SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Bachelor of Psychology

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
111494	Bachelor of Psychology
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National First Degree(Min 480)	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	480	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2021-07-01	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2034-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The qualification is intended to train competent Graduates in counselling. On completion of the qualification, qualifying learners can register with the Professional Board for Psychology of the Health Professions Council of South Africa as Registered Counsellors.

The Graduates will be sensitive to the needs of the community in an ever-changing environment. Some Graduate attributes are:

The ability to comprehend and apply standards of practice and ethics, as well as professional conduct.

An in-depth understanding of the meaning of cultural diversity and the causes of inequality in society.

A critical and holistic approach to applied and theoretical problem-solving.

An ability to present arguments and perspectives in both written and oral form.

A capacity for life-long learning and on-going competency.

The ability to initiate, design and conduct basic research.

Ability to integrate knowledge in the multi-disciplinary field of Psychology.

Relating content of the qualification to organisational and social issues.

Knowledge of particular interventions as applied to a particular context.

Basic, short-term and supportive individual counselling.

Skills in working with a diverse population.

Skills in design, implementation and evaluation of an appropriate intervention.

Competence to administer and score formal (psychometric) and informal assessment instruments and techniques, to write reports requiring interpretation of psychological functions and to identify symptoms for referral.

Competence to implement basic psycho-education and training; design, plan and implement programmes aimed at the promotion of primary psychosocial well-being, relating to different practical contexts.

Rationale:
In today's socio-economic environment and due to the complexities of society there is a high demand for trained counsellors within the community that can assist with counselling at a primary health level. One of the existing national needs of the country is the provision of improved levels of health and well-being. This qualification aims to provide greater numbers of health services professionals, across the whole spectrum of the health sciences, with a focus on rural health needs. Graduates will be competent in understanding the psychosocial issues and problems related to society.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Entry into the qualification is possible via RPL as well as awarding advanced standing. RPL practices also include standard Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) practices of equivalent modules that may have been achieved in the course of the applicant's studies.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

National Senior Certificate (NSC), Level 4, granting access to Bachelor Degree study.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5, 6, 7 and 8 totalling 496 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 4 Credits:

Student Success 101, 4 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 68 Credits:

Introduction to Psychology, 12 Credits.

Cognitive and Health Psychology, 12 Credits.

Student Success 102, 4 Credits.

Psychometric Practice Skills and Child Psychopathology, 20 Credits.

Scientific Writing and Human Development Practice Skills, 20 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 12 Credits:

Introduction to Sociology, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Socio - Cultural Anthropology, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Political Science, 12 Credits.

English Language Skills for the Professions, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Criminology, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Sociology, 12 Credits.

Archaeology and Ethnography of Africa, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Political Science, 12 Credits.

English Academic Writing Skills for the Professions, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Special Areas of Focus in Criminology, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 100 Credits:

Sociology of Social Problems, 20 Credits.

Kinship and Gender Studies; Case Studies in Kinship and Gender, 20 Credits.

Introduction to Crime Theories and Criminal Justice, 20 Credits.

Sociology of Social Problems and Sociological Theories, 20 Credits.

Economic Anthropology; Community Development, 20 Credits.

Crime Prevention and Victimology, 20 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 64 Credits:

Applied Community Psychology, 32 Credits.

Adult Psychopathology and Therapeutic Practice Skills, 32 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 7, 128 Credits:
Sociology of Work and Industry, 32 Credits:

African Religions, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, 32 Credits.

Theories of Crime, Crime Prevention, Victimology and Research Methodology, 32 Credits.

Sociology of Population, 32 Credits.

Political Anthropology and African Political Systems, 32 Credits.

Monistic Crime Studies, Criminal Justice and Research Methodology, 32 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits:

Psychological Ethics and Counselling Practice Skills, 12 Credits.

Trauma Counselling Theory and Applied Trauma Counselling, 16 Credits.

Research Report (Psychology), 32 Credits.

