Postgraduate Programmes

Masters of Educational Psychology (MEd Psychology)

Masters of Educational Psychology (MEd psychology) a focus on education psychology issues is central to educational quality and achievement of nation’s education aims. Hence, the proposed programme intends to fill the gap and shortage of educational psychologists with postgraduate knowledge level in the country.

With the breakdown of traditional societal norms, values and customary bonds, accelerated by liberalization of social and economic activities, the disintegration of community coherence and social support systems, there has emerged a unique community with problems requiring skilled manpower in applied areas of psychology. This is another rationale for the need of a training program which will prepare people to skillfully assist others in hardship, psychosocial problems as well as prepare the community to cope with changes in life and technology. Social institutions in demand of services based on community and social psychology, guidance and counseling services are on the increase.  Such institutions include those dealing with HIV/AIDS, crime, drug addiction, child molestation, depression and despair, isolation and abandonment, orphanage and desperation.

 Of interest, MEd Psychology graduates are anticipated to work in industries, higher learning institutions, hospitals and community leaders and the related fields.

Relevance of Masters in Educational Psychology

The MEd Psychology training is necessary for training education, social and counseling psychologists. The program increases the capacity of manpower available in social training institutions leading to strengthening their ability to provide such services. Such training provides the community with skilled social psychologists to deal with community and personal problems.

The program specifically contributes in:

  1. Planning and organizing social-psychological services.
  2. Training of educational psychologist,
  3. Providing critical analysis of health behavior and life styles with the view of improving quality of life,
  4. Strengthening the link between Sokoine University of Agriculture and the community, and
  5. Advancing teaching and quality of research in the socio-cultural behavioral fields.

The programme covers research-based theories and methodologies concerning development, learning processes as these take place between individuals and in the relationship between people different socio-cultural contexts. The study focuses on fundamental tools for analysis, intervention, research skills and communication techniques, which are beneficial across professional and personal life.

Programme Objectives

The programme provides graduate students with the necessary theoretical and methodological skills required to understand the major psychological, social, and developmental issues in educational psychology and practice. Specifically, at the end of this programme the graduates should be able to;

  1. Apply skills and develop the capacity to effectively teach psychology in tertiary institutions such as Universities, teacher colleges, and other related colleges.
  2. Critically analyze and adapt skills and strategies in social and psychological problem intervention to multiple levels of analysis and to different bodies of knowledge or professional practice;
  • Develop skills required by professional educators to deal with educational, psychological, and social needs of all students
  1. Prepare students for employment as teachers, practitioners, remedial specialists, academics and researchers, healthcare, industry, law, media, and public health.
  2. Critically, apply intervention skills to a variety of contexts, including: program and policy design, implementation and evaluation; organization and facilitation of groups and alliances; counselling and advocacy for individuals and groups and, the promotion and strengthening of social networks.