University of Pretoria Yearbook 2024

MCom Industrial Psychology (Coursework)

(07250148)
Department Human Resource Management
Minimum duration of
1 year
study
Total credits 180
NQF level 09
Contact Mrs C Smit [email protected] +27 (0)829762853

Programme information
The MCom (Industrial Psychology) is a master’s programme accredited by the Professional Board of Psychology of
the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The programme entails seven modules of coursework
presented over at least four block weeks during the first year of study and a mini-dissertation. For registration as
an industrial psychologist students need to complete an internship.

Admission requirements
1. Relevant BComHons degree
2. A cumulative weighted average of at least 65% for the BComHons degree
3. At least 65% for the research component at honours level

Additional requirements
A candidate may be refused admission to a master’s degree by the Department of Human Resource Management
Postgraduate Selection Committee if the student does not comply with the standard of competence in the
module as determined by the Department of Human Resource Management – with the proviso that a candidate
who does not comply may be admitted, provided that the student completes additional study assignments and/or
examinations.
The number of applicants admitted to the programme is limited by supervisory capacity and the availability of
research projects in the field of specialisation in the Department of Human Resource Management.
The number of students admitted in the programme will be determined by the growth strategy of the University
of Pretoria as approved by the Executive.
Allowance will be made for the diversity profile of students.

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Other programme-specific information
Refer to General Academic Regulation G39.
The pass mark for both a dissertation and a mini-dissertation is 50%. The provisions regarding pass requirements
for dissertations, contained in G39, apply mutatis mutandis to mini-dissertations. A pass mark of at least 50% is
required in the examination of each module.
The research component of the degree contributes 50% toward the total requirements for the degree. The
research component is represented by the Research in Practice module and the mini-dissertation. The degree
programme requires that a mini-dissertation/research article must be submitted in a field of study chosen from
the fields covered for the honours degree, provided that the Dean may, on the recommendation of the relevant
head of department, approve the replacement of the required dissertation by the successful completion of a
prescribed number of module credits and a mini-dissertation/research article. Information on modules, credits
and syllabi is available, on request, from the relevant head of department.
A module in Research Methodology is compulsory in all programmes. The Dean may, on the recommendation of
the relevant head of department, waive the prerequisites. In this case, the Research in Practice (IPS 806) will
replace the Research Methodology module.

Pass with distinction

In order to be awarded the degree with distinction, a student must meet the following criteria:
● obtain an overall weighted average of at least 75% according to module credits and obtain at least 75% in the
mini-dissertation
● complete the degree within the minimum prescribed period.

Notes
Only the final mark of the first attempt to pass the modules or dissertation will be considered;
The overall weighted average or GPA (according to course credits) will not be rounded up to a whole number.

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Curriculum: Final year
Core modules
Talent management 802 (HRC 802)
Module credits 12.00
NQF Level 09
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 16 contact hours
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Semester 1 or Semester 2
Module content
Students will design, conduct and evaluate research in talent management in the management of human
resources; they will design, facilitate and monitor the implementation of talent management practices; as an
internal or external consultant they will appreciate the complexity of behaviour in the workplace; they will
combine theoretical knowledge with practical examples and provide guidelines on talent management as a
decision science.

Fundamental industrial psychology 801 (IPS 801)

Module credits 30.00
NQF Level 09
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 32 contact hours
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Year

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Module content
Students will understand advanced principles underlying human behaviour, and communicate them in written
and oral form to a range of audiences. The module is offered in three different parts:
Part 1: Professional Practice
Students will develop in-depth knowledge and reflexive understanding of the roles of professional industrial
psychologists as well as the possible unintended consequences of their practices. The requirements for ethical
conduct, role expectations in collaborating with other health care professionals and the need for continuous
professional development are accentuated.
Part 2: Work-Related Psychopathology
Students will develop advanced knowledge of the signs and symptoms of individual or group dysfunction in
order to diagnose workplace related psychopathology (e.g. stress and burnout) and identify possible general
psychopathology (e.g. depression, psychological trauma) for timeous referral or intervention. Students will
develop a critical understanding of the physical and psychological health challenges that impact employee well-
being.
Part 3: Career Psychology
Students will develop an in-depth knowledge of different career coaching interventions, including life skills and
career development principles. The module emphasizes the complexities of the South African context and
indigenous knowledge systems in the development of life skills and careers.

Advanced assessment 802 (IPS 802)

Module credits 12.00
NQF Level 09
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 16 contact hours
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Semester 1 or Semester 2
Module content
Students will develop a critical understanding of the use of psychological assessments in the field of Industrial
Psychology and the ability to apply this in the work context with regard to career advancement, personal
development, recruitment and selection. They will cultivate an understanding of ethical conduct and be capable
of a responsible appraisal of psychological assessment tools that comply with South African conditions and
legislation. Students will be able to develop assessment centres to meet the performance needs of
contemporary organisations.
Students will develop an in-depth knowledge of different career coaching interventions, including life skills and
career development principles. The module emphasizes the complexities of the South African context and
indigenous knowledge systems in the development of life skills and careers.