Internship (Psychology), 60 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Integrate knowledge in the multi-disciplinary field of psychology.
2. Show an in-depth understanding of the meaning of cultural diversity and the causes of inequality in society.
3. Comprehend and apply standards of practice and ethics, as well as professional conduct.
4. Engage in basic, short-term and supportive individual counselling.
5. Present arguments and perspectives in both written and oral form based on clinical cases.
6. Use a critical and holistic approach to applied and theoretical problem solving.
7. Demonstrate a capacity for life-long learning and on-going competency.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Apply knowledge of particular interventions to a particular context.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of knowledge of basic psychology principles and concepts.

Assess theories of psychology as well as the history of psychology.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Relate content of the qualification to organisational and social issues.

Explain and understand the causes, the various types and the different treatment methods of psychopathology.

Explain various theories of psychopathology.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Know and show understanding of the rules and regulations that governs the practice of psychology, within a practical environment.

Learn and understand the codes of conduct as well as ethics related to psychological practice.

Account for processes and procedures in counselling and psychotherapy.

Identify symptoms for referral.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Design, implement and evaluate an appropriate intervention.

Implement basic psycho-education and training;

Design, plan and implement programmes aimed at the promotion of primary psychosocial well-being, relating to different practical contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psycho-diagnostic tools and their clinical application.

Administer and score formal (psychometric) and informal assessment instruments and techniques.

Write reports requiring interpretation of psychological functions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Initiate, design and conduct basic research.

Implement basic psycho-education and training.

Design, plan and implement programmes aimed at the promotion of primary psychosocial well-being, relating to different practical contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Demonstrate the applied knowledge of scientific writing, which covers characteristics of articles, authorship, types of articles, heading and tone, parts of a manuscript, title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, references, appendix and style for scientific writing.

Give an account of recent developments in the field of Psychology.

Use suggestions for techniques to keep abreast of recent and current developments in the field of Psychology.

Integrated Assessment:
In order to ensure graduates are competent with the complexities involved with counselling, assessments are conducted across all Exit Level Outcomes and modules. This takes place in the form of continuous, formative assessments, as well as by summative assessments, with a weighting of 60:40. In the internship module learners are assessed formatively as well as summatively on case handling and case presentation. The research module comprises the successful presentation of a research proposal and mini-dissertation for assessment.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification is comparable to:
United States of America (USA):
A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is offered by Lesley University, Massachusetts.. The four-year qualification prepares graduates for careers as: Mental Health Counsellors, Mental Health Specialists, Recovery Counsellors, Counsellors, Mental Health Clinicians, and Behavioural Health Counsellors. The qualification covers many topics including individual development, cognition and memory, personality, abnormal behaviour and group, social and cultural processes as well as techniques for working with people. Learners in the Psychology qualification offered by Lesley University, gain an understanding of the methodology of psychology via laboratory and other courses and also from experiential learning in internships. These internships provide students with knowledge and skills about how psychology is applied in therapeutic and research settings. Some of the modules include: Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Development, Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Elements of Statistics in Psychology, Research Methods in the Social Sciences, and a Psychology Capstone.

Turkey:
A four-year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is offered at Ozyegin University in Istanbul It prepares learners as specialised psychologists in their selected tracks who are able to offer clinical and organisation services and who are vested with the necessary skills and competences to understand and interpret human behaviour and its underlying mechanisms in the fields of Medicine, Education, Law, Management and Information Technologies. The qualification includes the following compulsory modules: Introduction to Psychology, General Biology, Calculus, English, Turkish Language and Literature, Introduction to Sociology, Statistics for Psychology, Introduction to Philosophy, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Research Methods, and, Introduction to Sectors.

Hungary:
A four-year Bachelor's Degree in Psychology is offered at McDaniel College Budapest. ,It includescoursework that explores behaviour, emotions, cognitive processes and the factors that influence them from a variety of perspectives. It includes the following courses: Introduction to Psychology, Psychology of Learning and Animal Laboratory, Personality Psychology, Social Psychology, Health Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Abnormality, Behavioural Neuroscience, and, Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Laboratory.

The University of Nicosia, Cyprus, offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Psychology which gives a basic education in psychology specialties and in major theories and techniques in psychology and as such, gives skills in research in psychology. Courses include General Psychology, Social Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, Brain and Behaviour, Abnormal Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Research Methods, Educational Psychology, Statistics in Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Research Experience, Practicum in Psychology, and Psychological Testing.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation:

Horizontal Articulation:

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology, Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Arts in Psychology, Level 9.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

NONE