UNIVERSITY of the WESTERN CAPE
DEPARTMENT of PSYCHOLOGY
Private Bag X 17, Bellville 7535, South Africa,
Telephone: +27 21 959 2283/2453 (Departmental Secretaries)
Telephone: +27 21 959 3712 (Honours Administrator)
Fax: +27 21 959 3515
Baccalaureus Artium, Honours (Psychology)
Prospectus 2012-2013
Thank you for your interest in the BA Honours Psychology degree at the University of the Western Cape. This booklet contains information about the overall course, admission requirements, selection process, as well as the structure and content of the various modules offered. Please consult the course coordinator or senior officer for any further information.
Enquiries should be directed to: The Senior Officer
Mr. B. Faroa
BA Honours Psychology Rm 1.308
Social Science Building Department of Psychology University of Western Cape Private Bag X17 Bellville, 7535 Email: bfaroa@uwc.ac.za Tel. +27 21 959 3712 Fax. +27 21 959 3515
The Programme Coordinator Dr. M. Smith, (Clinical Psychology) Office: 1.10
Social Science Building, Department of Psychology Email: mrsmith@uwc.ac.za Tel. +27 21 959 2283/2453 Fax. +27 21 959 3515
Note: The due date to submit applications is Friday November 2, 2012. This prospectus is correct as of May 2012
1. INTRODUCTION
The University of Western Cape BA Honours Psychology degree has been offered for over three decades, adapted and refined in accordance with the changing needs of South Africa and increasingly the African continent, as well as the requirements of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Alongside creating space for our students to learn and teaching the
traditional psychological theories, practical skills, and research know-how, our Department seeks to be responsive to the needs of socially and
economically deprived communities, cultivate the ability to work within and with members of these communities, and move students to participate in creating a different world.
The Honours in Psychology is a course-work degree involving seminars, intensive preparation of academic papers, class presentations by students, and written examinations. The emphasis is on student initiative, participation, and independent work, with diversity and difference amongst both staff and students considered an asset that is encouraged. Modules are semester-based, except for the Research Project.
The aim of the course is to produce students who are equipped with theory and skills, poised to make intelligent, creative and relevant contributions to the rapidly changing scenario of our country and the world.
The course is approved by the Professional Board for Psychology as a Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) equivalent degree since 2004. This means that completion of the Honours degree and an appropriate 6 month practicum will render graduates eligible to seek registration as Registered Counsellors or Psychometrists with the Professional Board. The course content has been brought in line to ensure competencies required of Registered Counsellors and Psychometrists.
2. ADMISSION (Rule J. 184 in University Calendar 2011, Part 8 p.68) Subject to the general authority of the Senate to refuse a student admission to the course, a student shall have obtained a bachelor’s degree approved by the Senate for this purpose and unless the Senate on the recommendation of the head of department decides otherwise, such a student shall have
obtained, before admission to the course, an average minimum of 65% in the final Psychology 3 examinations.
Please note that all applicants must ensure that they meet full requirements of their respective degree programmes in order to be eligible for selection. Admission into the programme is contingent on successful completion of all undergraduate or Bachelor degree requirements i.e. whether the Bachelors degree will be conferred.
Special or Concessionary examinations: Students who are still writing Special exams or concessionary exams will only be eligible to apply for the Honours programme once they have completed all degree requirements i.e. passed the special/ concessionary examinations. At the time of selection, such candidates will be considered ineligible if they still have to write the exam or are still awaiting the outcome of such exams.
3. INTERNATIONAL/ FOREIGN-TRAINED APPLICANTS
Applicants who are in possession of an international qualification must have the following documentation:
• International students who wish to further their studies at UWC should also contact the Matriculation Board to determine whether they qualify for any type of exemption. The address of the Matriculation Boards is as follows:
The Director
Higher Education South Africa (HESA) Matriculation Board
P.O. Box 3854, Pretoria, 0001 Tel. +27 10 591 4401/2
Website: www.hesa.org.za
• SAQA certification – All applicants must ensure that they have submitted their degree qualifications to the South African
Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for an equivalence evaluation. In order to be eligible for the Honours programme, your degree
programme must receive a SAQA certification that is equivalent to a National Qualifications Framework Level 7 (NQF7). Students can contact SAQA via the following details:
SAQA House Postnet Suite 248
Private Bag X06, Waterkloof, 0145
Tel. +27 12 4315070/ Helpdesk – 0860103188 Switchboard - +27+12+4315000
Fax +27 12 4315039
• International applicants are required to be in possession of a study permit to continue their studies at the University. These permits must be applied for in the student’s country of origin and must be kept valid at all times. Please submit copies of your application
documentation to the programme officer for record keeping. Final documentation must be submitted to the Student Administration Office when registering.
