IGNOU MA Psychology Syllabus

Course Name

Master of Arts in Psychology (MAPC)

Course Duration

2 Years (4 Semesters)

IGNOU School 

School of Social Sciences

Medium 

English 

Specialisation

Psychology

Tuition Fee

INR 19,200

MPC 1 

Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Memory

4

MPC 2 

Life Span Psychology 

4

MPC 3

Personality: Theories and Assessment 

4

MPC 4 

Advanced Social Psychology 

4

MPC 5

Research Methods in Psychology

4

MPC 6 

Statistics in Psychology

4

MPCL 7 

Practicum in Experimental Psychology & Psychological Testing

8

MPC 1 - Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Memory 

Information Processing

Cognitive Psychology,

Information Processing in Learning and Memory,

Neuropsychological Basis of Learning and Memory,

Models of Information Processing (All Models)

Intelligence and Creativity 

Theories of Intelligence (G and S Factor and the Model of JP Das),

Theories of Multiple Intelligence (Guilford, Gardner, Steinberg),

Measurement of Intelligence,

Creativity and Problem Solving

Language 

Language Acquisition (Cognitive Theory), 

Language Processing (Comprehension and Language Expression),

Multilingualism and Cognition, 

Language and Speech Disorders 

Problem-Solving 

Nature of Problem Solving and Processes, 

Stages and Strategies of Problem Solving, 

Theoretical Approaches to Problem Solving,

Impediments in Problem Solving

MPC 2 - Lifespan Psychology 

Prenatal, Infancy and Early Childhood

Concept of Development, Growth and Development, Lifespan Perspective, Methods of Studying Development, and Characteristics of Development,

Prenatal Development (Genetics, Environment Influence and Hazards of Development), 

Development During Infancy (Physical, Psychosocial, Cognitive and Linguistic), 

Early Childhood (Physical, Psychosocial, Cognitive and Linguistic)

Development During Early School Years (6-11)

Physical Development, 

Cognitive, Social, Emotional and Moral Development,

Schooling and Development, 

Identification of Problems in School Children and Remedial Measures

Development During Adolescence 

Physical Changes, 

Cognitive Changes, 

Identity, Self Concept, Self Esteem, Peer Group Relationships,

Challenges and Issues in Adolescent Development. 

Adulthood and Ageing 

Physical Changes, 

Cognitive Changes, 

Psychosocial Changes, 

Challenges and Issues in Ageing Process

MPC 3 - Personality: Theories and Assessment 

Personality: Theories and Assessment 

Definition and Concept of Personality and Personality Development, 

State/ Trait Approaches to Personality, 

Assessment of Personality, 

Key Issues in Personality

Theories of Personality I 

Psychodynamic Theory (Including Horney and Sullivan),

Social Cognitive Theory of Personality (Bandura), 

Learning Theory of Personality (Pavlov and Skinner), 

Humanistic and Self Theory (Maslow and Rogers)

Theories of Personality II

Allport, 

Cattell,

Eysenck, 

The Big 5 Factor Model 

Assessment of Personality 

Introduction to Assessment and Testing, 

Approaches to Personality Assessment (Self Report, Problems of Response in Projective and Behavioural Assessment), 

Behavioural Assessment, 

Other Measures of Personality.

MPC 4 - Advanced Social Psychology 

Introduction to Social Psychology

Nature and Concept of Social Psychology and Social Psychology Related to Other Disciplines,

Social Cognition (Attribution Theory), 

Methods of Social Psychology (Observation, Ethnography, Correlational, Experimental Social Psychology),

