NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY POTCHEFSTROOM AND VAAL TRIANGLE CAMPUSES MASTER S PROGRAMMES IN INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY APPLICATION INFORMATION GUIDE

Transcription

1 NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY POTCHEFSTROOM AND VAAL TRIANGLE CAMPUSES MASTER S PROGRAMMES IN INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY APPLICATION INFORMATION GUIDE CONTENT: 1 Application detail 2 Concerning the application 3 Qualification guide 3.1 Entrance requirements: Industrial psychology 3.2 Purpose of the degree 3.3 Modules 3.4 Competencies 3.5 Methodology 3.6 Examination and pass requirements 3.7 External moderation 3.8 International comparability 3.9 Financial implications 1

2 1. Application detail All applicants should complete the online application form of the North-West University, available at: The applications are only handled by the Masters and Doctoral Admissions Office. Please see the application form for the relevant postal and courier addresses as well as relevant contact numbers and addresses. Mrs MG Campbell-Jacobs Master s and Doctoral Admissions Office Internal box nr 460 North-West University Private Bag x6001 POTCHEFSTROOM 2520 Courier address: Mrs MG Campbell-Jacobs Master s and Doctoral Admissions Office North-West University Hoffman Street Joon van Rooy building F1 Second floor POTCHEFSTROOM 2531 Certified copies of the application form can also be sent to Mrs Campbell-Jacobs via to: @nwu.ac.za Closing date: 31 AUGUST No late applications will be considered. TAKE NOTE: It is important for you to obtain an electronic ( ) confirmation that your application was received by the Master s and Doctoral Admissions Office before the closing date. 2. Concerning the application: In order to prevent delays in the processing of your application, ensure that you fill out the application form in full and that all the supporting documentation (as required) is handed in together with your application form. Qualifications that can be applied for in Industrial psychology include: o MCom Industrial psychology: Qualification code: ; o MA Industrial psychology: Qualification code: ; Curriculum code: E850P Curriculum code: E851P The applicant does not need a supervisor at the time of application. Applicants should comply with the qualification requirements as stipulated in the Academic Calendar and those summarised in this document. The 2015 Academic Calendar can be found by using the following link: Applicants who do not adhere to the qualification prerequisites (as set out in this information document), will not qualify for the rest of the selection process. These applicants will be informed timeously (via or telephonically) that they were unsuccessful. Applicants who do a d h e r e t o t h e minimum requirements for the qualification will be informed via or telephonically that they should attend the day of selection. Currently, the selection dates are scheduled for 13 and 14 October 2015; these dates might, however, change. 2

3 If marks are still outstanding during the paper selection and even during the final selection, the successful applicant will only receive conditional selection until final marks can be provided. The final admission decision can only be made after all outstanding documentation and proof have been received. In other words, only an applicant who passes his/her outstanding modules and honours degree can be considered. The final decision regarding admission is only made after the day of selection. Applicants will be informed within two weeks (after the day of selection) via or telephonically whether they were successful or not. The result of the selection process is final and the selection panel for the qualification does not need to provide the applicants any further information concerning the outcome of the application. Applicants should make sure that all contact particulars are correct, since they are contacted regularly via SMS and . Should your contact details be incorrect, we will not be able to contact you or provide you with information or feedback. If an applicant is invited to attend the specific selection day, it is the applicant s responsibility to attend it. Only candidates who attend the selection will be considered for admission and NO second opportunity will be given. Selection is only valid for the academic year (2016) for which you apply and may not be transferred to any other academic year. By applying for this qualification, the applicant acknowledges that he/she has read this document and is aware of the fact that he/she will be subjected to a selection process and all the mentioned prerequisites and information associated with it. Furthermore, the applicant then also consents to be subjected to psychometrics, interviews and other individual and/or group exercises. Students whom are invited to the selection day must, apart from the University application fee, also pay the programme selection fee of R immediately after being informed that they are invited. Payment must be made to the following account: Students applying off campus: Bank: ABSA Account name: NWU DIVERSE ONTVANGSTE Account nr: Branch code: Take note: Applicants will have to provide the School of Human Resource Sciences with the deposit slip or a copy thereof when asked to do so. NWU full-time students applying to the programme: Full-time students currently on the Potchefstroom Campus can make a deposit at the teller at the Administration building to the following account: P.3B (M-Admin Account) Take note: Applicants will have to provide the School of Human Resource Sciences with the deposit slip or a copy thereof when asked to do so. 3. Qualification guide Thank you for your enquiry concerning a master s degree in Industrial psychology. The master s degree in Industrial psychology constitutes a one- (minimum) to three- (maximum) year course consisting of lectured modules as well as a mini-dissertation. Both a part-time and full-time option is available, and the student is allowed to structure the programme as it suits him/her best, with a prerequisite that IOPS 873 and 874 should be taken during the first year of study. The University offers the degrees as separate programmes presented by lecturers from both the 3

