Benue State University, Makurdi

BRIEF HISTORY

Department of Psychology is one of the first departments established by the University. At the moment, the department runs a four year programme leading to a Bachelor’s of Science (B.Sc) Degree in Psychology.

PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy underlying the B.Sc programme in Psychology at BSU, Makurdi is to produce Psychology graduates who are imbued with the culture of a thorough knowledge of scientific psychology and effectively apply same to their immediate environment in order to improve the lot of the ordinary people in Benue State, Nigeria and the international community.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the programme is to provide opportunities understanding, predicting and controlling the roots of human psychology in all its ramifications, formulate hypotheses and theories for solving psychological and socioeconomic problems of the Nigeria Society and the international community. The programme therefore aims at the following:

1. Producing graduates with a thorough understanding, predicting and controlling the roots of human and animal behaviour
2. Develop critical judgment, including the ability to observe, understanding, analyze and synthesize data on behaviour.

Contingent on the above, find work and be effective in very sphere of human activity including education, security service, military, clinic, industry, organizations etc.

ACADEMIC/ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The General Admission requirements into Benue State University are provided in the General Prospectus of the University. In addition to these requirements, the Department of Psychology requires for entry at least a PASS in Biology and Mathematics at the Ordinary Level. Health Science may be accepted in place of Biology. Direct Entry, G.C.E. A’ Level, Diploma in relevant fields in addition to O’ Level requirement.

GRADUATE DESCRIPTORS

The programme aims, among other things to achieve the above objectives. To train students so that they should be able to:

• Offer quality care (for those who are in hospitals and other health delivery systems)
• Be effective planners (for those in administration)
• Posses the ability to manage change
• Provide good leadership, have skills to motivate multi-sector staff, community-based organizations and community members through the use of base management and psychological theories.
• Apply predetermined protocols set by employers in problem solving
• Improve staff attitude to work by increasing team work, stemming sharp practices, and facilitating problem identification and problem solving.
• Improve communication, relationships with client and co-workers, negotiating skills and conflict resolution.
• To maintain personal and professional disciplines in such a way that they are embodiment of accountability
• Initiate, conduct, contribute and disseminate valid research of relevance to organizations.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES OF B.Sc PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMMES

While a Professional career in Psychology requires some Post Graduates training and qualification in a specialized area of Psychology, a graduate with a degree in Psychology can find employment in several such fields as:
Education: Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Nursery, primary and Secondary Schools as well as special education institutions.
Medical: Psychiatric and mental health clinics, Hospitals and Colleges of Medicine.
Government General Services: Federal, State and Local Governments Services both Local and Foreign Services, particular in the areas of personnel management.
Government Parastatals: Especially in the areas of personnel management.
Private Sector: Industrial and Business Organizations.
The Military: The Air Force, Army and Navy
Security and Intelligence Services: A wide range of employment opportunities are available to Psychology graduates here.
Other Uniformed Services: The Police, Prisons, Immigration, Customs Services etc. Others any organization with personnel and managerial needs employs Psychology graduates.