Current Trends in Social Psychology and Ethical Issues

Process of Social Influence

The Concept of Social Influence,

Pro Social Behaviour and Factors Contributing to Prosocial Behaviour,

Inter-Personal Attraction, 

Aggression and Violence

Attitude, Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination

Introduction to Attitude and Stereotypes,

Formation of Attitude and Attitude Change,

Prejudice and Discrimination, 

Social Conflicts and Resolutions

Group Dynamics

Introduction to Group, Formation, Types of Group, 

Group Dynamic, 

Social Identity, Crowding and Crowd Behaviour, 

Cooperation, Competition and Conflicts

MPC 5 - Research Methods in Psychology

Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology

Basic Process/Concept in Research, 

Reliability and Validity (External and Internal), 

Variables and Constructs, 

Hypothesis Formulation and Sampling

Types of Research

Survey Research, 

Ex-post Facto Research, 

Experimental Research (including Field Experiments), 

Case Study

Research Design

Experimental Design: Single Factor, 

Experimental Design: Factorial Design, 

Quasi Experimental Design, 

Other Designs (Correlational Design and Comparative Design)

Qualitative Research in Psychology

Introduction Including Ethnography,

Grounded Theory, 

Discourse Analysis (Content Narrative), 

Reporting and Evaluating Quality Research

MPC 6 - Statistics in Psychology

Introduction to Statistics

Parametric and Nonparametric Statistics,

Descriptive and Inferential Statistics,

Type I and Type II Errors, 

Setting Up The Level of Significance

Correlation and Regression

Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation, 

Other Types of Correlation (including Phi-coefficient), 

Partial and Multiple Correlations, 

Bivariate and Multiple Regression

Normal Distribution

Characteristics of Normal Distribution,

Significance of Mean Differences, Standard Error of the Mean, 

Anova (One-Way), 

Two-Way Anova

Nonparametric Statistics

Rationale, 

Mann Whitney ‘U’ Test For Two-Sample Test, 

Kruskal Wallis Analysis of Variance, 

Chi-Square and Kendall Rank Correlation

MPC 7 - Practicum in Experimental Psychology & Psychological Testing

Practicals 

1. Span of Attention

2. Memory Experiments

3. Intelligence Testing (Bhatia Battery)

4. Personality Testing (16 PF)

5. Test For Social Behaviour (Vineland Social Maturity Scale)

6. Sociometry

7. Family Pathology Scale 

8. Problem Behaviour Checklist (PBCL)

Group - A - Clinical Psychology

Course Code 

Course Name

Allotted Credits

MPCE 11

Psychopathology

4

MPCE 12 

Psycho diagnostics

4

MPCE 13 

Psychotherapeutic methods 

4

MPCE 14 

Practicum in Clinical Psychology

6

MPCE 15 

Internship 

8

MPCE 16/46

Project/ Applied Positive Psychology

6

Group - B - Counselling Psychology 

MPCE 21

Counselling Psychology 

4

MPCE 22 

Assessment in Counselling and Guidance

4

MPCE 23 

Interventions in Counselling

4

MPCE 24 

Practicum in Counselling Psychology

6

MPCE 25 

Internship 

8

MPCE 26/46 

Project/ Applied Positive Psychology

6

Group - C - Industrial and Organisational Psychology 

MPCE 31 

Organisational Behaviour

4

MPCE 32 

Human Resource Development 

4

MPCE 33 

Organisational Development 

4

MPCE 34

Practicum in Industrial and Organisational Psychology

6

MPCE 35

Internship 

8

MPCE 36/46

Project/ Applied Positive Psychology

6

MPCE 11 - Psychopathology

Foundations of Psychopathology 

A Brief History of Psychopathology,

Classification of Psychopathology DSM-IV TR, 

Developmental Pathogenesis, 

Childhood Mental Disorder

Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Other Mild Mental Disorders

Anxiety Disorders, Panic Disorder and Phobias, 

Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, 

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 

Somatoform Disorder and Dissociative Disorder

Mood Disorders

Mild, Moderate and Major Depressive Disorder, 

Bipolar Disorder,

Other Mood Disorders: Mood Disorder Due to General Medical Conditions, 

Substance-Induced Mood Disorder

Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia: Etiology, Neurocognitive Functioning and Interpersonal Aspects, 

