Degree Type: 

Bachelor of Science

Department: 

Department of Education and Psychology

Programme Duration: 

4 years (Standard Entry)

Modes of Study: 

Regular

Entry Requirements: 

Applicants must have good passes in three (3) elective subjects in any of the following elective areas: Science, Business or General Arts.

Goal / Aim / Objectives: 

The goal of this programme is to train psychology students who will have the requisite competencies that will enable them to function as psychology assistants in all sectors or agencies that support nation building.

The objectives of the programme are to prepare psychologists assistants who can:

  1. Provide services to schools and learners at various levels of the educational system.
  2. Competently function for the health and mental rehabilitation institutions.
  3. Provide human interaction skills within the security services.
  4. Serve in community development sectors of the economy to promote well-being.

Career Opportunities: 

Science teachers continue to be in high demand all over the world. Considering the fact that, graduates from the programme are exposed to a vast field of endeavours in the area of physical sciences that makes it easier for them to branch into careers in industry and research work outside the classroom.

Programme Structure

Level 100

First Semester

BPS 111: Introduction to General Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will expose the student to the historical evolution as well as theoretical and practical basis of the study of psychology. It will examine the key concepts in psychology, facts and theories in psychological investigations, the processes and methods of psychological studies and an understanding of the major fields and specialisations in psychology.

BPS 112: Biological Basis of Behaviour
3 Credit(s)

This course intends to introduce students to the biological basis of behaviour and mental processes including learning memory, perception, attention, emotion, motivation and cognition. It will introduce them to issues on genetic influences on behaviour and psychological traits as well as how drugs affect the psychological functions of the brain

BPS 113: Psychology of Human Growth and Development
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce students to the interrelationships between environment and human behaviour. It will expose them to the theoretical models that explain conditions under which humans will behave in decent and creative manner. It explores issues such as the characteristics of restorative environments, effects of environmental stress on human performance, human information processing, and promotion of durable conservation behaviour and property resource management. The key processes involved including environmental attention, cognitive maps, preferred environments, environmental stress and coping, citizen participation and conservation behaviour will be covered.

CMS 107: Communicative Skills I
3 Credit(s)

Engaging in academic work at the university is challenging. This course is aimed at equipping fresh students to make the transition from pre-university level to the university level. It assists them in engaging and succeeding in complex academic tasks in speaking, listening, reading and writing. It also provides an introduction to university studies by equipping students with skills that will help them to engage in academic discourse with confidence and fluency.

ILT 101: Information Literacy
1 Credit(s)

The rationale of the course is to equip students with skills that will enable them access and retrieve information in the traditional, hybrid and digital libraries. Students will be able to use ICT efficiently and effectively when they have basic knowledge of computers. The course content include: Types of libraries, library resources and their uses, the role the library plays in the academic community, introduction to computers, the internet.

Second Semester

BPS 121: Basic Statistics
3 Credit(s)

This course introduces the student to both descriptive and inferential statistics. Included in this course are measures of central tendency, normal distribution, correlations and regression, t-tests, ANOVA and chi-square. The rationale for using these measures will be considered.

BPS 122: Psychology of Learning
3 Credit(s)

This course examines the major theories and explanations of learning among both humans and animals. It introduces the student to the main processes that determine learning behaviour, variations in learning outcomes, internal and external determinant of learning and the factors that stimulate or impede learning across species. Studies on learning will be highlighted to give meaning to the issues raised.

BPS 123: Environmental Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce students to the interrelationships between environment and human behaviour. It will expose them to the theoretical models that explain conditions under which humans will behave in a decent and creative manner. It explores the characteristics of restorative environments, effects of environmental stress on human performance, human information processing, and promotion of durable conservation behaviour and property resource management. The key processes involved including environmental attention, cognitive map, preferred environments, environmental stress and coping, citizen participation and conservation behaviour will be covered.

BPS 124: Educational Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce students to the principles and processes that explain the thinking and learning behaviour of humans and how people change as they grow and develop. It will also cover issues related to the design of learning tasks, organizing the learning environment, executing learning activities and managing the learning environment. The physiological, psychological and environmental variables that influence learning behaviour as well as issues on the assessment of learning will be discussed

CMS 108: Communicative Skills II
3 Credit(s)

This is a follow-up course on the first semester one. It takes students through writing correct sentences, devoid of ambiguity, through the paragraph and its appropriate development to the fully-developed essay. The course also emphasizes the importance and the processes of editing written work.

Level 200

First Semester

BPS 211: Measurement and Evaluation
3 Credit(s)

The course will expose the student to the concept of educational and psychological measurement, theories and principles as well as evaluation principles. It will also provide students with the skills for designing instruments for measuring such as tests, and for interpretation of results of measurement. Focus will also be placed on issues relating to the validity and reliability of instruments and tests.