Staff List

S/No.	Full Name	Rank	Status	Qualification	Specialization

COURSE CODES AND THEIR TITLES

100      LEVEL COURSERS (FIRST AND SECOND SEMESTERS)
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology I	2 Credit
PSY 103	Learning Process I	2 Credit
PSY 105	History of Psychology	2 Credit
PSY 107	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Psychology	2 Credit
GST 111	Communication in English	2 Credit
GST 113	Nigerian People and Culture	2 Credit
GST 121	Use of Library, study still and Information & Communication Technology	2 Credit
PSY 102	Introduction to Psychology II	2 Credit
PSY 104	Learning Process II	2 Credit
PSY 106	Basic Concepts of Experimental Psychology	2 Credit
PSY 108	Quantitative Methods in Psychology	2 Credit
Elective I
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology	3 Credit
ECO 101	Principles of Economics	2 Credit
POL 101	Introduction to Political Science	3 Credit
GEO 131	Human Geography	3 Credit
BIO 101	General Biology	3 Credit
PHL 101	Introduction to Philosophy & Logic	3 Credit
Elective II
ENG 101	English Language	2 Credit
BSM 101	Introduction to Business I	3 Credit
EFN 101	Money, Banking and The Economy	2 Credit
CMP 101	Introduction to Computer	2 Credit
GST 112	Logic Philosophy and Human Existence	2 Credit
GST 120	Communication in French	2 Credit
GST 122	Communication in English	2 Credit
SOC 102	Introduction to Sociology II	3 Credit
SOC 104	Nigerian Heritage	3 Credit
ECO 102	Principles  of Economics II	2 Credit
GEO 122	Introduction to Environmental Science	3 Credit
POL 104	Introduction Organization of Government	3 Credit
BIO 102	General Biology I	4 Credit
EDU 102	Educational Psychology	2 Credit
PHIL 106	Social & Political Philosophy	2 Credit
REL 102	Religion and Health Value I	2 Credit
BSM 102	Introduction to Business II	2 Credit
200 LEVEL COURSERS & AMENDED COURSES
GST 211	History and Philosophy of Science	2 Credit
EPS 201	Entrepreneurship Studies	2 Credit
GST 222	Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution	2 Credit
EPS 202	Entrepreneurship Studies	2 Credit
POL 203	Foundation to Political Economy	3 Credit
POL 207	Principles of Public Administration	3 Credit
SOC 207	Sociology of the Family	2 Credit
SOC 209	Gender and Society	2 Credit
ECO 213	Population Economics	3 Credit
REL 211	Africa Traditional Religion & Culture	3 Credit
BSM 201	Principles & Techniques of Management	2 Credit
LW 201	Constitutional Law I	4 Credit
SOC 206	Sociology of Work & Occupation	2 Credit
GEO 232	Introduction to Population Geography	2 Credit
POL 2	Introduction to Local Government	3 Credit
LW 202	Constitutional Law II	4 Credit
REL 204	Psychology of Religion	2 Credit
BSM 202	Principles and Techniques of Management II	3 Credit
ENG 210	Creative Writing	3 Credit
To also include PSY 214: Sports Psychology (2 Credit Definition, scope and theories of sport psychology.  Goal setting, psychokinetic, motivation, morale, and performance in sport.  Performance enhancing substances, and sport administration.
300 LEVEL COURSERS & AMENDED COURSES
PSY 301	Statistical Methods in Psychology I	2 Credit
PSY 302	Statistical Methods in Psychology II	2 Credit
PSY 303	Psychology of Deviant Behaviour	2 Credit
Theories and contemporary conceptions of deviant behavior in adult and children.  Analysis of problems of deviance on a socio-psychological scale, in-depth study of some deviant behaviour patterns and critical analysis of the concept of mental illness and criminal responsibility. Psychopathic personality, alcoholism and drug addiction, suicide and prostitution.
PSY 304	General Psychopathology This course will begin with general concepts of abnormal behaviour and the general conceptualization of psychopathology. It will also cover some major forms of childhood disturbance, issues, theory and research.  The course would also focus on the assessment and treatment of such behavior using psychological techniques.  It would also involve case history reviews and laboratory experiments.
PSY 305	Personality theories and Assessment.  An overview of the major theories of personality and their implications for psychoanalytic interventions.  Psychotherapeutic, existential, humanistic, behavioural transactional analysis including Evelstat school of thoughts.  This course will also expose students to tools used by clinicians in their practice.  Emphasis will be placed on projective techniques, personality inventories and assessment approaches.
PSY 306	Sensory Process
PSY 307	Psychology of Substance Abuse (2 Credit) this course discusses the diagnosis of alcoholism and also the diagnosis of drug addiction.  It treats the rehabilitation of the drug addict.  The course also examines various stages of alcoholism, drug types and psychological problems associated with them.
PSY 308	Introduction to Psychotherapy (2 Credit)
PSY 309	Research Methods in Psycho (2 Credit)