Paranoid and Delusional Disorders, 

Psychotic Disorder Due to General Medical Conditions, 

Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorders

Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder, 

Narcissistic Personality Disorder, 

Dependent and Histrionic Personality Disorder, 

Schizoid and Paranoid Personality Disorder

MPCE 12 - Psychodiagnostics

Introduction to Psychodiagnostics

Introduction to Psychodiagnostics, Definition, Concept and Description, 

Methods of Behavioural Assessment, 

Assessment in Clinical Psychology, 

Ethical Issues in Assessment

Psychodiagnostics in Psychology

Objectives of Psychodiagnostics,

Different Stages in Psychodiagnostics, 

Batteries of Test and Assessment Interview, 

Report Writing

Tests of Cognitive Functions

Measures of Intelligence and Conceptual Thinking, 

The Measurement of Conceptual Thinking (The Binet Simon Intelligence Scale and Wechsler’s Intelligence Scales),

Measurement of Memory and Creativity, 

Utility of Data from the Test of Cognitive Functions

Projective Techniques in Psychodiagnostics

Introduction to Projective Techniques and Neuropsychological Test,

Principles of Measurement and Projective Techniques, Current Status with Special Reference to the Rorschach Test,

The Thematic Apperception Test, Children’s Apperception Test,

Personality Inventories

MPCE 13 - Psychotherapeutic Methods

Psychological Treatment of Mental Disorders: Major Modalities

Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic/ Psychodynamic Therapy,

Insight Psychotherapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, 

Short Term Psychotherapies, 

Methods of Child Psychotherapy

Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies

Behaviour Modification Techniques, 

Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (Including Rational Emotive Therapy),

Solution Focused Therapies, 

Integrative and Multimodal Therapies

Other Therapies for Psychological Interventions

Roger’s Client-Centred Therapy,

Family and Group Psychotherapy, 

Psychodynamic Couple Therapy, 

Psychotherapy Integration

Psychotherapy Across Life Cycle

Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents, 

Psychotherapy with Adults and Middle-Aged Persons, 

Psychotherapy with Older Adults, 

Psychotherapy in Terminal Illnesses (AIDS, Cancer)

MPCE 14 - Practicum in Clinical Psychology

-

-

MPCE 15 - Internship

-

-

MPCE 16/46 - Project/ Applied Positive Psychology

-

-

MPCE 21 - Counselling Psychology

Introduction

Introduction to Counselling and Characteristics of a Counsellor, 

Process of Counselling,

Theoretical Approaches to Counselling, 

Ethics in Counselling

Counselling - Models and Approaches

Psychoanalysis, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, 

Behavioural Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Approaches to Counselling, 

Drama and Art Therapy in Counselling, 

Other Therapies (Person Centered Counselling, Solution Focused Counselling)

Types of Counselling

HIV/AIDS Counselling, 

Educational and Vocational Counselling, 

Child Protection and Child Rights Counselling, 

Addiction/Anxiety Counselling

Counselling for Mental Disorders

Depression, 

Personality Disorder, 

Gender Identity Disorder, 

Eating Disorder

MPCE 22 - Assessment in Counselling and Guidance

Introduction

Introduction to Assessment: Definition, Description and Differentiating between Testing and Assessment, 

Assessment Complexities, 

The Ambience and Climate Needed for Assessment and Counseling, 

Determination of aspects to be covered in counselling

Approaches to Assessment in Counseling

Interview, Case History, Testing, 

Approaches to Counselling: Psychodynamic Approach and Cognitive Approaches, 

The Person-Centered Approach to Assessment and Counseling, 

The Narrative Approach to Assessment and Counseling

Assessment in Counselling and Guidance

The Counselling Setting, and the Role of Counselors in Guidance and Counselling, 

Individual and Group Techniques in Counseling and Guidance, 

Counselling and Guidance for Career Planning and Decision Making, 

Multicultural Counselling and Guidance: Role of Counselors In Preventing Illness and Promoting Positive Health