4 Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark Campuses. The entrance requirements for the master s degrees entail the following: 3.1 Entrance requirements: Industrial psychology Prospective students in Industrial psychology should adhere to the following entrance requirements: A student should be in possession of a BA honours or BCom honours degree in Industrial psychology from an accredited HPCSA university (this implies that the degree will lead to the registration as counsellor/psychometrist with the HPCSA after successfully completing the board exam). The study content of this degree must be to the satisfaction of the dean and the director of the School of Human Resource Sciences (Potchefstroom Campus) and School of Behavioural Sciences (Vaal Triangle Campus). The degree should include the following subjects: Psychometrics, Psychological evaluation (Psychometric testing), Career psychology, Research methodology and research report, Organisational development and Human resource strategies. The student must have obtained an average of at least 65% in the honours degree in order to qualify to be invited to the selection process. The research ability of the student must be to the satisfaction of the school directors and the director of the WorkWell research unit. Students whose abilities in research methods (as determined during the selection process) are deemed not to be adequate will only be accepted into the master s programme after successfully completing a research methodology course. Such a course is made available by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Prospective students should also pass a selection process directed at the measurement of the competencies set for psychologists by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The selection process includes a competency examination in Statistics. Students whose abilities in Statistics are deemed not to be adequate will only be accepted into the master s programme after successfully completing a Statistics course. Such a course is made available by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. 3.2 Purpose of the degree The MCom/MA degree in Industrial psychology is offered: to provide learners with the competence to understand and evaluate industrial psychological theories and research. It also aims to empower learners to use a wide variety of research methods and to cultivate scientific thinking and reasoning; to develop the ability to critique and evaluate various quantitative and qualitative scientific works; to enable learners to demonstrate critical thinking and to assimilate new psychological knowledge; to promote life-long learning inculcating a sense of wonder, curiosity and respect for the scientific method in learners; and to provide learners with the competence to assess people and intervene on an advanced level within the work context to solve problems. The successful completion of all the modules in the Industrial psychology master s degree will enable the learners to start with an internship. After successful completion of both the degree and internship the student may apply at the HPCSA Board for Psychology to write the board examination for industrial psychologists. The successful completion of this board examination will empower the student to register as industrial psychologist at the HPCSA. 4

5 3.3 Modules The following modules are included in the Industrial psychology master s programme for 2016 Module code Module name % of programme IOPS873P Mini-dissertation (Potchefstroom Campus) (50%) IOPS873V Mini-dissertation (Vanderbijlpark Campus) IOPS874 Scientific reasoning (10%) IOPS875 People development (10%) IOPS876 Professional industrial psychology (10%) IOPS877 Wellbeing (10%) IOPS878 Applied counselling (10%) 3.4 Competencies The master s programme in Industrial psychology aims to reach several critical outcomes. After completion of the degree, students should be able to: Understand industrial psychological theories and research; Show an ability to assimilate new psychological knowledge; Know and understand the ethical and legal considerations applicable to research and intervention on individual, group and organisational level; Show an ability to use a wide variety of industrial psychological research methods and statistics; Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of published research and apply critical thinking in analysing research results; Interpret psychological dynamics and pathology required for specialised screening of individuals, groups and organisations; Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of networks (equivalent professional peers within the primary healthcare system); Demonstrate knowledge and skills of specialised, complex, advanced and long-term counselling, psychotherapy and/or advanced psycho-education and training on total system level (e.g. family, organisation and community); Identify ways to promote primary, secondary and tertiary psychosocial wellbeing; and Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills. 3.5 Methodology VERY IMPORTANT: It is expected of students to attend ALL the classes as registered for during the year, to complete their assignments and to show acceptable behaviour. A student s studies may be terminated on the basis of low class attendance, or unsatisfactory progress and behaviour. Take note that classes take place once a month, the total number of working days utilised for classes during a year amounts to approximately 43. Students in full-time employment should make arrangements with their employers in order to attend contact sessions. As per the Health Professions Council of South Africa Guidelines for Training of Professional Psychologists, ALL class sessions are compulsory. A learner who cannot attend a class needs to submit a written reason for not having done so. Should the reason be to the satisfaction of the lecturer, additional work (assignment or practical, for example) to make up for the time lost will be requested. This arrangement can only be made for one/two classes. 5

6 Please take note that the programme already commences during November This class is compulsory. Teaching methods such as lectures, assignments, practical assignments, discussion groups, role-plays, simulations and self-study are used. 3.6 Examination and pass requirements Assessments take place in the following format: Written and oral tests and examinations; Individual and group projects; Case studies; Verbal presentations; Role-plays and simulations; Assignments; Self- and peer assessment; Seminar papers or presentations. Mini-dissertation proposal and defence; Attendance of and contributions at research meetings at various levels; A student must achieve 50% to pass a module (except where another pass rate is indicated); A maximum of two modules may be repeated, and if a student fails more than two modules, the (whole) programme must be repeated; and A student must achieve an average of 75% to obtain the degree cum laude. 3.7 External moderation The Faculty appoints internal and external examiners as well as moderators in the case of written examinations. Examination committees review the performance of all the students. Another type of moderation is undertaken by both the Health Professions Council of South Africa (Professional Board for Psychology) and the South African Board for People Practices The following process is used in the case of mini-dissertations: The Research Committee approves a research proposal during a proposal meeting. The Director of Research approves and comments on the research proposal before it is sent to the management committee of the Faculty for registration and approval of supervisor(s) and examiners. The supervisor plays a day-to-day role in guidance and integrated assessment. Finally, both internal and external examiners examine the mini-dissertation and report to the management committee. 3.8 International comparability Postgraduate education and training for a master s degree are co-ordinated by a research unit under a research director. The research unit has extensive international networks, among others with the Free University, Amsterdam, and the University of Paderborn, Tilburg, Utrecht and Ghent. An international audit committee has positively evaluated the research unit. Currently, both national and international research funding agencies are supporting the research unit financially. 6

7 3.9 Financial implications The MCom/MA (Industrial psychology or Human resource management) degree must be completed within a period of three years. Payable fees can be found by following the link below: Should you have trouble determining the costs involved in your studies after visiting the above link, please contact the NWU finances department at Take note that fees escalate on an annual basis. 7