Program Overview

Programme: MEd (Educational Psychology) (Coursework)

The MEd (Educational Psychology) (Coursework) programme is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become educational psychologists.

Programme Information

The programme includes practical work per week that enables students to comply with the requirements for registration as an Educational Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, after completion of an internship in Educational Psychology at an institution approved by the abovementioned Council for this purpose.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Relevant BEd degree majoring in Psychology and honours degree in Educational Psychology or Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) degree with Educational Psychology as a majoror Bachelor's degree majoring in Psychology and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and honours degree in Educational Psychology or Psychology
• A cumulative weighted average of at least 60% for the relevant qualification/s to be considered for admission

Other Programme-Specific Information

• Renewal of registration after the two-year period is permitted only under special circumstances in which case the head of department may give approval for a limited fixed extension of this period in terms of the set procedures.
• Students will be granted two opportunities to pass NMQ 801. Unsuccessful candidates will not be allowed to continue with the programme.

Research Information

All master's students must submit a dissertation or a mini-dissertation and must pass Research Proposal (NMQ 801).

• Each successful student must submit a bound paper copy as well as two electronic copies of the approved mini-dissertation/dissertation to the Head: Student Administration in the format specified by the Faculty and in accordance with the minimum standards set by the Department of Library Services.
• All students have to submit a research proposal during the first year of registration and defend it successfully before a panel of examiners appointed by the Dean, in collaboration with the relevant head of department, Supervisor and Research Coordinator, before they can start with the research.
• Students have to apply for ethical clearance to the relevant head of department and Ethics Committee and only commence with field work once the application for ethical clearance has been approved by the Ethics Committee.
• Students have to present a progress report on the research to the supervisor annually. Continued reregistration depends on satisfactory annual progress.
• All students have to attend the research capacity building sessions on quantitative and qualitative research at master's level.

Pass with Distinction

The MEd degree with coursework is conferred with distinction on a student who obtains 75% in the mini-dissertation and an average of 75% in the remaining modules (no rounding).

Fundamental Modules

• NMQ 800: Research proposal 800
  • Credits: 30.00
  • Module content: Development of a research proposal. Research methodology. Overview and principles of quantitative and qualitative research methodology. Data collection methods, data analysis methods, paradigm analysis and theoretical frameworks for educational studies. Global theoretical perspectives in education.

Core Modules

• BOP 805: Career counselling 805
  • Credits: 10.00
  • Module content: Theory and application counselling; of career counselling; addressing contemporary Global South inequality issues by privileging social justice and diversity agenda in the practice of guidance and counselling.
• ODD 875: Educational psychology assessment for learning and development 875
  • Credits: 10.00
  • Module content: Fundamental approaches concerning barriers to learning, with reference to the South African context; theoretical framework(s) for diagnostic assessment in respect of academic achievement difficulties within the South African context.
• ODH 875: Educational psychological learning support 875
  • Credits: 10.00
  • Module content: Guided by educational psychological assessment for learning and development, the module addresses learning support in Southern Africa: contextualisation; and application of theories for learning support.
• ODK 895: Mini-dissertation 895
  • Credits: 60.00
  • Module content: Educational Psychology dissertation of limited scope conducted under supervision of a supervisor in the area of Career Counselling, Orientation Pedagogics; Educational psychological assessment for learning and development.
• OPG 805: Educational psychology pathways to emotional and behavioural wellbeing 805
  • Credits: 10.00
  • Module content: The educational psychologist within a multi-cultural post-colonial, resource-constrained context; underlying theories and approaches to educational psychological assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
• OPR 801: Educational Psychology Practice 801
  • Credits: 40.00
  • Module content: Practical module: Apply relevant, evidence-based, Southern African indigenous and global theoretical foundations relating to educational psychological assessment and support of children/youth with emotional, behavioural, learning and/or career-related needs.
• OUB 805: Family-oriented intervention 805
  • Credits: 10.00
  • Module content: Diversity in families; family life cycle development; parameters of family functioning; family resilience models for the analysis of family functioning; family therapy models problems.