PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

• To impart to students knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to the diagnosis, analysis and clinical therapy of various behavioural pathologies and psychological disorders.
• To prepare students for Clinical Placement and employment in mental health institutions and for further studies in Clinical Psychology.  
• To provide opportunities for students to demonstrate a sound knowledge of a comprehensive range of psychopathologies and of the requisite psychotherapies.
• To produce graduates who are ethically and socially responsible.  

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Normal Entry: Minimum of an upper second class (2.1) BSc Honours Degree in Psychology.

PROGRAMME CHARACTERISTICS  

• Areas of Study in Clinical Psychology:
• Psychopathology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Psychotherapeutic assessments and interventions, and Clinical Health Psychology.
• Legal and ethical issues in Clinical Psychology.
• Research Methods and Statistics in Clinical Psychology.
• Specialist Focus in Clinical Psychology :
• Individual and group clinical empowerment.
• Diagnosis, prevention, therapy and management of psychological disorders.
• Orientation: Scientific-Practitioner Paradigm.
• Distinctive Features: The programme builds on psychotherapeutic interventions and neurobiological practice.
• Other: Practical in approach, i. e. not too theoretical and must be relevant on the ground.

 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

 Careers:

• Practice in government/public and non-governmental/private mental health settings
• Clinical advocacy
• Crises management
• Correctional services
• Non-governmental organizations
• Academia
• Research institutions
• Human and social services

       Further Studies: Doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology.

Level 1 Semester 1	Credits
MCLIP 731: Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychopathology	18
MCLIP 732: Assessment in Clinical Psychology	18
MCLIP 733: Clinical Neuropsychology	18
MCLIP 734: Clinical Health Psychology	18
MCLIP 735: Gerontology	18

Level 1 Semester 2	Credits
MCLIP 736: Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapy	18
MCLIP 737: Legal and Ethical Issues in Clinical Psychology	18
MCLIP 738: Advanced Research Methods & Statistics in Clinical Psychology	18
MCLIP 739: Clinical Forensic Psychopathology	18
MCLIP 740: Clinical Psychopharmacology	18

Level 2 Semester 1	Credits
MCLIP 831: Clinical Placement 1	24
MCLIP 832: Crisis and Trauma Intervention	18
MCP 833: Advanced Psychometrics	18
MCLIP 834: Clinical Project Planning and Management	18

Level 2 Semester 2	Credits
MCLIP 835: Clinical Placement 2	24
MCLIP 836: Marital and Family Therapy	18
MCLIP 837: Dissertation	90

| Total Credits | 456 |

MODULE SYNOPSES

MCLIP 731 Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychopathology

The module provides knowledge on the: Application of psychological theories, research and case studies to childhood psychopathologies; Analysis of behavioural, emotional, developmental and learning disorders in childhood and adolescence, including assessment, diagnosis and treatment; evaluation of main theoretical approaches to adulthood psychological distress; implications of the importance of evidence-based practice.

MCLIP 732 Assessment in Clinical Psychology

The module provides training in clinical assessment professional skills. It covers the nature and purpose of clinical assessment, informal assessment and therapeutic relationships, interviews, general and clinical psychological testing, interpreting, synthesising and communicating assessment findings. It also develops in students the ability to practise clinical management and referral expertise.

MCLIP 733 Clinical Neuropsychology

The module reviews the theory and practice of Clinical Neuropsychology. It builds on students’ existing knowledge of neuro-anatomy and neuropsychology to review the wide range of neuropsychological deficits seen after brain injury. It also covers the principles and practicalities of neuropsychological assessment and the nature of neuropathology.

MCLIP 734 Clinical Health Psychology

The module provides knowledge on how biology, behaviour and social contexts influence health and well-being. Topics covered include ways of preventing illness; effects of mental and other illnesses; managing pain; improving adherence to medical advice; ways of reducing risky health behaviours, such as alcohol and drug abuse, smoking and risky sexual behaviours through health action approaches; behaviour therapy; and applied behaviour analysis.

MCLIP 735 Gerontology

The module focuses on issues surrounding psychopathology in old age. Disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other old age-specific disorders form the main thrust of the module. Emphasis is on developmental challenges faced by the elderly and respective peculiar needs, in general, and in old age homes, and theories that explain the ageing process.