Industrial psychology professional ethics 803 (IPS 803)

Module credits 12.00

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NQF Level 09
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 16 contact hours
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Semester 1 or Semester 2
Module content
Students will acquire an in-depth understanding of ethical principles in relation to the various roles that
industrial psychologists perform and how to apply these principles in the workplace. They will be able to critically
evaluate ethical dilemmas, be articulate about the ethical principles that guide the profession and ensure
conformance with the standards of moral conduct of the profession and the clients they serve.

Change dynamics 804 (IPS 804)

Module credits 12.00
NQF Level 09
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 16 contact hours
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Semester 1 or Semester 2
Module content
Students will be knowledgeable about psychological theories of change in individuals and groups. They will build
and communicate their own mental models of a changing post-modern society and of the organization as
change territory. They will integrate this knowledge to develop suitable frameworks to facilitate change
interventions and manage the dynamics of change in contemporary organisations. Students will be able to
critically appraise and articulate the intended benefits and possible unintended consequences of a change
intervention to different audiences.

Cross-cultural psychology 805 (IPS 805)

Module credits 12.00
NQF Level 09
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 16 contact hours
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Semester 1 or Semester 2

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Module content
Students will be knowledgeable about different theories of culture and understand the principles underlying
cross-cultural psychological practices in South African organisations. They will be able to integrate this
knowledge to solve problems related to cross-cultural issues. They will know the issues that are detrimental in a
cross-cultural work context (i.e. stereotyping, ethnocentrism, bias). They will demonstrate social awareness of
cross-cultural issues. They will apply basic cross-cultural counselling skills in a diverse context.

Research in practice 806 (IPS 806)

Module credits 30.00
NQF Level 09
Prerequisites No prerequisites.
Contact time 32 contact hours
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Year
Module content
Part 1: Research design and proposal development
Students will design a suitable research project by developing a research proposal commencing with the
background, the problem statement and the purpose of the proposed study. An integrated and in-depth
literature review follows, demonstrating academic scholarship in the field of study and the student’s ability to
reflect critically on their own and others’ research. They will develop research questions or hypotheses and
justify an appropriate methodology for the study. The proposal will include ethical considerations and the
criteria for ethical conduct in doing research, adhering to UP’s Code of ethics for scholarly activities (S4755/12).
Students will present their proposals to a panel of members of D-HRM. Students will follow the APA guidelines in
their academic writing.

Part 2: Qualitative research

Students will be proficient in advanced qualitative research methods, and knowledgeable of the relevant
paradigms, designs, sampling procedures, data collection and analysis methods as well as the criteria for quality
and rigour. Students will demonstrate reflexivity in applying these by conducting a qualitative research project
of limited scope in which they justify their methodological choices.

Part 3: Quantitative research

Students will be proficient in quantitative research methods and the relevant paradigms, research designs,
sampling procedures and data collection methods. They will be able to select and apply appropriate statistical
models for different types of designs and justify their choices in line with the specific purpose of the study and
data requirements. They will develop a practical ability to analyse data using SPSS and AMOS.

Mini-dissertation: Industrial Psychology 807 (IPS 807)

Module credits 60.00
NQF Level 09

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Prerequisites IPS 806 or HRC 806
Language of tuition Module is presented in English
Department Human Resource Management
Period of presentation Year
Module content
The research component (Industrial Psychology mini-dissertation) can be completed after the successful
completion of IPS 806. It needs to be submitted for examination by 30 September in Year 2. In line with the
proposal developed as part of IPS 806, students will conduct their research study by collecting, analysing and
interpreting their findings in a scholarly manner, demonstrating a critical engagement with related academic
work. They should also discuss the limitations of their study, its practical implications and its academic
contribution. The findings will be communicated in the form of a mini-dissertation, following APA guidelines.

General Academic Regulations and Student Rules

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and
registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at
the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that
they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the
relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant
yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or
basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations. The G Regulations are updated annually and
may be amended after the publication of this information.

Regulations, degree requirements and information

The faculty regulations, information on and requirements for the degrees published here are subject to change
and may be amended after the publication of this information.

University of Pretoria Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) verification project

The higher education sector has undergone an extensive alignment to the Higher Education Qualification Sub-
Framework (HEQSF) across all institutions in South Africa. In order to comply with the HEQSF, all institutions are
legally required to participate in a national initiative led by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher
Education and Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the South African Qualifications
Authority (SAQA). The University of Pretoria is presently engaged in an ongoing effort to align its qualifications
and programmes with the HEQSF criteria. Current and prospective students should take note that changes to UP
qualification and programme names, may occur as a result of the HEQSF initiative. Students are advised to
contact their faculties if they have any questions.

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