• Applicants who posses a valid work permit and wish to study part-time, must apply for an amended work permit or visa that clearly indicates that they are eligible to enrol at the university for part-time studies.
• International students are required by law to have adequate medical cover as stipulated by the South African Department of Home Affairs and the University. The contact details of the former follows below.
Department of Home Affairs Hotline: 08600 60 11 90 Tel. +27 12 810 7322 www.home-affairs.gov.za
• International students are encouraged to contact the International Relations Office (IRO) at UWC for general information regarding the University and entry requirements. Contact IRO on:
Tel. +27 21 959 3346
4. SELECTION
Only complete applications will be considered for selection. It is imperative that applicants accept full responsibility for submitting their final marks before the selection date. Applications without a final and complete transcript will be considered as incomplete.
The Department typically receives in the region of 150 -200 applications annually. However, there are only 40 places in the Honours programme which means that the process is very competitive. The selection for this programme is conducted by a panel of academic and administrative staff members who take the following in consideration:
• Academic merit – The typical academic cut-off is around a 70% aggregate in Psychology III.
• Recognition of Prior Learning – Applicants who have worked in a psychology-related field will be considered for recognition of prior learning to be taken into account when marks are lower or there has been a long period between completing third year and applying to sit for the Honours programme.
• Equity targeting – Race, Gender and Disability are some of the criteria taken into account for redress.
• Community involvement – though not a prerequisite, applicants with a history of community involvement will be looked upon favourably. • Class composition
• Resource constraints – The final number accepted into the programme will depend on the availability of staffing and other resources.
Please note that the final decisions are not taken lightly and the decision of the selection panel is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
5. DURATION OF CURRICULUM (Rule J.186)
Unless the Senate decides otherwise, the duration of the curriculum for full-time students shall be one year and for part-full-time students two years.
6. CREDITS FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES
Senate may give a student credit for sections accredited towards a one-year Bachelor Honours degree of another university, provided that at least half of the credit points for the degree concerned are obtained at this university, and that the student is registered at this university for at least one year.
7. MODULE ALLOCATION
Some modules are over-subscribed. The number of places in a class is limited to 20. Therefore, the Department cannot guarantee an applicant a place in all the modules of his or her choice. However, every effort will be made to fairly match available resources to the applications accepted. Students’ acceptance of their place in the course is conditional on their acceptance of the modules allocated to them as per their letter of acceptance.
In exceptional circumstances it may be possible for students early in the year to swap modules with each other and inform the Department and the
Administration accordingly. The Department cannot, however, accept responsibility for arranging and reporting such swaps. Please note that consent from both parties is required for a swap to be possible.
8. MODULES
The following modules are currently offered in the department and the lecturers in charge:
Module Name Alpha numeric
code
Registration Code
Credit value
Advanced Research Project PSY701 862797 30
Abnormal Psychology PSY702 862737 20
Psychological Interventions PSY 703 862757 20 Research Procedures & Statistics PSY704 862707 20
Personality Development PSY705 862727 20
Health Psychology PSY706 861700 20
Social Psychology PSY707 862777 20
Community Psychology PSY708 862787 20
Psychological Assessment PSY709 861777 20
Degree requirements
8.1 To fulfil the requirements of the BA Honours Psychology degree students are required to complete 6 modules (130 credits) of which 2 are compulsory and 4 are electives.
8.2 Advanced Research Project (PSY 701) and Research Procedures and Statistics (PSY704) are compulsory for all students. This is to ensure that all graduates are equipped with research skills which we see as vital for any further study or work directions. Please note that PSY701 run over two semesters. In other words 50 credits of the degree programme will be comprised of compulsory research courses.
