Course Details
next intake
Term 1
Applications Open
1 July 2024Applications Close
10 November 2024
duration
4 years, full-time only
practicum
6-months full-time (720 hours), including supervision
accreditation
NQF 8, CHE, SAQA, HPCSA
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how to apply
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Why take this course
Our Bachelor of Psychology Degree gives you the professional knowledge and essential practical skills for providing good quality psychological care to people at a primary mental health care level.
The focus is on ethical short-term supportive counselling, psychoeducation and psychological assessment with the aim of protecting and promoting psychological wellbeing of individuals and families in the diverse communities of South Africa.
This degree provides a thorough grounding in the knowledge, theory and principles of the profession of Registered Counsellors and research capacity in the methodology and techniques of the psychology field.
Successful graduates will be eligible for admission into a cognate master’s degree in psychology, the social sciences or related fields – both nationally and internationally.
What you can expect
You’ll get an introductory understanding of:
- Psychology, mental health and people within a social context, including personality and developmental paradigms for understanding individual and group behaviour.
- Psychological challenges and models for understanding behaviour and intervention.
- Diversity and cross-cultural dynamics in the South African context.
- How to conduct and report on psychometric assessments.
- To implement the values and principles of ethics in psychology in real-world contexts.
You will also develop:
- Counselling and interpersonal communication skills, including referral and management strategies in accordance with the HPCSA’s guidelines for good professional practice.
- Essential skills to protect and promote psychological well-being and the enhancement of personal functioning.
- Skills to design, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes with a focus on encouraging individuals, families and communities to develop strong, collaborative and supportive partnerships within community contexts.
- Competence in applied planning and intervention within community settings, inclusive of psycho-education, health promotion, applied mental health intervention and community-based care.
- Real-world practical experience through the Practicum component of the programme.
- An aptitude in research design, implementation and evaluation.
- Competence in primary mental status screening and basic psychological assessment.
Course highlights
Leads to registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Registered Counsellor.
A four-year professional degree that includes honours.
Positions you for admission into a master’s degree.
Who is this course for?
Do you:
- Have an interest in social transformation and a concern for the mental health needs of people living in South Africa.
- Have a desire to provide accessible psychological services that address a range of psychosocial challenges in diverse community settings.
- Want to gain practical experience as part of your studies to increase your expertise and confidence for a career as a Registered Counsellor.
- Want the depth and breadth of an honours equivalent professional degree with a strong applied learning component.
- Want a qualification that will give you multiple academic pathways for master’s studies in clinical, counselling, educational or research psychology, the social sciences or related fields such as psychometry.
Why study your Bachelor of Psychology Degree at SACAP?
Career opportunities
As a successful graduate of this Bachelor of Psychology degree, you will be eligible for admission into a cognate master’s degree in psychology, the social sciences or related fields – both nationally and internationally. You will also be able to work in professional practice as a Registered Counsellor. This means that working together with multi –professional teams, you can:
- Provide short-term supportive counselling services to protect and promote psychological well-being.
- Perform psychological screening, primary mental status screening, basic assessment and referral and management strategies.
- Promote psychosocial health and community-based care with individuals, families and communities in diverse settings.
- Perform primary mental health interventions.
- Participate in the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of psychologically-based programmes that are appropriate for individuals or groups in community contexts.
- Participate in policy formulation based on various aspects of psychological theory and research.
Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) modules
Core modules
- Academic Literacy (NQF 5, 12 credits)
- Introduction to Psychology A (NQF 5, 12 credits)
- Introduction to Psychology B (NQF 5, 12 credits)
- Counselling Modalities 1 (NQF 5, 14 credits)
- Counselling Modalities 2 (NQF 5, 14 credits)
- Language and Communication Skills in isiXhosa (CPT) or isiZulu (JHB) (NQF 5, 14 credits)
- Fundamentals of a Helping Relationship (NQF 5, 14 credits)
- Diversity in the South African Context (NQF 5, 14 credits)
- Developmental Psychology A (NQF 5, 14 credits)
- Developmental Psychology B (NQF 6, 14 credits)
- Counselling Skills and Process Development (NQF 6, 14 credits)
- Introduction to Psychometric Assessment (NQF 6, 12 credits)
- Gender, Sexuality and HIV Counselling (NQF 6, 15 credits)
- Introduction to Community Development (NQF 6, 12 credits)
- Crisis and Trauma Counselling (NQF 6, 14 credits)
- Community Psychology (NQF 6, 14 credits)
- Statistics for the Social Sciences (NQF 6, 14 credits)
- Social Psychology (NQF 6, 14 credits)
- Needs Assessment in the South African Context (NQF 7, 14 credits)
- Psychopathology (NQF 7, 14 credits)
- Psychometric Assessment and Interpretation in Practice (NQF7, 14 credits)
- Theories of Personality (NQF 7, 14 credits)
- Comunity Mental Health: Policy and Planning (NQF 7, 12 credits)
- Group Work Skills (NQF 7, 14 credits)
- Applied Perspectives on Psychosocial and Mental Health Challenges in South Africa (NQF 7, 14 credits)
- Life Skills Planning and Psycho-educational Development (NQF 7, 12 credits)
- Practicum (NQF 8, 72 credits)
- Applied Research Methodology for the Registered Counsellor (NQF 8, 12 credits)
- Advanced Psychometric Assessment and Interpretation in Practice (NQF 8, 12 credits)
- Research Thesis (NQF 8, 30 credits)
View Module Descriptors Here
Additional information
British Accreditation Council (BAC)
SACAP is fully accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) as an Independent Higher Education Institution
The BAC accreditation is a globally recognised hallmark of quality assurance, and achieving this accreditation demonstrates that we have met the high standards set by the BAC. This accreditation is validation of our commitment to excellence and our mission to provide our students with a world-class education that prepares them for success in their future careers.
Our students can be assured that their education provider has met a gold standard. To maintain BAC accreditation SACAP needs to continue to meet BAC’s standards. BAC ensure that colleges, universities and training providers provide high quality education and a great learning experience for students.
Admission requirements
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
This is a four-year professional programme that is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and as such all applicants are required to undergo a screening and selection process which includes a selection interview in addition to meeting the minimum entrance requirements. Acceptance into this programme is limited to maximum 20 students per approved campus per academic year.
- A National Senior Certificate (NSC) as certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), with an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement 50-59%) or better in 6 recognised NSC subjects including Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy and English. OR
- Senior Certificate (Pre-2008) with Endorsement, with English and Mathematics/Maths Literacy passed at Standard Grade or better, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate. OR
- A Higher Certificate (NQF level 5), a SAQA verified equivalent qualification, Advanced Certificate, or Diploma in a cognate field. OR
- Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating formal, informal, and non-formal knowledge, training, work experience, and/or learning equivalent to a National Senior Certificate (NQF level 4) to support admission into the programme on the basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Please Note:
As this is a South African registered professional programme, preference will be given to South African citizens wishing to apply for this programme.
Foreign nationals wishing to apply for this programme will need a valid and specific study visa for the full duration of the programme, and will be required to liaise with the HPCSA in order to learn of any particular requirements, including obtaining a valid working visa, in order to register and practice as a Registered Counsellor in South Africa.
See SACAP’s full Admissions Policy here
Intake / selection process
- SACAP has a limited intake of 20 students per campus per year into this programme.
- Acceptance is subject to a stringent selection process that includes, inter alia: applicants meeting the minimum entrance requirements, completion of application forms, assessment of academic and non-academic aptitudes and competencies, interview with a panel and final selection interviews.
How can I apply?
It’s easy, you can apply online. You will also need these docs
- Application form
- Certified copy of ID
- Highest qualification
- Addendum
- 2 x Referee reports
- Application fee is R600.00
Apply Online HERE
Course details
- Duration: 4 years, full-time only
- Modules: 31
- Accreditations: NQF 8, CHE and HPCSA accredited
- Practicum: 6-months full-time (720 hours), including supervision
- SAQA ID 84166
SACAP Fee Structure
Click here to see our fees
