Bachelor of Commerce Honours: Industrial and Organisational Psychology
Business, Commerce and Management Studies - Human Resources
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Description
Purpose
The purpose of the qualification is to consolidate, advance and deepen the student's professional expertise in the various practice areas of industrial and organisational psychology and develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques of a selected practice or specialisation area. In this regard, the qualification serves to educate and train researchers who can potentially contribute to the development of new knowledge in the profession at postgraduate level, leading to enhanced career and employment prospects. The qualification provides qualifying students with comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the principles, major theories and paradigms, methods and technology of the science and profession of industrial and organisational psychology in various areas of specialisation. The qualification equips the student with the required advanced and specialised intellectual and practical skills to prepare for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as psychometrists or counsellors in designated practice or specialisation areas, and to further their studies as prospective Industrial Psychologists and as Chartered Human Resource Practitioners. Successful completion of this qualification will enable the graduate to meet the competence requirements for registration as a Human Resources Practitioner with the South African Board for Personnel Practice (SABPP). Graduates who complete the Bachelor of Commerce Honours: Industrial and Organisational Psychology and wish to register with the HPCSA as psychometrists or counsellors will have to complete a practicum and pass a National Board Examination set by the College for Professional Psychology, which functions under the auspices of the Professional Board for Psychology of the HPCSA.
Rationale
The profession of industrial and organisational psychology has become increasingly relevant in the modern era, as evidenced by the burgeoning research-based publications devoted to the study, understanding and improvement of human work behaviour and the psychological conditions of workers in the multiculturally diverse local and global socio-economic, socio-political and legal work contexts. The Bachelor of Commerce Honours: Industrial and Organisational Psychology prepares students for research-based postgraduate study, deepens their expertise in conducting and reporting applicable psychological research under supervision and utilising their research findings to improve quality of work life and organisational productivity in the African and global organisational context. The qualification also prepares graduates for specialised professional employment.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate coherent and critical understanding of research, founded on a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base, in one of the following areas: employee and organisational wellness, consumer psychology or employment relations. Range: Knowledge base must include: Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in economic and management sciences, theory and paradigms, professional practice and ethical standards in the specialisation areas of managerial and organisational psychology, personnel and career psychology, industrial psychological assessment
- Demonstrate advanced scholarship in the various specialisation areas by critically and systematically reviewing knowledge and processes of knowledge production and interrogating multiple sources of knowledge in the various areas of specialisation.
- Use a range of specialised skills to identify, analyse and address complex, abstract and/or real-life problems in the workplace, drawing systematically on own knowledge of ethical standards, theory and paradigms, research methods, techniques and technologies in the various specialisation areas.
- Form a research proposal by applying knowledge of and insight into the theory and principles of research and the process of conducting research in a particular complex and/or real-life problem in a selected area of specialisation.
- Plan and implement a research project in a selected area of specialisation and use the resources of an academic/professional discourse to write up a research report relevant to the profession that meets the standards of scholarly/professional writing. Range for content of report: Specialised knowledge, skills, research methods, techniques and technologies and ethical standards.
- Demonstrate capacity to manage and self-assess learning tasks autonomously, professionally, responsibly and ethically with due consideration of own continued professional growth and development. Critical Cross-Field Outcomes: Identify and solve challenging, complex and real-life human behaviour problems in an organisational context and make decisions using advanced critical and independent thinking. Autonomously collect, analyse, research, organise and critically evaluate information and make sound judgements, reflecting critical self-reflection and a consideration of consequences and ethical standards. Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community by taking full responsibility for own work, decision making and use of resources. Organise and manage self and own activities responsibly and effectively, develop own learning strategies which sustain independent learning and academic or continued professional development and interact effectively within the learning or professional group as a means of enhancing learning. Communicate effectively using visual and/or language skills in the mode of oral and/or written presentations. This includes researching, reviewing, evaluating, producing and communicating information in specialised contexts in order to develop creative responses and insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to the context. Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation. This includes operating effectively within a system, or managing the system based on an understanding of the roles and relationships between elements of the system. Develop sensitivity to diversity and individual uniqueness and understand similarities shared with others. This includes identifying and addressing ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value systems to specific contexts. Promote responsible citizenship by contributing towards the psychological wellbeing of others and quality of work life within the organisation, including the full personal development of individuals, and the social and economic development of society at large. Develop a comprehensive and systematic theoretical knowledge base in the areas of specialisation and practical macro vision, taking into account socio-economic, socio-political, legal and multicultural factors influencing economic, business and people management internationally, nationally and locally.
Assessment Criteria
The following set of generic assessment criteria apply to the qualification as a whole:
- Review of Literature: Current research and multiple sources of scholarly or professional literature are reviewed, critiqued, and evaluated independently.
- Theoretical Judgements: Sound theoretical judgements are made using well-reasoned, theory-driven, and evidence-based arguments.
- Diagnoses and Critical Review: Diagnoses of human psychological functioning in an organisational context and related complex problems are accurately identified, critically reviewed, evaluated, and interpreted considering socio-economic, socio-political, and legal contexts.
- Application of Procedures: Standard procedures, processes, or techniques are appropriately applied to deal with unfamiliar complex problems in a specific area of specialisation.
- Data Analysis and Interpretation: The analysis and interpretation of theoretical, quantitative, and qualitative data demonstrate critical insight through theory-driven and evidence-based arguments.
- Communication: Judgements and conclusions are clearly communicated to specialist and non-specialist audiences using academic/professional discourse effectively.
- Self-assessment and Professional Development: Critical self-assessment reflects responsibility for own activities, ethical behavior, and continued professional development in the field.
- Social Sensitivity: Reasoning, viewpoints, insights, and ideas demonstrate social sensitivity in relationships and interactions with others.
- Ethical Decision-making: Ethical decisions affecting knowledge production of complex issues are made autonomously with social sensitivity and awareness of consequences.
Integrated Assessment:
- Evidence of learning competency and the ability to achieve the qualification's purpose is required through comprehensive Integrated Assessment.
- Continuous formative and summative assessment methods, including written assignments, exams, and research project supervision, are used.
- Formative assessments contribute 10% to the year mark, while written exams contribute 90% to the total summative assessment mark.
- Successful achievement of outcomes in compulsory/core and elective modules, along with an approved research proposal and report in the chosen specialisation, is necessary for qualification award.
Note: Assessment methods will adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Unisa Assessment Policy.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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