DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY The department of Psychology in Nasarawa State University was established in 2001 as one of the pioneer departments in the university. At its inception, the department had three Assistant Lecturers with Nze, Chukwuemeka Leonard as the coordinator for one academic session. Currently the department is headed by Harri Sylvester Atama.
The department was established at the inception of the university i.e. in the year 2002.
The major objective and focus of the department is to train students to acquire psychological knowledge and skills to be able to identify psychological and adjustment problems of mankind in general, and to use such knowledge, skills and techniques to manage or help people with adjustment problems as well as enhancing the lives of even the healthy. In short, special, attention is focused on teaching the application of psychological knowledge and skills on identifying and managing human problem.
PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DEGREE PROGRAMME IN PSYCHOLOGYThe founding father of the discipline of psychology, William Wundt, (1879) intended psychology to be a scientific study of human animal (normal and abnormal) behavior, by using scientific methods. From its Germanic (European) origins, psychology in the 20th century has flourished in the USA, where the philosophy is to use discipline to analyze and solve problems that relate to interactions between man and society. Since 1964 when psychology was implanted in Nigeria at the University of Nsukka, it has attempted the systematic study of man and animal, their behavioral patterns (normal and abnormal) their environment, their experience, Attitudes, beliefs, values. As a science, psychology seeks to discover patterns, using fact, principles and generalization, in order to increase our knowledge, understanding and control of behavior in various social and cultural settings, groups, institutions and organizations.
The philosophy behind the psychology curriculum of Nigeria Universities is therefore to equip students with skills, concepts and abilities which can help them to understand, predict condition, control and change human and animal behaviors for the overall social, economic, political and national development of Nigeria.
MAJOR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:- To instill in psychology students a sense of enthusiasm for and identify with psychology as a profession, appreciation of it application in different contexts, and environment, and to involve students in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying.
- To provide students with a broad and balanced foundation of psychological knowledge and practical skills
- To develop in psychology students the ability to apply their psychological knowledge and skills (such as analysis of behaviors etiology, patterns, prevalence and epidemiology, using the principles of cognition, learning motivation, emotion, adjustment, conflicts, attitudes, beliefs, values intelligence, personality leadership and inter personal skills etc) in proffering solutions to theoretical and practical problems of psychology and society.
- To develop in' students, through an education in psychology a range of transferable skills of value in psychological social organizational, industrial educational, health and cultural employment environment, by the use of "" cognitive and creative methods of social engineering.
- To provide students with a knowledge and skill base from which they can proceed to further studies in specialized area of psychology (such as health, clinical IT organizational industrial – managerial, artificial intelligence social human resources management, political educational Forensic environment psychology, etc) or multi disciplinary areas involving psychology.
- To create in students an appreciation of the important of psychology in a development third world society like Nigeria in relation to industrial, economics, environment and socio-cultural contexts issues, problems and Policies especially as they relate to existential and epistemological values, attitudes and beliefs.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:- Students are admitted into the department through the university matriculation examinations, remedial school and JAMB direct entry.
- UTME candidates for admission are required to have at least five (5) credits (in not more than tow sittings) at the ordinary level. They must also have scored the cut off points at the UTME examination. Biology must be at the credit level and at least a pass in mathematics REMEDIAL candidates coming through the remedial school must have passed the remedial examination as well as having at least five (5) credits (in not more two sittings) at the ordinary level. Candidates must have a credit in biology and at least a pass in mathematics.
- DIRECT ENTRY (JAMB) the direct entry admissions are as per the admission requirement provides in the general prospectus of the University or as specified by the JAMB direct Entry requirement. Students for direct must have at least four (4) credits at the ordinary level in addition to their advanced level papers. A good background in biology is to added advantage.
Via: Nasarawa State University, Keffi