BPS 212: Psychology of Exceptionality
3 Credit(s)

This course is designed to acquaint the student with knowledge on the deviation characteristics of individuals which call for supportive treatment. The symptomatic characteristics, forms of deviations, ethology as well as general and individual support mechanisms will be covered. The course will also examine educative programme settings that can be applied to mitigate the effects of the deviations.

BPS 213: Principles of Guidance and Counselling
3 Credit(s)

This course will prepare the student for counselling roles both inside and outside the school setting. It will expose the student to the principles, forms, procedures and psychological basis of counselling practices. The various services of counselling delivery management of each service will be discussed.

BPS 215: Motivational Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course examines the role that human beliefs, cognition, affect and values play in the constructive interpretation of events and in influencing achievements. It will cover the physical and psychological variables and processes that are involved in motivation including goal orientation, attributions, expectancy and self-efficacy as well as the theoretical formulations underpinning social cognitive that relate to learning and achievement.

Second Semester

BPS 221: Psychological Testing
3 Credit(s)

This course focuses on the theory and practice of testing and its application to psychological traits. The historical evolution of psychological testing, variable and trait identification and measurement, item design involving both culture free and culture related variables as well as the administration and analysis of psychological tests will all be covered.

BPS 222: Theories of Psychology
3 Credit(s)

The course introduces the student to the major theoretical formulations that have provided psychological knowledge and understanding over the years. Beginning with theories from the founding fathers of psychology, through to modern theoretical perspectives, the student will be helped to understand the philosophical basis, assumptions, structure and dynamics of the theories presented in various fields of psychology.

BPS 223: Abnormal Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will expose students to the etiological, concurrent and predictive characteristics associated with various mental states of the individual. It will also deal with the specific mental states that fall under abnormal psychology as well as the existence and effects of syndromes. The prevalence of specific mental disorders in Ghana, their distribution across the population (inc1uding age of onset, prevalence and gender differences) and intervention issue will all be discussed.

BPS 224: Psychology of Personality
3 Credit(s)

This course will expose students to diverse views in theorizing about human personality, beginning from the ancient perspective through psychodynamic and trait perspectives. The various influences on personality formation and issues on the structure and dynamics of personality as well as personality change and disorder will be covered.

BPS 225: Experimental Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will expose the student to the experimental analysis of behaviour. It will emphasize the place of experimental research in psychological investigation and intervention. Emphasis will be given to methodological issue and how these have been used to generate ideas in psychological studies in such areas as language and thinking, perception, conditioning, learning, motivation and emotion. The work of early experimental psychologists and contemporary counterparts will be examined.

Level 300

First Semester

BPS 311: Psychology of Adulthood
3 Credit(s)

This course deals with the development of physiological, intellectual, and interpersonal social functioning, as a consequence of adulthood. Theories and research findings about the adult years will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on issues of continuity and discontinuity, stability and change. Personal and interpersonal influences, issues of life transitions such as work, leisure and preparation for retirement and also lifestyle and health issues will be discussed.

BPS 312: Psychology of Personnel Management
3 Credit(s)

The course is intended to introduce the student to the application of psychological theories and principles to the management of personnel in schools, organisations and other institutions. It will focus on the psychological skills needed to undertake effective personnel selection, training and detainment as well as the psychological variables responsible for job satisfaction and motivation. The evolution of research on the field and current findings will be highlighted.

BPS 313: Behavioural Management Strategies
3 Credit(s)

This course focuses on the strategies for identifying and managing deviant behaviour. The theories and models that have proposed strategies for behaviour management with special reference to behaviourists and humanists will be studied. Procedures and skills needed for behaviour management such as for specifying observed behaviour, measuring behaviour, setting goals, arranging cues and reinforcements and evaluating success will be examined.

BPS 314: Counselling Psychology
3 Credit(s)

The student will in this course, study the underlying issues responsible for understanding mental health problems. Focus will be placed on identifying symptomatic characteristics of various defective mental health conditions and the wider implications of such conditions. Also, the various strategies for handling these conditions among individuals, in institutions, industry, schools, universities and families will be examined.

BPS 315: Counselling Techniques
3 Credit(s)

After successfully completing this course, the student will understand most of the major theoretical approaches to counselling and their application to the counselling process. They will be familiar with key concepts, principles, goals, assessment techniques and the appropriate application of Psychoanalytic, Humanistic, Rational, Behavioural and Cognitive Behavioural therapies in the counselling process.

