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The Ultimate Guide to B.A. (Honours) Psychology

Programme Code: BAPCH (CBCS)

Your complete, top-to-bottom guide for IGNOU's CBCS curriculum. Everything a new student needs to know.

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Overview Fee Structure Academic Calendar Support System Course Structure Detailed Syllabus Academic Process Grading System Study Strategies FAQs Degree Validity Digital Resources

Programme at a Glance

Total Credits

148 Credits

Programme Validity

Min: 3 Years | Max: 6 Years

Medium

English & Hindi

Eligibility

10+2 or its equivalent

Programme Fee Structure

The total fee is paid on a yearly basis. Below is the current breakdown as of the July 2025 session. Fees are subject to change as per IGNOU's policies.

Per Year Fee

₹5,300

(Total: ₹15,900 for 3 Years)

One-Time Fees

Registration Fee: ₹300

Development Fee: ₹200

Total at Admission: ₹5,800

The fee for the 2nd and 3rd year is ₹5,300 each, paid during re-registration. The examination fee is separate and paid before each Term-End Exam session.

Typical Academic Calendar (Yearly System)

July Session Timeline

  • Admission: May - August
  • Assignment Submission: October - March (Deadline is usually March 31st)
  • Term-End Examination: June
  • Result Declaration: August

January Session Timeline

  • Admission: November - February
  • Assignment Submission: March - September (Deadline is usually September 30th)
  • Term-End Examination: December
  • Result Declaration: February

The IGNOU Support System Explained

To navigate IGNOU effectively, it's crucial to understand its two main support pillars: the Regional Centre and the Study Centre.

Regional Centre (RC): Your Admin Hub

The RC is your main administrative office for a specific geographical region. It manages your student record, admissions, and examinations.

Contact your RC for:
  • Admission confirmation and ID card issues
  • Changes to your address or Study Centre
  • Exam-related issues and results
  • Final grade card and degree certificate

Study Centre (LSC): Your Academic Hub

This is your local academic contact point, usually a local college. You are assigned a Study Centre (also called a Learner Support Centre) for academic support.

Contact your LSC for:
  • Schedule for Academic Counselling sessions
  • Submitting assignments (online or offline)
  • Information on practicals and viva-voce
  • General academic guidance from counsellors

Yearly Course Breakdown

Semester I (22 Credits)

  • BPCC 101: Introduction to Psychology (CC - 6)
    Covers fundamental concepts, history, and branches of psychology.
  • BPCC 102: Biopsychology (CC - 6)
    Explores the relationship between biology, the brain, and behavior.
  • BEVAE 181: Environmental Studies (AECC - 4)
  • BSOG 171: Indian Society: Images and Realities (GE - 6)

Semester II (22 Credits)

  • BPCC 103: Psychology of Individual Differences (CC - 6)
    Examines personality, intelligence, and other factors that make individuals unique.
  • BPCC 104: Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-I (CC - 6)
    Focuses on descriptive statistics and foundational data analysis.
  • AECC-2: English/Hindi Communication Skills (AECC - 4)
  • BGDG 172: Gender Sensitization: Society and Culture (GE - 6)

Semester III (28 Credits)

  • BPCC 105: Psychological Research (CC - 6)
    Introduces scientific methods, research designs, and ethics in psychology.
  • BPCC 106: Development of Psychological Thought (CC - 6)
    Traces the historical evolution of psychological theories and schools of thought.
  • BPCC 107: Social Psychology (CC - 6)
    Explores how individuals think, feel, and behave in social situations.
  • BANS 183: Tourism Anthropology (SEC - 4)
  • BSOG 173: Rethinking Development (GE - 6)

Semester IV (28 Credits)

  • BPCC 108: Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-II (CC - 6)
    Covers inferential statistics, hypothesis testing, and advanced statistical tools.
  • BPCC 109: Developmental Psychology (CC - 6)
    Studies human growth and change across the lifespan.
  • BPCC 110: Applied Social Psychology (CC - 6)
    Focuses on the application of social psychology principles to real-world issues.
  • BANS 184: Public Health and Epidemiology (SEC - 4)
  • BPAG 174: Sustainable Development (GE - 6)