PSY 310	Psychological Aspects of Disability: (2 Credit) This will analyze types of disability (Physical and emotional), and society’s view of disability, referral programmes and placement for the disabled.  This course will also consider the helping team – the role of psychologies, practical field experience is highly recommended.
PSY 311	Psychological Testing and Test Construction
PSY 312	Advanced Experimental Design
PSY 313	Counselling Psychology Definition of Counselling. Educational, Vocational, and socio-personal counseling.  The nature and philosophy of counseling, qualities of a good counselor, the place of information in counseling in Nigeria.  The techniques and tools of counseling.  Test of personality. Interviewing, intelligence, aptitude interest, educational and vocational test.
PSY 314	Cross-cultural psychology
PSY 315	Environmental psychology
PSY 316	Cognitive psychology
PSY 317	Political psychology
PSY 318	Psychology of Women. A study of the personality of women.  An examination of the biological differences, and socio-psychological and cultural factors.  Mortality rates of women, role participation and women’s liberation movement.  Mental ability, women and career, and women and family.
PSY 319	SIWES Report Writing. Students are expected to submit written reports of their activities in relevant establishments attached to for a period of 6 months.  The reports following approved writing format, are to be assessed by academic staff in the participating departments.
PSY 320	Industrial-Based SIWES Assessment. Assessment of students based on confidential reports by supervisors in relevant establishments of attachment following approved uniform assessment criteria.
400 Level Courses and Amended Courses
PSY 401	Psychological Testing and Test Construction II
PSY 402	Psycho-biological study of Behaviour Advanced analysis of neural behaviour, models of the brain- Royal Fountain Model, Hydraulic Model and Electricity model, Brain chemistry Otto Loewis experiemtn.  Criteria for neurotransmitters for human behaviour. Neurochemical factors as related to mental retardation, depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease etc.  neurotransmitters in old age.  Study of the cerebrospinal and autonomic nervous system in their relation to psychological functions; the sense organs and peripheral nervous system; the ductless glands.  Theories of bodily correlates of the psychological state of the individual; sleep, hypnosis, stress, anxiety, depression, etc..  genetic Gregory Mendel’s and Charles Darwin
PSY 403	Social Perception
PSY 404	Practicum in Psychology
PSY 405	Psychology of Union Management Relations
PSY 406	Clinical Psychology A survey of the history, practice and theoretical foundations of clinical psychology, differential diagnosis and treatment.  Stages and steps in clinical diagnosis.  Stages, procedures, methods, and techniques in psychological treatment and management of psychopathological disorders.  The role of the clinical psychologist in community mental health delivery
PSY 407	Organizational Psychology
PSY 408	Research Project
PSY 409	Behaviour Modification. Introduction to behaviour modification. Methods of behaviour modification, stimulus response, motivation, reinforcement, etc. theories of learning the classical or respondent learning, the operant conditioning, and the social learning, therapy models derived from classical conditioned paradigms such as: systematic desensitization, implosive therapy.  Deep muscle relaxation, etc.  therapy models derived from operant conditioning extinction, time out, punishments and shaping, social learning theory, cognitive therapy, Rational emotive therapy. Covert reinforcement, covert extension, convergent problem solving, self instruction techniques, client centered therapy, expressive training etc.  Overview of behaviour modification, traditional behaviour modification.
PSY 410	Psychology of Social Change
PSY 411	Forensic Psychology. Introduction to forensic psychology.  Techniques and processes of forensic investigations.  Models of legal system, eye witness testimony, research methods in forensic psychology interrogation, the minor in criminal justice.
PSY 412	Psychology of Social change
PSY 413	Current Issues in Psychology
PSY 414	Psychology of Negotiation (4 Credit)
PSY 415	Childhood Psychopathology2 Credit) Developmental deviations, the atypical child, borderline behaviours, personality disorders and anti-social behavior.  The role of psycho social milieu (the family, neighborhood, etc to childhood psychosis).  The autistic child, mental retardation, partial, mild and profound retardations.  Downs syndrome, soft neurological disorders in children.  Minimal brain dysfunction.  Hyperactivety, school phobias, learning disability.  Neuropsychological assessment of the child.
PSY 416	Health Psychology Meaning and scope of health psychology health belief model and other theories of health psychology.  Stress and coping, psychological factors in chronic and terminal illnesses, communicable and non-communicable diseases.