University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria
32
Humanities: Psychology
Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities If you want to major in Psychology and proceed with postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Humanities, you must take all the Psychology modules together with certain research modules up to third-year level. Students from other faculties can also qualify to pursue an honours degree in Psychology, as long as they have all the necessary requirements. Some of the interesting modules you will be required to take at undergraduate level are as follows:
1st-year modules
2nd-year modules
3rd-year modules
Developmental Psychology: This module addresses human development from conception to adulthood – thus across the human life span.
Psychological Perspectives and Personology: You will learn about psychological principles, major personality theories and various paradigmatic approaches in psychology. Biological and Cognitive Process: This module conveys the concepts, rules, guiding principles and terminology relating to the biology and cognition of human behaviour.
Social Psychology: Themes include communication, pro-social behaviour. Social influence and persuasion, political transformation, violence and group behaviour.
Psychopathology: Identify abnormal behaviour in children in the field of child psychopathology and symptomatology. Diagnosis, labelling and neurosis, and mental disorders are also addressed. Community and Critical Psychology: The principles and aims of community psychology – also in the South African context – are investigated.
Postgraduate studies
1
The first step to fulfilling your dream of becoming a qualified psychologist is to enrol for a one-year honours programme in Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities.
2
In order to be considered for the honours programme, you must pass all third-year Psychology modules with at least 70% and also pass all the required research modules. The selection
procedure is extremely strict and the class size is restricted.
Registration as a psychologist
3
The next step is to enrol for one of the following twoyear master’s coursework programmes:
MA Clinical Psychology: This programme is followed by a compulsory year of community service. It is the best option for someone who is interested in becoming a clinical psychologist and specialising in psychopathology (disorders) and their treatment.
Once you have completed one of the master’s degrees listed above, and have written a mini-dissertation, you will need to complete a oneyear internship, and to write and pass the HPCSA Board examination. It therefore takes a minimum of seven years to become a registered psychologist: three years for your bachelor’s degree, one year for your honours degree, two years for your master’s degree, plus a one-year internship. If you want to become a clinical psychologist, you will also need to do an additional year of community service.
MA Counselling Psychology: This programme is best suited for someone who is interested in becoming a counselling psychologist and specialising in general psychological issues and problems, and their treatment.
MA Research Psychology: This programme is available as a full-time weband contact-based programme. Students are exposed to a range of research methods and applications to solve practical and theoretical problems from a psychological perspective.
For more information on studying Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities, contact Virgil Brown: Tel +27 (0)12 420 4144 Email psychinfo@up.ac.za Website www.up.ac.za/psychology Registration forms and regulations for postgraduate studies can be obtained from Petro Woest: Tel +27 (0)12 420 2736 Email petru.woest@up.ac.za