Semester V (24 Credits)

  • BPCC 111: Understanding Psychological Disorders (CC - 6)
    Introduces concepts of normality, abnormality, and major psychological disorders.
  • BPCC 112: Organizational Behaviour (CC - 6)
    Studies human behavior within organizational settings and its impact.
  • BPCE 141: Positive Psychology (DSE - 6)
  • BPCE 143: Environmental Psychology (DSE - 6)

Semester VI (24 Credits)

  • BPCC 113: Understanding and Dealing with Psychological Disorders (CC - 6)
    Focuses on therapeutic interventions and management of psychological disorders.
  • BPCC 114: Counselling Psychology (CC - 6)
    Covers theories, processes, and skills fundamental to counselling.
  • BPCE 142: Forensic Psychology (DSE - 6)
  • BPCE 144: Dissertation (DSE - 6)
    A research project where students apply their knowledge to conduct a study.

Detailed Syllabus (Core & DSE)

First Year Courses

BPCC-101: Introduction to Psychology

Block 1: Introduction to Psychology

  • Unit 1: Origin of Psychology
  • Unit 2: Nature and Scope of Psychology
  • Unit 3: Systems and Theories of Psychology
  • Unit 4: Subfields of Psychology

Block 2: Perception, Learning and Memory

  • Unit 5: Sensation and Perception
  • Unit 6: Learning
  • Unit 7: Memory

Block 3: Motivation, Emotion, Intelligence and Creativity

  • Unit 8: Motivation
  • Unit 9: Emotion
  • Unit 10: Intelligence and Creativity

Block 4: Personality

  • Unit 11: Definition and Nature of Personality
  • Unit 12: Theories of Personality
BPCC-102: Biopsychology

Block 1: Introduction to Biopsychology

  • Unit 1: Nature and Scope
  • Unit 2: Methods and Divisions

Block 2: The Nervous System

  • Unit 3: Anatomy and Functions
  • Unit 4: Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission

Block 3: The Endocrine System

  • Unit 5: Structure and Functions
  • Unit 6: Role of Hormones in Regulating Behavior
BPCC-103: Psychology of Individual Differences

Block 1: Introduction to Individual Differences

  • Unit 1: Meaning and Areas
  • Unit 2: Heredity and Environment

Block 2: Intelligence

  • Unit 3: Theories of Intelligence
  • Unit 4: Measurement of Intelligence

Block 3: Personality

  • Unit 5: Theories of Personality
  • Unit 6: Assessment of Personality

Block 4: Creativity and Adjustment

  • Unit 7: Concept and Measurement
  • Unit 8: Well-being and Adjustment
BPCC-104: Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-I

Block 1: Introduction to Statistics

  • Unit 1: Parametric and Non-parametric Statistics
  • Unit 2: Data Organisation and Graphical Representation

Block 2: Measures of Central Tendency

  • Unit 3: Concept and Calculation
  • Unit 4: Properties and Application

Block 3: Measures of Variability

  • Unit 5: Concept and Calculation
  • Unit 6: Properties and Application

Block 4: Correlation

  • Unit 7: Concept and Calculation
  • Unit 8: Other Methods of Correlation

Second Year Courses

BPCC-105: Psychological Research

Block 1: Introduction to Research in Psychology

  • Unit 1: Basics of Research
  • Unit 2: Aims, Goals and Principles of Psychological Research
  • Unit 3: Reliability, Validity and Standardization
  • Unit 4: Ethical issues in Psychological Research

Block 2: Types of Research

  • Unit 5: Experimental Method
  • Unit 6: Non-Experimental Method
  • Unit 7: Quasi-Experimental Method
  • Unit 8: Other Methods (Case study, Archival, field study)

Block 3: Research Design

  • Unit 9: Introduction to Research Design
  • Unit 10: Sampling

Block 4: Report Writing

  • Unit 11: Preparation of a Research Report
BPCC-106: Development of Psychological Thought