8.3 Elective courses:
6.3.1 Four additional courses can be selected from the list above to the value of 80 credits.
6.3.2 A course offered at Honours or equivalent level in another Department in the University may be substituted for one of the above modules subject to the approval of the Chairperson of Psychology Department and the Department concerned
8.4 Further studies in Psychology .
NB: All of the modules listed above are important for further post-graduate studies.
8.4.1 For students interested in pursuing a registered counsellor registration following the Honours degree, in addition to
PSY701 and PSY 704, other compulsory modules are PSY702 and PSY703.
8.4.2 For students interested in pursuing a psychometry registration following the Honours degree, in addition to PSY 701 and PSY 704, the other compulsory module is PSY709.
8.4.3 For students interested in pursuing a MPsych degree following the Honours degree, in addition to PSY701 and PSY 704, PSY702, PSY703, PSY 705 and PSY709 are recommended modules.
8.4.4 For students interested in pursuing a M Research Psychology degree following the Honours degree, in addition to PSY 701 and PSY 704, PSY 709 is recommended.
9. ACADEMIC COURSE CONTENT 9.1. Goal and purpose of the course
Besides the development of a broad understanding of the discipline, the course aims to:
• enhance students’ capacity to think critically about mental health issues and to promote mental health at all developmental stages in deprived and disadvantaged communities
• develop the capacity to apply knowledge in the form of social and psychological theories and interventions, and
• bridge undergraduate (general, fact based, academic and theoretical) knowledge and professional post-graduate knowledge and skills training.
9.2 Evaluations Continuous Evaluation
Each module will have specific assessment measures to generate a continuous evaluation (CE) mark. Module lecturers can and do allocate a specified portion of the CE-mark for class participation.
Examinations
Examinations are usually written during the end of semester period. A 3-hour examination paper per module is written, except in the case of PSY701. Note that except where Senate, on recommendation of the Senate Assessment Committee, determines otherwise, a student shall not be allowed to undertake the examinations in a module unless (s)he has obtained a continuous assessment mark of at least 50% for that module. (Rule A.5.3.5 (b), page 92)
Specific examination requirements (Rule A.5.3.5 (c), page 92)
Note that students who attain a continuous assessment mark of less than 50% in a module may be permitted to do the final assessment in that module if he/she has:
(i) attained a continuous assessment mark of at least 50% in all the other concurrent modules required for a particular
programme with the further proviso that where a programme consists of more than 5 modules, a student may be permitted to do the final assessment in two modules for which he/she did not obtain a continuous assessment mark of 50%
(ii) attained a continuous assessment mark of at least 40% in that module.
The above rules apply to both full-time and part-time students
Pass requirements (Rule A.5.3.6 (b), page 93)
The final mark for a specific module is based on a written examination paper and Continuous Assessment of student’s work.
In order to pass, a student must obtain a final mark of not less than 50% as well as a sub-minimum of 50% in the final assessment task provided that Senate on recommendation of the Departmental Chairperson may accept a sub-minimum of not less than 40% in the final assessment task for:
(b) two modules where the programme consists of more than 5 modules.
NB. Senate will not accept the lower sub-minimum in a case where it would result in a final mark of less than 50% for the module
Awarding of honours degree cum laude (Rule A.5.3.9, page 93)
To be awarded the Honours Psychology degree cum laude, a student shall complete the course in the minimum applicable time, and shall have obtained an average final mark of not less than 75% for the different part-disciplines
Other examination rules
1. No supplementary examination/second chance assessment shall be granted for the degree unless specifically stated otherwise (Rule A.5.3.7, page 93)
2. A student who repeats the course or a part of the course may on the recommendation of the Head of the Department be excused by the Senate from re-attendance and/or from gaining a new CE-mark. The Head of Department will determine which examination papers shall be rewritten.
10. Course Outlines
A brief introduction to the different modules offered now follows. This includes information on objectives of the modules and proposed course content. Questions regarding these modules can be raised with the course coordinator
ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECT (PSY701) Objectives
This module is meant to provide students with the opportunity to engage in research in a practical way.
Requirements
Students have to select a research topic in consultation with the lecturer and supervisor. As mutually arranged, the following should be adhered to:
• Submission of the title of the research project.
