Philosophy of the Degree Programme in Psychology
Generally, Psychology seeks to discover patterns, using facts, principles and generalizations, in order to increase knowledge, understanding and control of behaviour in various social and cultural settings, groups, institutions and organizations. The Philosophy behind the Psychology curriculum at Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) is to equip students with skills, concepts and abilities which can help them to understand, predict, condition, control and change human and animal behaviours for the overall social, economic, political and national development of Nigeria and the world at large.
Aims and Objectives of the Degree Programme in Psychology
(i) To instill in Psychology students a sense of enthusiasm for and identity with Psychology as a profession; an appreciation of its application in different contexts, and environments, and to involve students in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying.
(ii) To provide students with a broad and balanced foundation of psychological knowledge and practical skills.
(iii) To develop in Psychology students the ability to apply their psychological knowledge and skills (such as analysis of behavioural etiology, patterns, prevalence and epidemiology; using the principles of cognition, learning, motivation, emotion, adjustment, conflicts, attitudes, beliefs, values, intelligence, personality, leadership and inter personal skills etc) in proffering solutions to theoretical and practical problems of psychology and society.
(iv) To develop in students, through an education in psychology, a range of transferable skills of value in psychological, social, organizational, industrial, educational, health and cultural employment environments, by the use of generative and creative methods of social engineering.
(v) To provide students with a knowledge and skill base from which they can proceed to further studies in specialized areas of psychology (such as health, clinical), IT organizational, industrial, managerial, artificial intelligence, social, Human Resources Management, political; educational, forensic, environmental psychology, etc) or multi disciplinary areas involving psychology.
(vi) To generate in students an appreciation of the importance of psychology in a Developing World Society like Nigeria in relation to industrial, economic, environmental and socio-cultural contexts, issues, problems and policies especially as they relate to existential and epistemological values, attitudes and beliefs.