Block 1: An Overview

  • Unit 1: Psychology as a Science
  • Unit 2: Contribution of Early Pioneers

Block 2: Development of Psychology

  • Unit 3: Structuralism, Functionalism and Behaviorism
  • Unit 4: Gestalt Psychology, Psychoanalysis and Humanistic Psychology

Block 3: Contemporary Developments in Psychology

  • Unit 5: Cognitive Psychology
  • Unit 6: Recent Trends in Psychology
BPCC-107: Social Psychology

Block 1: Introduction to Social Psychology

  • Unit 1: Nature and Scope
  • Unit 2: Theoretical Perspectives

Block 2: Social Cognition and Social Perception

  • Unit 3: Social Cognition
  • Unit 4: Social Perception

Block 3: Attitude and Group Dynamics

  • Unit 5: Attitude and Attitude Change
  • Unit 6: Group and Group Dynamics

Block 4: Social Influence and Prosocial Behavior

  • Unit 7: Social Influence
  • Unit 8: Prosocial Behavior
BPCC-108: Statistical Methods for Psychological Research-II

Block 1: Introduction to Statistical Methods-II

  • Unit 1: Normal Distribution
  • Unit 2: Skewness and Kurtosis

Block 2: Inferential Statistics

  • Unit 3: Introduction to Inferential Statistics
  • Unit 4: Test of Significance of Difference Between Means

Block 3: Chi-Square Test

  • Unit 5: Introduction to Chi-Square
  • Unit 6: Application of Chi-Square
BPCC-109: Developmental Psychology

Block 1: Introduction to Developmental Psychology

  • Unit 1: Introduction to Human Development
  • Unit 2: Theories of Development

Block 2: Cognitive and Language Development

  • Unit 3: Cognitive Development
  • Unit 4: Language Development

Block 3: Socio-emotional Development

  • Unit 5: Emotional Development
  • Unit 6: Social and Moral Development

Block 4: Context of Human Development

  • Unit 7: Family
  • Unit 8: Schooling and Peer group
BPCC-110: Applied Social Psychology

Block 1: Introduction to Applied Social Psychology

  • Unit 1: Introduction
  • Unit 2: Social Psychological Theories
  • Unit 3: Research Methods

Block 2: Areas of Applied Social Psychology

  • Unit 4: Social Psychology and Health
  • Unit 5: Social Psychology and Environment
  • Unit 6: Social Psychology and Law

Block 3: Application of Social Psychology to Community

  • Unit 7: Concept of Community
  • Unit 8: Understanding Community Problems

Third Year Courses

BPCC-111: Understanding Psychological Disorders

Block 1: Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology

  • Unit 1: Concepts of Normality and Abnormality
  • Unit 2: Classification of Psychological Disorders
  • Unit 3: Clinical Assessment

Block 2: Neurodevelopmental and Anxiety Related Disorders

  • Unit 4: Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Unit 5: Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Block 3: Trauma, Somatic and Depressive Disorders

  • Unit 6: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
  • Unit 7: Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders
  • Unit 8: Depressive Disorders

Block 4: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Bipolar Related Disorders

  • Unit 9: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
  • Unit 10: Bipolar and Related Disorders
BPCC-112: Organizational Behaviour

Block 1: Introduction to Organizational Behavior

  • Unit 1: Introduction, Concept and Models
  • Unit 2: Individual Behavior

Block 2: Motivation and Leadership

  • Unit 3: Motivation and its Theories
  • Unit 4: Leadership

Block 3: Group Behavior and Conflict Management

  • Unit 5: Group Behavior
  • Unit 6: Conflict and Negotiation

Block 4: Organizational Processes

  • Unit 7: Organizational Culture
  • Unit 8: Organizational Development
BPCC-113: Understanding and Dealing with Psychological Disorders

