The course

The curriculum covers theoretical, practical and research training, and extends over three full-time academic years, including internship. All modules must be successfully completed and passed, with a minimum of 50% to obtain the degree. A breakdown of the modules included in the programme is detailed in the table below:

We recognise your previous learning and rely on the knowledge you gained in your undergraduate and honours degrees. Each module must be passed with a minimum of 50% to progress to the following year. This means that you must pass all year 1 modules, to progress to year 2, and you must pass all year 2 modules, to progress to year 3. Students may be excluded from the programme at any time on the grounds of unsatisfactory academic progress, unethical behaviour, and/or behaviour considered to be inappropriate or unprofessional for professional psychology practice (regardless of academic performance).

Due to the demands of the course, successful applicants are not permitted to do any other full-time or part-time work during the 2-years of the programme. In addition, you are responsible for funding your studies. This means that you need sufficient financial resources for the academic fees, prescribed books and academic requirements, and items such as rent, household expenses, groceries, daily travel to Unisa and the weekly clinics, study registration, books, computer equipment, internet access and printing, etc.

Unisa bursaries are only available in the second year of study, but only if you have passed the first year of the course, as well as the proposal module (MPCHS91) successfully. Access to a bursary is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the university, and you should thus plan accordingly.

THEORY

The theoretical aspects of the programme are covered in weekly lectures, seminars and workshops, and include (but are not limited to):

• Ecosystemic Psychology
• Psychotherapy (child, individual, group and family psychotherapy according to the systemic and other theoretical models)
• Psychological Assessment (test administration, scoring, interpretation and report writing with regards to various psychological instruments for example: intelligence measurements and personality assessment)
• Psychopathology and Psychodiagnostics (diagnosis according to the DSM-5 classification system and the ICD-10 classification system, as well as explanations of psychopathology according to various perspectives).
• Neuropsychology (introduction to neuropsychology and neuropsychological assessment and report writing)
• African Epistemology (integration of African perspectives to psychology and health/pathology, research, and community, etc.)
• Psycho-legal Psychology
• Community Psychology (assessment of and interventions in community and transcultural contexts)
• Research (various research designs and methods)
• Ethics and professional psychological practices (rules and procedures according to Health Professions Council of South Africa)

PRACTICAL

This includes the application of all the theoretical aspects covered in 4.1 in various contexts, such as:

• • Unisa Psychotherapy Clinic
  • Community-based practical sites in and around Pretoria/Johannesburg
  • Psychiatric and Psycho-legal practical sites
  • Clinic and case management
  • Liaison with referral agents and other related professionals
  • Training in report writing
  • Group dynamics through experiential group processes

All practical work is done under strict supervision by the course trainers.

RESEARCH

Weekly research seminars focusing on the theoretical and practical aspects of research are conducted during your first year of training

In addition, first-year clinical students will be required to present their research proposal defenses; and second-year clinical students will be required to present their research to a panel of trainers and members of the department

A dissertation of limited scope is planned and executed in collaboration with a supervisor. Completion of the degree depends on passing the dissertation, and all modules with a minimum of 50% each.

PRESENTATION OF THE COURSE

THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL TRAINING

It is assumed that students are well acquainted with basic theoretical knowledge because of their undergraduate and honours studies. Weekly lectures, theoretical seminars and workshops take place during both years of the course. The practical work consists of weekly workshops and regular supervised practice in assessment and therapeutic skills in various contexts. During workshops, practical demonstrations and application of various theories and techniques take place. Students are required to do weekly supervised practical work at the above-mentioned sites (these sites are subject to change). For supervisory and self-evaluating purposes, audio-visual recordings of practical work are required.

THE DISSERTATION OF LIMITED SCOPE

For the degree to be completed within the prescribed period, the dissertation must be submitted for examination before April of the third year of training. To conform to these requirements, it is essential that a dissertation title as well as the research proposal be approved and officially registered by no later than October of the first year of study. Once your supervisor is satisfied with your proposal, it must undergo a scientific review by the Departmental Higher Degrees Committee (DHDC), and if approved, submitted for ethical clearance to the College of Human Sciences Ethics Review Committee before you can commence with the research dissertation.

ASSESSMENT

As part of the evaluation process, students will be expected to submit individual and group assignments, portfolios, written assignments and tests, presentations, role plays and other related projects, as well as attend oral examinations twice a year. The course is designed as a continuous assessment programme, which means that students will be evaluated and assessed throughout the year, and all assessments count towards the final mark per module. This also implies that there are no supplementary exams should a student fail. The candidate’s progression and performance are monitored throughout the year. Trainers meet regularly to discuss, evaluate and monitor each candidate’s performance. If a student fails a module, you will not be permitted to progress to the next year of training.

EXAMINATION

As per the continuous assessment design of the programme, students are assessed throughout the year, and all assessments contribute to the final mark of each respective module. In the middle and at the end of both academic years, oral and written examinations are conducted. The end-year oral examinations are moderated by an external examiner, to ensure that students achieve the necessary competencies to progress to the next year of training, and to ensure that all assessment policies and procedures are adhered to. A student may not enter the second year of study unless all first-year modules are passed with a minimum of 50% each. If a module is failed, you will not be permitted to continue into the second year. Likewise, a student may not enter an internship unless all second-year modules are passed with a minimum of 50% each.