Bachelor of Psychology Honours
Human and Social Studies - General Social Science
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The Bachelor of Psychology Honours (BPychHons) program aims to educate and prepare graduates for further Postgraduate studies and research in Psychology. By enhancing their intellectual capacity in Psychology, graduates will be equipped to pursue the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Psychology, potentially leading to professional registration with the Psychology Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
The program is designed to deepen students' theoretical understanding of Psychology as a discipline and provide opportunities for research and practical exposure to community engagement and service-learning activities.
Rationale:
While the BPsychHons qualification alone does not lead to registration with the HPCSA, it serves as a prerequisite for the PGDip in Psychology, which does lead to registration. This program is essential for students in the humanities and social sciences who are interested in pursuing Postgraduate studies in Psychology to enter careers in the social service sector.
By offering a pathway to professional qualifications in Psychology and access to further academic pursuits, this qualification addresses the identified need for individuals interested in advancing their studies and careers in the field of Psychology.
Outcomes
- Apply quantitative and qualitative research principles, methodological tools and practical skills to competently plan, conduct and report on a research project of limited scope in the field of psychological research.
- Plan, conduct and evaluate a psychosocial intervention regarding specific contemporary psychosocial issues in a community setting.
- Apply in-depth theoretical learning of normal human development throughout the life span to real-life situations.
- Use critical and creative thinking to discuss, apply and critically evaluate various approaches to psychotherapy.
- Portray an ethical sensitivity toward a variety of therapeutic situations.
- Demonstrate understanding, knowledge and skill in the psychological assessment process of administering, scoring and interpreting of selected psychological measuring instruments in an ethical and professional way.
- Portray integrative understanding of and theoretical approaches to psychopathology during childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
Assessment Criteria
Integrated Assessment Criteria:
- Therapeutic Frameworks and Ethical Principles:
- Apply knowledge of therapeutic frameworks and ethical principles in diagnosing and treating psychological disorders.
- Psychological Disorders:
- Understand and describe different psychological disorders to formulate a diagnosis.
- Childhood/Adolescent Disorders:
- Prevalence and Statistics: Focus on the prevalence and statistics of a specific childhood/adolescent disorder.
- Clinical Description: Provide a detailed clinical description of the chosen disorder.
- DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria: Explain the diagnostic criteria according to the DSM-5.
- Causation and Treatment: Discuss integrative causative factors and treatment options for the disorder.
- Psychometric Properties:
- Critically evaluate assessment instruments based on test manuals.
- Personal Psychometric Protocol:
- Integrate and apply learning to develop a personal psychometric assessment protocol.
- Developmental Process:
- Apply learning to understand and reflect on personal developmental processes.
- Therapeutic Approach:
- Key Concepts: Introduce a specific therapeutic approach with key concepts.
- Therapeutic Process: Explain the therapeutic process involved in the approach.
- Techniques and Procedures: Describe the techniques and procedures used in the therapeutic approach.
- Multi-cultural Application: Discuss how the therapeutic approach can be applied in a multicultural context.
- Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of the therapeutic approach.
- Research Process:
- Formulate: Understand and formulate a research question.
- Apply: Apply research design and methodology (quantitative or qualitative).
- Document: Create an integrated research report comprising of a literature review, results, discussion, and conclusion.
Assessment Methods:
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Formative Assessments:
- Class presentation on childhood/adolescent disorders.
- Semester test on psychological disorders.
- Critically evaluating assessment instruments.
- Assignment on personal psychometric protocol.
- Assignment on personal developmental process.
- Group presentation on therapeutic approach.
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Summative Assessments:
- Integrated research report on the research process.
- Examination on psychological disorders diagnosis and treatment.
- Examination on therapeutic frameworks and ethical principles.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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