Block 1: Dissociative, Sexual and Personality Disorders

  • Unit 1: Dissociative and Feeding and Eating Disorders
  • Unit 2: Sexual Dysfunctions and Paraphilic Disorders
  • Unit 3: Personality Disorders

Block 2: Substance-Related and Neurocognitive Disorders

  • Unit 4: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
  • Unit 5: Neurocognitive Disorders

Block 3: Psychological Interventions

  • Unit 6: Psychodynamic and Humanistic-Existential Therapies
  • Unit 7: Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Block 4: Other Interventions

  • Unit 8: Group Therapy
  • Unit 9: Counselling
  • Unit 10: Other Therapies (Yoga, Meditation, Art therapy)
BPCC-114: Counselling Psychology

Block 1: Introduction to Counselling Psychology

  • Unit 1: Introduction
  • Unit 2: Basic Counselling Skills

Block 2: Assessment in Counselling

  • Unit 3: Assessment: The Basis for Counselling
  • Unit 4: Process of Counselling

Block 3: Areas of Counselling

  • Unit 5: Counselling for Family and Marital Problems
  • Unit 6: Counselling for Children and Adolescents
  • Unit 7: Counselling for Substance Abuse

Block 4: Professional Issues in Counselling

  • Unit 8: Ethical Issues in Counselling
  • Unit 9: Counselling in the Indian Context
Discipline Specific Electives (BPCE-141 to 144)

BPCE-141: Positive Psychology: Focuses on human strengths, virtues, and factors that contribute to a fulfilling life. Topics include happiness, well-being, resilience, optimism, and character strengths.

BPCE-143: Environmental Psychology: Explores the relationship between individuals and their physical surroundings. Topics include environmental perception, crowding, personal space, and the psychological impact of built and natural environments.

BPCE-142: Forensic Psychology: Covers the application of psychological principles to the legal system. Topics include criminal profiling, eyewitness testimony, psychology of interrogation, and assessment of offenders.

BPCE-144: Dissertation: This is a mandatory research project. Students are required to conduct a small-scale empirical study on a topic of their choice under the guidance of an academic supervisor. It involves formulating a research question, collecting and analyzing data, and writing a formal research report.

Key Academic Processes In-Depth

The Assignment Process (30% Weightage)

Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) are mandatory for every course and contribute 30% to your final grade.

  1. Download: Get the latest TMAs from the IGNOU Assignment Portal for your admission cycle.
  2. Write: Answer all questions in your own handwriting on A4 paper. Use a cover page with your Enrolment No., Name, Address, Course Code & Title, etc.
  3. Submit: Most Regional Centres have an online portal for assignment submission. Submit before the deadline (typically March 31st for July session & September 30th for January session).
  4. Keep Proof: Always save a digital copy (scan or photos) of your submitted assignments and the submission receipt.
  5. Check Status: After a few weeks, check your assignment submission status and marks on the IGNOU website under "Student Support" -> "Student Zone".

The Examination Process (70% Weightage)

The Term-End Examination (TEE) is the final written exam for each course, contributing 70% to your final grade. They are held twice a year in June and December.

  • Exam Fees: The fee is paid online when filling the exam form.
    • Theory Course: ₹200 per course
    • Practical/Lab: ₹300 (up to 4 credits), ₹500 (above 4 credits)
    • Project (Dissertation): ₹500 (for BPCE-144, as it is above 4 credits)
  • Hall Ticket: Hall Tickets are not sent by post. They are uploaded on the IGNOU website 7-10 days before exams begin.
  • Mandatory Documents: You must bring your printed Hall Ticket and your official IGNOU Student ID card to the examination centre. Without both, you will not be permitted to appear for the exam.
  • Missed Exams: There's no penalty for missing an exam. You can simply appear for it in the next 6-month cycle by filling the exam form and paying the fee again.

Evaluation and Grading System

For Bachelor Degree Programmes under CBCS like BAPCH, IGNOU uses a 10-Point Grading System. Your final grade for each course is a combination of your assignment marks (30% weightage) and your Term-End Exam marks (70% weightage). The final percentage is then converted into a letter grade as shown below.

