University of Fort Hare Undergraduate Psychology Courses

Purpose:       The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the field of Psychology as a science and a profession. It also aims to demonstrate how human behaviour is influenced by our knowledge of the structure and function of the nervous system.

Contents:     The evolution of Psychology, biological bases of behaviour, sensation and perception

Purpose:       The purpose of this module is to expose students to different areas of health including stress and coping mechanisms. Furthermore, it aims to acquaint students with the sub-discipline of social psychology and the fundamental concepts of the research process related to the field of social sciences.

Contents:     A selection from the following sub modules; Stress, coping and health social psychology, introduction to research in the social sciences and psychology

Purpose:       The purpose of this module is to expose students to learning and cognitive processes including memory, thinking and the language. Furthermore this module intends to enable students to differentiate between areas of health psychology, including human sexuality and HIV/AIDS.

Contents:     A selection from the following sub modules; Basic principles of learning, memory, thinking and Language, human sexuality and HIV/AIDS, Motivation and Emotions

Purpose:       This is a foundation course in psychology. The purpose of the module is to introduce students to the field of psychology, including the following areas of specialization: An introduction to the sub-field of psychological disorders and psychopathology; introducing students to the field of psychotherapy, including various approaches to help people overcome personality; introducing student to intelligence, language and thought as well as cognitive processes.

Contents:     Introduction to psychopathology/psychological disorders, psychotherapy and counselling, introduction to intelligence, language and thought and cognitive processes.

Purpose:       To introduce students to the field of Psychology

Contents:      A selection from the following modules: History and introduction to Psychology; introduction to research methods; biological bases of behavior; Human sexuality and HIV/AIDS; sensation and perception; learning; variations in consciousness; human memory; language and thought

Purpose:       To introduce students to the field of Psychology

Contents:     A selection from the following modules: Learning, memory, cognitive processes, intelligence; motivation and emotion; personality and abnormal behaviour; psychopathology; psychotherapy; human development across the life span; stress, coping, and health; social psychology

Purpose:       To introduce students to personality theory and social psychology

Contents:     In the Personality Theory module students are taught different theoretical perspectives on the development of the personality, problems in development, theoretical perspectives on the amelioration of disorders, and methods of research informed by these different perspectives. The module  includes an introduction to social constructionist perspectives of the self and               to the critique of the notion of personality. Students are also introduced to  Indigenous Psychology and consideration is given to African perspectives of  the self.  The Social Psychology module covers some of the traditional topics  in Social Psychology such as attitudes, conformity, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. It also covers topics that are particularly relevant in the              South African context such as the role of the media in shaping social attitudes, gender inequality, intimate relationships and violence. By studying these different topics students are introduced to a range of research methods in Social Psychology.

Prerequisite:  PSY111/111E and PSY122/PSY122E

Purpose:       To introduce students to the study of human development, psychological assessment and research methodology

Contents:     In Developmental Psychology students are introduced to different theories on development across the lifespan. Topics that are covered in this module include: cognitive development, moral reasoning, and language acquisition. In Psychological Assessment students are introduced to the main concepts of assessment. Students are taught the different types of measures that are used to assess human behaviour and how such measures are to be used. Students are also taught how measures are developed and adapted so that they are culturally appropriate. In the Research Methods module students are introduced to the research process, research design, inferential and descriptive statistics.

Prerequisite:  PSY111/PSY111E and PSY122/122E

Purpose:       To introduce students to the area of study known as psychopathology and to various approaches to counselling and psychotherapy.

Contents:     This module provides students with a general introduction to the area psychopathology in terms of conception, diagnosis and treatment. The course introduces students to a variety of clinical conditions including schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. It also aims to contrast differing models of explanation that in turn lead to differing approaches in treatment, this includes issues pertaining to culture in the South African context.

Prerequisite:  PSY211/211E and PSY222/PSY222E

Purpose:       To introduce students to cultural issues and dilemmas in psychology, and to various levels of intervention in communities, as well as introducing students to more advanced research methods.

Contents:     The Community Psychology module focuses on the application of psychological theory, concepts and knowledge to address the needs and concerns of communities. Whereas the traditional approach to psychological theory has been largely Eurocentric and individualistic, in community psychology we adopt a more collectivist paradigm in understanding behaviour and in applying relevant methods and techniques.

This module examines the theory and method of community psychology within the context of the psycho-social needs facing contemporary South African society. In the Research Methods module students are introduced to different paradigms in social science research and the implications of this for research design and methodology.

Descriptive and inferential statistics are revised in practical statistics tutorials so that students gain experience using SPSS (statistical package for the social sciences).

Prerequisite:  PSY211/PSY211E and PSY222/222E