DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Hauwa Mary AIGBOJE Ph.D., MSc, BSc.

Email: hmimogie@nda.edu.ng

Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna 

Departments 

• Defence and Security Studies
• Geography
• History and War Studies
• Languages
• Political Science
• Psychology

Psychology is a unique discipline of human endeavour that is of great importance to human life and society.  The Psychology Department Nigerian Defence Academy started from the academic year 2010/2011 with the vision to “Be a center for mental health services and the training of mental health professionals”. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs taking students on a journey covering a wide range of psychological related issues. The uniqueness of this department in the military context cannot be over emphasized, as personnel face several challenges as a result of the profession and their theaters of operation. Psychology has been proven to be useful in many facets of military operations.  These include Military recruitment, Training in Techniques of Warfare, Morale and Propaganda, Survival Strategies, Psychological Interrogation and Psychological Operations (PSYOPS), assessing the Mental Status of Soldiers who are to be deployed to theaters of operation, and Rehabilitation of soldiers with Psychological related issues as a result of trauma associated with operations.

The Department is geared towards training its students at the postgraduate and undergraduate levels to attain excellence in psychological learning.  Its programmes provide students the opportunity to apply psychological principles and techniques to critical judgement, decision making, leadership, designing and activating policies that have direct impact on human lives and behaviour.

The Department of Psychology is one of the young Departments established in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).  Approval was given by the NDA Council and the programme commenced in 2010/2011 session.  It is an Academic Department with the sole aim of pursuing excellence in Psychological Learning.  The programme provides opportunities for cadets to study and understand psychology in all its ramifications which include, the development of critical judgment, adaptation to the various stresses of military life, foundation for leadership, manpower for some branches (intelligence, provost, legal, medical) and to stimulate research in relevant areas for the Armed Forces.  The Department presently has high quality Academic manpower to deliver on its objectives.

To provide and deliver well packaged academic curricula in line with the National Universities Commission Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard.

The main objective of the department is to provide opportunities for students to study and understand psychology in all its ramifications, formulate hypotheses and theories for solving psychological, socioeconomic, cultural, political and technological problems, of the Nigerian society and the international community.  The department therefore has the following objectives

1. Produce graduates with a thorough knowledge, understanding, predicting and controlling the roots of human and animal behaviour.
2. Develop critical judgment, including the ability to observe, understand, analyse and synthesize data on behaviour.
3. Facilitate adaptation to the various stresses of academic, military, and socioeconomic life including the rapid adoption of military values.
4. Influence the development of appropriate skills for leadership, interpersonal relationships, social adjustment and communications.
5. Prepare officers and officer cadets for careers in the fields that are relevant to the Armed Forces i.e. Medical, Aviation, Ergonomics, Counseling, Industrial/Organizational Psychology etc.
6. Produce the manpower requirements for some branches of the Armed Forces such as Intelligence, Provost, Legal, Personnel administration etc.
7. Stimulate research in the areas that are relevant to the needs of the Armed Forces (i.e military psychology), particularly in the areas of selection, training, deployment, safety, man-machine relationship, combat skills, welfare and morale etc.
8. Provide avenues for research and training of military and civilian personnel wishing to undertake postgraduate studies in psychology.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Psychology

This is a four year programme fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The programme conforms with NUC Benchmark and Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) for Psychology.

The NDA follow the NUC guidelines in admission.  The Candidates write JAMB and those who have selected NDA and met our cut off are invited for further screening.  The minimum requirements are five credits with Mathematics, and English language compulsory:

Admission is through the NDA Entrance Examination and the Armed Forces Selection Board (AFSB) interview. Success in the entrance examination, the interview and medical fitness examination are essential.

1. A minimum of five (5) credit passes in not more than two sittings, at the SSCE or its equivalent which must include English Language, Mathematics and Biology are pre-requisites for admission into the Psychology 4-year degree programme.
2. All candidates should be 17 years old and not more than 21 years old at the time of entry into the Academy.
3. All candidates must be single male and female without legal obligation to support a child or other individuals.
4. Candidates must not be less than 1.68 meters tall.