Letter Grade Numerical Grade Percentage
O (Outstanding)10≥85
A+ (Excellent)9≥ 75 to < 85
A (Very Good)8≥ 65 to < 75
B+ (Good)7≥ 55 to < 65
B (Above Average)6≥ 50 to < 55
C (Average)5≥ 40 to < 50
D (Pass)4≥ 35 to < 40
F (Fail)0< 35
Ab (Absent)0Absent

Study Strategies for Success in BAPCH

Master Your SLMs

IGNOU's Self-Learning Materials (SLMs) are comprehensive. Make them your primary resource. The exam questions are almost always based on them.

Use Previous Year Questions

Solving question papers from the last 5-10 exam sessions is the single most effective preparation strategy. It helps you understand the pattern, important topics, and how to structure your answers.

Assignments are Key

Take your assignments seriously. They not only carry 30% weightage but also serve as excellent practice for the final exams. Write them yourself after studying the material to truly test your knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between BAPCH and BAFPC?
BAPCH is a 3-year B.A. (Honours) degree under the older CBCS system. BAFPC is part of the new 4-year FYUP system, which starts as a B.A. (Major) and becomes an Honours degree after the 4th year. BAPCH has a more rigid, psychology-focused structure from the start, while BAFPC is more interdisciplinary in the initial years.
Are there compulsory practicals in the BAPCH programme?
Yes. In the BAPCH curriculum, several core courses have a 2-credit practical component (e.g., BPCC-101, 103, 105) or a 2-credit tutorial component. While attendance at practical counselling sessions at your study centre is not always mandatory, completing and submitting the practical-based assignments is compulsory to pass the course. The final semester also includes a 6-credit Dissertation (BPCE-144) which is a mandatory research project.
What is Re-Registration?
Re-registration is the process of enrolling for the next year of your programme (e.g., from 1st year to 2nd year). It is different from the exam form. You must re-register online once a year to continue your studies, regardless of whether you have passed all your previous year's exams.

Degree Validity & Your Career Path

Based on official university information, here's what you need to know about the BAPCH degree's standing and your future options.

IGNOU's Exempted Status

The UGC has officially exempted IGNOU from its ODL (Open and Distance Learning) and Online regulations since the 2020-2021 academic session. This gives IGNOU special status to continue offering programmes like Psychology.

An Academic Degree, Not a Professional License

The BAPCH degree is a valid academic qualification, treated as equivalent to degrees from conventional universities. It makes you eligible for further studies, such as an M.A. in Psychology. However, it is not a professional healthcare qualification by itself under the NCAHP Act, as that act may require regular learning mode for professional licensing.

Your Path Forward: Important Advice

  • For Academic Careers: Your BAPCH degree is a strong foundation for pursuing Master's degrees, Ph.D., and entering academic or research fields.
  • For Professional Practice (e.g., Counseling): To become a licensed counselor or clinical psychologist in India, you will likely need to complete a Master's degree in a regular, face-to-face mode from a recognized university.
Click Here for a Detailed Explanation of UGC Rules & IGNOU's Status

IGNOU's Digital Ecosystem

Student Portal

Your personal dashboard to download your ID card, re-register, and manage your profile.

Go to Portal

eGyanKosh

IGNOU's digital library. Access and download digital versions of all your course books (SLMs) for free.

Access e-Books

Assignment Portal

Download the latest Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) for your courses for the current academic session.

Get Assignments

Previous Year Questions

Practice for your TEE by downloading question papers from previous exam sessions.

Find Papers

BAPCH/BAFPC Telegram Unofficial Group

Connect with fellow students to discuss courses, share notes, and get peer support in this unofficial group run by VikPath.

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Gyan Darshan

IGNOU's educational TV channel. Watch live lectures and recorded academic programs.

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Gyan Vani / Gyandhara

An educational FM Radio network and internet audio service with curriculum-based programs and live counselling.

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IGNOU e-Content App

Access your course materials, videos, and more on your smartphone via the official app.

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