Welcome to the Subject Psychology

The Department of Psychology at the North-West University (formerly the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education) had its inception as a fully fledged department in 1924 with dr H J Stoker as its first head. During the previous years Psychology was only offered at first year level but since 1924 students were able to major in Psychology for a BA-degree.  Since 1927, it was also offered as a major for a BSc-degree, a practice which still exists today, and in the following year (1928) a MA-degree in Psychology followed.

The name of the department (and of the subject) was changed during 1971 from “Sielkunde” to “Psigologie” and during 1973 the Institute for Psychological and Educational Services and Research (IPES&R) was established as part of the Department of Psychology. This paved the way for the establishment of focused MA- degrees in Clinical and Counselling Psychology during 1975. In 1980 the IPES&R  changed its name to the IPC (Institute for Psychotherapy and Counselling).