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The Advanced Diploma in Psychology and Counselling is designed for individuals seeking a comprehensive understanding of psychological theories, counseling techniques, and human behavior. This course offers in-depth knowledge of the foundations of psychology, including personality, motivation, emotion, and individual differences. Students will explore the historical and contemporary perspectives of psychology and gain insight into various areas of specialization and career paths in the field.
A key component of the course is the focus on counseling and related helping relationships, providing students with essential skills in resolving personal problems through counseling, mentoring, and coaching. Students will learn about the ethical frameworks guiding these practices, the core counseling techniques, and the qualities necessary for effective counselors.
The program also emphasizes research skills in psychology, equipping students with the ability to design and analyze experiments, understand statistical concepts, and engage in academic writing and presentation. Furthermore, students will explore human behavior, neurobiology, and the stages of human development from a psychological perspective.
By the end of the course, students will have gained the knowledge and practical skills needed to pursue careers in psychology, counseling, and related fields, with a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied aspects of human behavior.
Entry Requirements
Full-time
Those who have completed G.C.E A/L examination in Arts, Biology stream with three simple passes.
It is mandatory that the candidate has obtained at least an ‘S’ pass for Mathematics and English for GCE Ordinary Level Examination
Or
Those who have completed a Certificate course/ Advanced Certificate course in Psychology from a recognized institution.
Part-time
Above Qualifications
Or
Those who have successfully completed Ordinary Level local / Cambridge or Edexcel qualifications with minimum 2 years of professional experience in a related field. (Upon submitting proof of work experience)
Commencement
Kirulapone (NIC) – Pending
Peradeniya (KIC) – Pending
Programme Fees
Current Fee Structure
Course Fee: LKR 225,000/- + Registration Fee: LKR 5,000 (Part Time)
Course Fee: LKR 250,000/- + Registration Fee: LKR 5,000 (Full Time)
Course Structure and Modules
Introduction to Psychology
Defining psychology
The roots and early schools of psychology
Contemporary perspectives to psychology
Areas of specialization and careers in psychology
Personality and individual differences
Motivation and emotion
Introduction to Counselling and Related Helping Relationships
Definition of counselling as a process of resolving personal problems
Definition of coaching, mentoring, coaching, and other related helping relationships and the ways they differ from each other and from counselling.
History of process for resolving human problems
Necessary qualities of a counsellor
Types of psychological counselling and core skills in counselling
Ethical framework of counselling, mentoring and coaching
Research Skills in Psychology I
Developing research questions and hypotheses
The scientific method
Experiments and quasi-experiments for basic two condition experimental designs
Types of data, including independent and dependent variables, nominal, ordinal, interval, & ratio.
Basic statistical concepts for the normal distribution, z-scores, probability, null and alternative hypotheses, probability and hypothesis testing, statistical significance
Basic descriptive and inferential statistics, including related and unrelated t-tests, non-parametric alternatives to the t-test, Pearson and Spearman correlations, and simple linear regression
Guidelines for academic literature searching, academic writing, referencing, reporting research according to professional publication standards.
Human Behaviour I
The structure of the neuron
Neurotransmitters
The nervous system
The brain structure and function
The endocrine system
Vision
Structure of the eye
Processing the visual message
Hearing and other senses
Smell and taste
Skin senses
Human Development I
Theoretical perspectives in developmental psychology, including cognitive-developmental, evolutionary, learning, psychodynamic, social-cognitive, and sociocultural.
Research strategies and methodology.
Biological development throughout the life span, including course of development, genetics, pre-natal influences, and physical milestones.
Psychodynamic approaches to development, including personality formation, psychosocial development
Cognitive development throughout the life span, including cognitive milestones and abilities, genetic, biological, and environmental influences on cognition, and the theoretical approaches of Piaget and Vygotsky.
Learning theory and development, including behavioural modification and punishment.
Social learning and modeling, including personality and social development.
Language development, including topics of bilingualism and language acquisition
Academic Writing and Presentation Skills
Features of Academic Writing
Paragraph Writing
Essay Writing
Listening and Note-taking
Presentations Skills