• Submission of a programme of action or framework explaining different phases of research activities.
• Submission of literature review on the research topic.
• Presentation of the research proposal in class for fellow students and supervisors.
• Submission of the final research report. Format and layout should be similar to that of a mini-thesis.
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSY702)
Objectives
• provide an overview of current theory and practice of psychopathology • undertake a more detailed study of the major groupings of mental
illnesses with regard to their main characteristics, possible factors affecting the development of such problems, current approaches to their management, as well as the practical application of such knowledge
• Critically focus on issues of class, race, gender and culture in relation to mental health in the South African context
• Explore alternative/contextual approaches to mental health. .
PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS (PSY703)
Objectives
The main objective of the course is to introduce students to the relevance of the interface between theory and practice. It traces the development of Psychological theory and related Intervention strategies from
Psychoanalysis, through to Psychodynamic theories, the Humanistic school including Person Centered Theory to Cognitive Behavioural Approaches, as well as interventions such as Trauma, HIV/Aids and Substance Abuse. Moreover, the course aims to generate an appreciation not only of different styles of counselling, but also of different client needs.
RESEARCH PROCEDURES & STATISTICS (PSY704)
This module is designed to introduce students to research procedures and designs for quantitative and qualitative research. The methodological issues selected for discussion and the nature of illustrations are primarily intended for students of psychology. The objective of the module is to help students gain an understanding of quantitative research methods and integrate
research methods with psychology. Similarly, the qualitative methods section has two broad interlocking aims, one theoretical and the other practical. The main theoretical aim is to assist students to develop a basic understanding of the philosophies and creation of knowledge through qualitative and other discursive research methods and techniques. In short, the course is intended to: stimulate and promote an appreciation of different
methodologies and debates in researching psychological and social reality and engage students at a reflective level in respect of their own knowledge
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT (PSY705) Objectives
• Provide a detailed overview of the “mainstream” and “alternative” theories of personality development
• Examine the impact of personal and socio-historical influences on the development of these theories
• Develop the skills required to evaluate theories of personality development
• Examine the inter-relatedness of theory and research.
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY (PSY706) Objectives
• To equip students with a knowledge of the field of health psychology; • To equip students with an appraisal of the psychological and
behavioural dimensions of health and illness;
• To equip students with a knowledge of the psychological and
behavioural dimensions of specific illness profiles such as HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease; and
• To equip students with knowledge of the psychological and
behavioural interventions applicable in preventing and remediating illness.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSY707) Objectives
This course will consider the factors that are formative in shaping individuals’ thoughts, feelings and behaviour in South Africa. To this end, the role of social psychology in South Africa will be closely examined.
An in-depth focus will be on the manifold aetiology, manifestation and denouncement of violence, which is perhaps the most urgent question confronting social scientists today. By the end of the course, the roles of the self, family, organisation, and other group formation in social interaction would have been critically understood.
COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY (PSY708) Objectives
• Gain a clear understanding of what Community Psychology is • Explore the historical developments of Community Psychology • Assess the pertinent debates in the field of Community Psychology • Explore and critique the different theories of Community Psychology • Explore the different models of intervention (and intervention
strategies)
• Gain practical training and experience in intervention strategies • Develop intervention programmes
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT (PSY709)
Psychological assessments are procedures psychologically trained persons use to answer a variety of questions pertaining to assessing psychological health, providing diagnostic information and creating “road maps” for treatment. The procedures include clinical interviews, checklists, formal testing and interpretation. This module is aimed at covering the principles and application of the above procedures. It is hoped that students enrolled in this module will find this important area of professional practice stimulating and interesting.
Module objectives
• Understand theoretical and historical bases for assessment techniques.
• Gain a good understanding of measurements concepts such as reliability, validity, standard error.
• Evaluate psychometric properties of tests. • Understand ethical issues in assessment.
• Critically apply the knowledge gained in this module to the South African context.
• Explore a variety of assessment strategies including, interviewing, cognitive tests, personality tests, aptitude tests, interests questionnaires.
The above objectives will be realized through prescribed reading, practicals, report writing, seminars, class discussions and lectures. It is thus imperative for students to attend all classes and complete their assigned tasks timeously.
