What Course Is Counselling and Psychology? Meaning, Focus and What Students Learn

What Course Is Counselling and Psychology?

Counselling and Psychology is a humanities-oriented programme concerned with understanding people, their behaviour, emotions, development and interactions with others. It also introduces students to the principles involved in helping people deal with personal, educational, social and developmental challenges.

The course combines two closely related areas. Psychology focuses on understanding human behaviour and mental processes, while counselling is concerned with helping individuals understand themselves, make informed decisions and cope with different situations.

Students therefore encounter both the theoretical study of human behaviour and the practical principles behind effective counselling relationships.

What Students May Study

Human Behaviour

Students can explore how people behave, why individuals respond differently to situations and how personal and environmental factors can influence behaviour.

Human Development

Development is another important area. Students can examine how people change from childhood through adolescence and adulthood, including the social and emotional factors that may influence development.

Counselling Principles

The counselling side of the programme introduces students to the principles involved in helping people discuss concerns, understand their circumstances and make appropriate decisions.

Individual Differences

People do not think, behave or develop in exactly the same way. Students can therefore examine differences between individuals and consider how personality, environment and experiences may influence behaviour.

Educational and Social Issues

Counselling can be relevant in schools, families, communities and other social environments. Students can examine issues that affect learning, relationships, adjustment and personal development.

Research and Observation

Psychology is strongly connected with research. Students can develop the ability to observe behaviour, gather information, examine evidence and communicate findings in an organised manner.

How Is Counselling Different From Psychology?

Although the two areas overlap, they are not exactly the same.

Psychology is broadly concerned with understanding behaviour and mental processes, while counselling focuses more directly on helping individuals deal with personal, educational, social and developmental concerns.

Studying them together gives students an opportunity to understand people while also learning about the principles of supportive guidance and counselling.

Skills Students Can Develop

• Communication skills
• Active listening
• Critical thinking
• Observation and analysis
• Research skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving
• Professional writing

Who May Find the Course Interesting?

The programme may appeal to students who are interested in people, behaviour, education, personal development and social relationships.

It can also suit students who enjoy listening to others, analysing situations and learning why people respond differently to similar circumstances.

Where It Appears in the JAMB Brochure

Counselling and Psychology is expressly listed as course number 14 under the Arts/Humanities section of the supplied JAMB brochure. It appears among the programmes in the Faculty/School/College of Arts.

It is important to keep the exact title in mind because the same brochure also contains related programmes, including Psychology and Human Development.

A Course About People and Their Development

Counselling and Psychology provides an academic route into the study of human behaviour and the principles of counselling. Its combination of psychological understanding and interpersonal development can make it particularly interesting to students who want to understand people and how they respond to different experiences.

For candidates checking the official course listing, the document below can be consulted alongside the information on this page.