessments will be presented in a report form. Attention will be given to scope of practice for registered counsellors and to the impact of psychological assessment within a multi-cultural society.
This module is designed to facilitate the independent planning, execution and reporting/writing up of a research project in a community setting. A community setting is any placement which addresses the psychosocial issues present within the South African context (i.e., substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and community violence among others). Students will conceptualize the research project as a group although they write on an individual basis. The project is guided by the assigned supervisor. This module comprises (i) the research proposal, (ii) the research report and (iii) a poster and oral presentation.
This module is an exploration of the multifaceted theoretical and practical knowledge base that has contributed to the development of intervention services in South Africa. Different contexts in which the students will work will be examined, applying multiple theories underpinning group intervention practice. They will learn what it means to be an integrated health professional, combining knowledge with empathic and reflective dimensions. They will learn practical psychological first aid tools to use in traumatic and crisis work settings, as well as preventative and developmental skills for issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS. Scope of practice and ethical issues related to working in such contexts will also be addressed.
This module is designed to prepare students for the recognition and identification of mental disorders. A methodology for organizing information about symptomatology and the diagnostic features are presented. Appropriate treatment options, and contextual factors will be explored and responses to ethical dilemmas in psychopathology addressed. The use of structured and semi-structured interviews will also be addressed.
This course is designed to provide the student with an integrated view of key psychological theories that underpin personality formation, motivation for behaviour, optimal development and psychopathology.
This module provides students with an overview of the major theories of Developmental Psychology. Furthermore, the module aims to address contemporary concerns in lifespan development from conception to late adulthood/death and dying. The course will engage with developmental theories from a range of orientations, including learning/cognitive theories, theories of language development and a socio-cultural perspective.
Study Year 2 (intermediate level; NQF 8)
This Practicum aims to help the student gain practical fieldwork experience in a community setting. In this module the student will be given opportunities to integrate theoretical counselling modalities, practical counselling skills and community and group interventions. The module exposes the student to a variety of mental health needs and issues in the community. There is an emphasis on the recognition and screening of mental health issues, and management/referral skills within the registered counsellor scope of practice and framework.