Second Semester

BPS 321: Psychology of Memory
3 Credit(s)

This course will give a special place to the increasing amount of researches on memory and its rising importance in psychological studies. The structure of the brain and physiology of memory will be studied. Also the processes by which the memory system operates including encoding, storage, decoding and retrieval will be examined alongside the influences and elements that go with it. Furthermore the issues of memory stimulation, decay, and memory loss will all be examined with a focus on ways of improving memory functioning.

BPS 322: H.I.V./AIDS Education
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce the student to the psychological intricacies of handling the AIDS epidemic especially in Africa. Focus will be on the social influences and attitudes that promote AIDS, stigmatization and bias, the handling and counselling of persons who are H.I.V/AIDS positive. Researches and intervention programmes will also be discussed.

BPS 323: Child Psychology (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

This course focuses on the scope and breadth of human development during childhood. It will also examine the patterns of growth, change and stability that occur from birth to adolescence. It will cover the influences on the growth and change of the child’s characteristics including biological and environmental influences. Students will be encouraged to integrate the theoretical explanations and developmental influences with practical application on the African child.

BPS 324: Adolescent Psychology (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

This course provides an opportunity for students to examine adolescence, a special watershed in human life. The various theoretical perspectives regarding the nature, character, learning and training of adolescents will be covered. The course also examines the psychosocial problems associated with adolescence and the strategies for establishing cordial relations between adolescents and adult authority. Issues of adolescent sexual health, drug use behaviour, delinquency and nihilism will be emphasized.

BPS 325: Educating the Special Individual
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce the student to the treatment and teaching of persons with special needs including the physically challenged, the mentally challenged, behaviourally disturbed and others. The various intervention programmes from inclusive education to institutional settings will be explored. Discussions will also centre on materials and equipment for educating the special individual.

BPS 326: Clinical Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will focus on the issues that will enable the student of psychology to understand the causes of psychological distress and factors that promote psychological well-being. A wide range of psychological difficulties will be covered including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, disabilities, family problems and mental illness. It will also involve a study of the methods and tools needed to undertake clinical assessments including tests interviews and direct observation of behaviour. Strategies for therapy and counselling will be studied

BPS 327: Psychology of Deviance (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

It will introduce students to different theoretical approaches to the study of social deviance. The various processes that create deviants such as social identity and intra-group processes, intra-group deviance, deviant groups and devalued groups will be discussed. An evaluation of the different approaches in accounting for various modern day social problems will be made.

BPS 328: Industrial and Organisational Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course provides students the opportunity to examine forms of behaviour that augment or impede the work processes in industry or organisations. Emphasis will be placed on the conceptual framework necessary to analyse organisational processes, small group skills and mechanisms for promoting individual and group (team) effectiveness. Issues in motivation, leadership attitudes, job satisfaction, workplace design and safety as they relate to work effort will also be examined. Exposure to and analysis of case studies in organisational behaviour will be carried out.

BPS 329: Gender Psychology (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

This course will focus on sex and gender from a variety of theoretical perspectives in psychology. It will discuss gender development across the lifespan. Focus will also be given to the impact of gender on several areas of human interaction including the application of the psychology of sex and gender to sexuality, mental health, sex crimes and the body.

BPS 399 : Research Methods
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce the student to research methods. It is to enable students to understand empirical research issues and also to plan and conduct research projects in their areas of interest. It will cover the basis, assumptions and approaches to research. The functions of research, the different kinds of research, instrumentation and analytical tools will also be discussed. Emphasis will also be placed on procedure in conducting and evaluating research as well as intervention strategies.

Level 400

First Semester

BPS 411: Early Childhood Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course examines the theoretical conceptions and contributions on the physical, intellectual and psychosocial characteristics of children in the early childhood stages of life. It will cover how these characteristics affect the development of personality, cognition, behaviour and learning of preschool children.

BPS 412: Learning Disabilities
3 Credit(s)

This course will examine the theoretical explanations of learning disabilities, including genetic, psychological, cognitive processing and social explanations. It will also examine the treatments prescribed by various theories and researchers, and students will engage in intervention activity in the child development laboratory of the department.

BPS 413: Community Psychology
3 Credit(s)

In this course the student will be introduced to person-environment interactions and how these impact upon individual and community functioning. The issues of substance abuse, poverty, school failure, delinquency, aggression, high-risk behaviour and violence will be studied in terms of their nature, causes, effects on individuals and society and their handling. The ways individuals interact with others and social groups such as churches, schools, families and the larger cultural environment will also be discussed including the issues of diversity, marginalisation and empowerment. All issues will be studied with an interventionist orientation.

