Master’s of Social Science in Community Mental Health Promotion

Course Details
next intake
Term 1Applications Open
1 June 2020Applications Close
31 January 2021duration
2 years, part-timeaccreditation
NQF 9, CHEKeep safe. Stay home. Start Term 1 Online
Given the rise in Covid-19 infections, SACAP will start Term 1 via our well-established Online campus in the Online Live study option. Once it’s safe to do so, you will be switched back to the campus you registered at.
Why take this course
This two-year part-time master’s degree seeks to develop leaders who can strategically and innovatively address community mental health challenges and enhance community wellbeing.
Candidates will develop the capacity to act as catalysts to bring together various sectors to tackle the social and mental health challenges that our country faces. They will also be encouraged in social innovation and intervention and develop skills for policy development and advocacy around community mental health issues.
The master’s degree also seeks to build a continuous entrepreneurial mind-set in order to harness opportunities within community contexts.
What you can expect
- The degree will advance scholarship around a relevant community psychology, as well as build research capacity focused on social intervention.
- It will develop actors who can leverage human resources and social capital to build supportive and stimulating environments in the context of widespread risk.
- The degree will build skills for complex project implementation and management.

Course highlights
Builds transformative leadership around community mental health and wellbeing.
Positions you for potential admission to a cognate doctoral degree.
Structured so that you can balance your career and studies.
Who is this course for?
Do you:
- Want to become a community change agent who can relate your knowledge at an advanced level in the development of community mental health promotion.
- Want to commit to a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence.
- Have an honours degree in a cognate field and want a master’s degree that will build competencies as a strategic leader and social innovator in the field of community mental health.
- Have an interest in acting as a catalyst to lead the charge in pro-actively contributing to the mental health and wellbeing of South African communities with self-direction and originality in approaching and solving problems.
- Have experience in leadership positions with a focus on community development, mental health advocacy and promotion, policy implementation or change management and want to enrich your effectiveness through a rigorous master’s-level academic programme.
- Seek to study further or be eligible for admission to a cognate doctoral degree, typically aligned to the area of specialisation in the master’s degree.
- Seek employment in an extensive range of public and private sector enterprises including, but not limited to, a variety of NPOs, NGOs, and corporate companies with a social development focus.
- Want training that is in line with the National Skills Development Strategy III and the National Development Plan 2030 to be able to advance, lead, and innovatively contribute to the mental health of all South Africans.
Career opportunities
As a SACAP MSocSci graduate you will be well suited for employment in an extensive range of public and private sector enterprises including, but not limited to, a variety of NPOs, NGOs and corporate companies focusing on: community/social development, management and leadership, mental health promotion and advocacy, human rights advocacy, policy development and implementation, and change management. In addition to consulting, research, education and academia, among others.
Master of Social Science in Community Mental Health Promotion modules
Core modules
- Discourses and Diversity in Community Psychology (NQF 9, 18 credits)
- Effective Community-Based Intervention (NQF 9, 10 credits)
- Theory and Practice for Community-Based Participatory Action Research (NQF 9, 18 credits)
- Health Systems, Human Rights and Advocacy (NQF 9, 10 credits)
- Social Innovation: Theory and Impact (NQF 9, 18 credits)
- Strategic Leadership (NQF 9, 10 credits)
- Mental Health Promotion and Project Management (NQF 9, 18 credits)
- Mini-Dissertation on Community-Based Participatory Action Research Project (NQF 9, 60 credits)
- Social Entrepreneurship (NQF 9, 10 credits)
- MSocSci Preparative Workshops (NQF 9, 12 credits)
Download our master’s module descriptors here

Additional information
Important notes
Please note: This is not a professional programme and does not lead to registration with the HPCSA in any professional category of registration.
Admission requirements
- A relevant Bachelor Honours Degree (NQF level 8), relevant Postgraduate Diploma, or SAQA verified equivalent qualification in a recognised cognate field with a grade point average (GPA) of 65% or above, OR
- International candidates who seek admission into SACAP’s MSocSci (Community Mental Health Promotion) must have a degree equivalent qualification(s) that is/are deemed to be of an academic level as those listed above, OR
- Applicants 24 years of age and older who do not meet the above requirements should provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate subject, that is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours Bachelor’s degree/NQF 8 qualification.
Intake / Selection process
- SACAP limits its intake into the MSocSci (Community Mental Health Promotion) to 20 students per campus per year to ensure the integrity of SACAP’s educational philosophy in the context of this programme.
- SACAP’s educational philosophy is student-centred and is focused on providing a supportive learning environment to help students attain their academic goals.
How can I apply
It’s easy, you can apply online. You will also need these docs
- Application form
- Certified copy of your ID
- Certified highest qualification
- A sample of your academic writing
- Character reference letter
- Proof of application fee of R300.00
Apply Online HERE
Course details
- Study options: On campus (Cape Town and Johannesburg)
- Duration: 2 years, part-time
- Modules: 10, including core modules, intensive modules, workshops and a mini dissertation.
- Accreditation: NQF 9, CHE
SACAP Fee Structure
Click here for 2021 fees