Organising and Planning Counselling and Guidance

Introduction to Developing Guidance and Counselling Programme,

Rationale and Purpose of Guidance and Counselling Programme, 

Organising and Evaluation of Guidance and Counselling Programme, 

Methods of Evaluation

MPCE 23 - Interventions in Counselling

Psychological Intervention: Major Modalities

Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic Counselling, 

Insight and Short Term Counselling, 

Interpersonal Counselling, 

Counselling Children

Cognitive Behavioural Counselling

Introduction to Behaviour Modification and Cognitive Approach in Counselling, 

Application of Cognitive Therapies in Counselling, 

Cognitive Behaviour Modification (Stress Inoculation, Self-instructional, Self-management, Problem Solving), 

Solution Focused Counselling and Integrative Counselling

Other Counselling Interventions

Roger’s Client Centered Counselling, 

Psychodynamic Couple’s Counselling, 

Family and Group Counselling,

Eclectic Counselling

Counselling: Future Directions

Teaching and Training for Counselling, 

Current Status of Counselling with Special Reference to India, 

Future Direction, 

Research Findings

MPCE 24 - Practicum in Counselling Psychology

-

-

MPCE 25 - Internship

-

-

MPCE 26/46 - Project/ Applied Positive Psychology

-

-

MPCE 31 - Organisational Behaviour

Organisational Psychology

Introduction to Organisational Psychology, 

Organisational Behaviour, Definition and Importance, 

Fundamental Concepts of Organisational Behaviour, 

Different Models of OB. (Autocratic, Custodial, Supportive, Collegial, etc.)

Personality and Attitudes in OB

Job Satisfaction, 

Work Motivation, 

Content Theory, Process Theory and Schedule of Reinforcement, 

Organisational Commitment

Leadership and Team Building

Definition of Leadership and Importance of Team Building, 

Change Management, 

Team Management, 

Resolving Conflicts

Learning Process and Motivation in Organisational Behaviour

Principles and Process of Learning, 

Behavioural Management,

Motivation in Organisation, 

The Process of Motivation for Higher Moral and Productivity

MPCE 32 - Human Resource Development

Human Resource Planning

Assessment of Human Resource in Organisation and Human Resource Planning, 

Human Resource Management, 

People Dimension in Human Resource Management and Short Term Human Resource Planning, 

Short-term Programmes in HR and Evaluation

Steps in HRM (Human Resource Management)

Introduction to HRM, Planning and Management, 

Training and Development, 

Workforce Diversity and Multicultural Factors, 

Globalisation and Changing Economy and their Effects on HRM 

Human Resource Laws

Intellectual Property Rights, 

Labour Laws (Indian and International), 

Laws Related to Workplace Violence and Harassment, 

Laws Related to Human Rights Violation

Importance of HR Planning

Goals and Objectives of Human Resource Planning, Corporate Social Responsibility, 

Business Strategy and Operational Strategies (Technology and Innovation in HR), 

Retention of Qualified and Technical Personnel (Competency Mapping and Performance Appraisal), 

Planning Investment in Development (Including Corporate Counselling)

MPCE 33 - Organisational Development

Introduction

Definition and Introduction to Organisational Development, 

Foundations of Organisational Development, 

Conceptual Frame Work of OD, 

First-Order and Second-Order Change

Assumptions, Beliefs and Values in OD

Participation and Empowerment, 

Teams and Teamwork, 

Parallel Learning Structures, 

A Normative Re-educative Strategy of Change

Analysing and Managing the OD Process

Components of OD Process, 

Diagnosing the System, Sub Units and Processes, 

Models for Managing Change (Including Six-box Organisational Model), 

The Programme Evaluation Process in OD (Including Third Wave Consulting)

OD Interventions

Definition, Factors to be Considered, Nature and Classification of OD Interventions, 

Selection and Organising of Intervention Activities, 

Typology of Interventions Based on Target Groups, 

Human Process Interventions: Individual, Group and Inter-group, Coaching, Counselling, Training, Behavioural Modeling, Motivating, etc.

MPCE 34 - Practicum in Industrial and Organisational Psychology 

-

-

MPCE 35 - Internship 

-

-

MPCE 36/46 - Project/ Applied Positive Psychology 

-

-