BPS 414: Participatory Community Development (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce students to community development based on participatory bottom-up, multi-sectorial models. Different approaches to development will be compared in terms of effectiveness. There will also be a focus on the principles that underlie sustainable development, culminating in the design of a development project based on the Village Earth model.

BPS 415: Psychometrics
3 Credit(s)

This course will expose psychology students to the design and analysis of research on the measurement of human characteristics. It will cover issues in statistics and quantitative methods that are pertinent to the measurement of human values, attitudes, attributes, interests and potentials. It will also cover measurement issues dealing with consumer surveys, job and performance analysis.

BPS 416: Group Dynamics (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

This course will inform students about the ways in which people interact with one another and are influenced in social settings. Theoretical positions and research findings on conformity, obedience, audience effects and social loafing as well as how the processes responsible for these can be manipulated in leadership, union, ethnic, religious and other settings will be discussed.

BPS 417: Social Change in Organisations (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

This course will examine social change as an integral process with a focus on efforts at transforming social, public and private sector organisations including health, education and service institutions. The theories and dynamics of social change in institutions and the catalysts and elements of change will be discussed with a focus on leadership roles in initiating and managing the change process.

BPS 418: Psychology of the Aged
3 Credit(s)

This course will devote itself to the study of the aging process and the elderly. It will cover the biological, social and psychological processes involved in aging and rhe influence of lifestyle and social circumstances on this process. It will also include the care of the aged and examine the various theories about the aged and their perceptions. Difficult issues that confront the aged such as spousal loss, isolation, invalidity and dying will all be discussed alongside the handling of these situations.

BPS 419: Psychology of Crime (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the theoretical and practical issues from key areas of criminological psychology. The course will examine the contributions made by psychology to the theory, prevention and treatment of criminal behaviour, the prevention and investigation of crime and the understanding of criminal justice processes.

Second Semester

BPS 421: Seminar in Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will expose the psychology student to a wide variety of ideas in the field, which may enable the learner develop an area of specialization for further studies. The seminars will involve students and lecturers research activities and presentations. The discussions that will evolve will be an important source of improved understanding of the various topics that have been studied in other courses. It will also unify ideas learnt in different courses towards the solution of problems that will be discussed during the seminar.

BPS 422: Instructional Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course examines theories in instructional psychology and instructional leadership as these influence instructional delivery in both school and training settings. It will cover instructional planning, task and learner analysis issues, varieties of learning and instructional systems development. Various models of instruction and their applications in instructional delivery will also be discussed.

BPS 423: Cognitive Psychology
3 Credit(s)

Cognitive psychology will provide the student with an insight into the internal processes that are responsible for the complexity in human thinking, concept formation, meta-cognitions and problem solving behaviour. The theoretical perspectives on human cognition and specific fields of cognition and human information processing, as well as issues of stability and instability in cognition will be studied.

BPS 424: School Psychology
3 Credit(s)

This course will introduce students to the various assessment methods and models including psychological, behavioural (including task analysis), social systems, medical and ecological models. Also to be treated will be individual and group assessment methods, focusing on persons as well as contextual and environmental features that may influence their behaviour. Such knowledge will enable students to engage in assessments of various kinds including educational, social, language, psychological and vocational assessments. Students will also be introduced to the various forms of intervention that help promote individual development.

BPS 425: Organisational Leadership
3 Credit(s)

This course will help the student to develop the skills of effective leadership in a changing world. It will enable the student to understand leadership functions, identify and work within an organisations’ mission, develop strategies and translate these into clear objectives. It will also enable the student to manage people, systems and processes more effectively, as well as create and maintain an effective relationship with other organisations and individuals in the working environment.

BPS 426: Crisis Management
3 Credit(s)

This course will focus attention on the psychology of how groups behave and react during crisis events. The variables that come to play in crisis situations, their ordering in terms of importance, dealing with bias and attributions, and negotiation skills from a psychological perspective will all be studied.

BPS 427: Psychology of Health (Elective)
3 Credit(s)

This course examines the psychosocial basis of the health behaviour of individuals and communities. The effects of values, attitudes and attributions on lifestyle and health behaviour as well as psychosomatic influences on mental and physical health will be covered. The theoretical explanations of people’s reactions to health and medication issues as well as health behaviour modification practices will also be discussed.

BPS 490: Practicum
3 Credit(s)

This course requires the student to engage in a practicum in a selected field such as counselling, early childhood institution, orphanage, and home for the elderly, clinic or industry. A report will be planned and produced by the student in collaboration with a supervisor. The intention of this activity is to get the student to experience psychology in a real setting and a practical situation to improve their understanding of the academic issues they study.

BPS 499: Project Work
3 Credit(s)

The student is expected to plan and execute a research project in a field of specialization in psychology.