MCLIP 736 Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapy

Students are exposed to clinical descriptions, research, and treatment of child and adolescent psychopathologies. The focus is on the treatment of internalizing problems such as anxiety, depression, suicide, and somatic disorders; Externalizing problems such as conduct disorder and substance abuse; and autism. Other topics covered are play therapy and narrative therapy; empirically-designed and theory-based treatment systems of psychopathologies in old age.

MCLIP 737 Legal and Ethical Issues in Clinical Psychology

This module covers standards of professional conduct as it applies to practice in the programme of study. It includes codes of conduct, ethical and legal decisions such as the scope of the profession, legal and ethical rights of clients, licensing laws, regulations and customs, and professional liability. Also covered are case examples, current regulations and standards for utilizing assessment data.

MCLIP 738 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Clinical Psychology

The module builds on concepts covered in the Psychology undergraduate module, and now focuses on applied research in Clinical Psychology. Its emphasis is on statistical techniques used in the discipline. It equips students with advanced knowledge and skills in triangulated research approaches, technologically triangulated data gathering, and statistical data processing.

MCLIP 739 Clinical Forensic Psychopathology

The module covers perspectives on offending behaviours, and approaches to assessment and treatment, giving particular attention to specific offender types. It provides an inner-connectedness of Psychology and Law, which includes crime prevention and rehabilitation of offenders, persuasive communication, group dynamics and jury decision-making.

MCLIP 740 Clinical Psychopharmacology

The module provides knowledge on Pharmacology and Neurology as a prerequisite to covering topics related to pre-clinical Psychopharmacology. Emphasis is on substances that have abuse and addiction potential, and on drugs used in the treatment of related, and other mental and neurological disorders.

MCLIP 831 Clinical Placement 1

(Before students begin their Clinical Placement 1, it is a prerequisite that they register with the Allied Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe in their own individual capacities).

The module provides an opportunity for students to integrate theory with professional practice. Students work with Clinical Psychologists and make observations of client cases handled. They document the cases, and in so doing build up and maintain a file for submission at the end of the semester for examination. They also attend practicum classes once every fortnight. The placement is for 15 hours per week for 15 weeks at an appropriate site approved by the Department.

MCLIP 832 Crisis and Trauma Intervention

The module covers models and approaches used to help clients who are in crisis and/or trauma. It builds a knowledge base of physical and psychological reactions to various forms of crises and trauma and enables students to develop support and referral networks. Students are also exposed to the professional care and therapy approaches that clients require, while upholding appropriate practice.  

MCP 833 Advanced Psychometrics

The module builds on and covers concepts taught in the Psychology Honours Degree Programme. However, the focus is now on the context of the specialised programme of study, with more comprehensive content being covered on psychometric tests: construction, comprehension, application, enhancement of effectiveness, and upholding principles in using the tests; administration; validity, reliability, standardisation, Pearson r and Spearman r.

MCLIP 834 Clinical Project Planning and Management

Clinical Psychologists engage in a variety of projects/programs to enhance the well-being of people. In this regard, this module covers concepts on how to manage such projects/programs as from the time of planning, inception, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, through to sustainability and/or termination. The module prepares students for starting their own private practice.

MCLIP 835 Clinical Placement 2

(Before students begin their Clinical Placement 2, it is a prerequisite that they register with the Allied Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe in their own individual capacities).

The module integrates theory with practice and builds on knowledge acquired in Clinical Placement 1. The placement is for 15 hours per week for 15 weeks at an appropriate site approved by the Department. While working under the supervision of Clinical Psychologists, students handle cases and are expected to: Document all cases and build up a file for submission for examination at the end of the semester and attend practicum classes once every fortnight.

MCLIP 836 Marital and Family Therapy

The module views mental illness as partly emanating from, and as being contributed to by systems of interaction among family members. It focuses on family relationships as an important factor in psychological health. Emphasis is on the fact that, regardless of whether clients consider mental illness an individual or a family issue, involving families often benefits them.

MCLIP 837 Dissertation

The module provides guidelines for students on the whole research process. Working under the supervision of a lecturer in the Department, students plan, design, and conduct research on a topic of their interest. The topic must address current issues and the research must be in line with current trends in the programme of study. Issued guidelines cover all the requisite aspects of how to conduct and document research.