Higher school of psychology

7. Evaluation of the study programme

7.1. The goals and objectives of the study programme.

The goal of the professional master studies programme consists of training skilled specialists with high qualification and adequate professional research skills in psychology, to develop with the master students understanding of various psychological aspects of professional activity, to give them the essential knowledge of psychological support in the process of professional activity. The programme leads to Master degree to be granted and allows pursuing studies in doctoral programmes.

In order to realize the goal the following specific objectives were determined:

1. 
   acquisition of new scientific methods and their practical application in the field of psychology;
   
2. 
   acquisition of in-depth theoretical knowledge in the field;
   
3. 
   mastering of new technologies;
   
4. 
   perfection of professional skills under the supervision;
   
5. 
   development of research skills with master students;
   
6. 
   facilitation of professional growth.
   

7.2. Structure of the study programme.
(Changes to the structure of the study programme during the period of self-evaluation)

During the period of from 2003 to 20006 the following changes have been made to the professional master study programme “Psychology” (code 4631007):

In 2003 a professional master study programme with the length of studies amounting to two years with 80 credit points to be earned was licensed. During the period from 2003 to 2006 the programme is realized in the field of professional psychology.

The main tasks of psychology of professional activity are are as such: psychological analysis of activity conducted by specialists in a variety of fields and psychological analysis of specific activities, inspection of the mechanisms of psychological regulation in professional activity in regular and extreme conditions, examination of an subject’s peculiarities in functional state in the process of activity, review of issues of professional development, research into career choice and psychological aspects of staff management. Therefore, a lot of attention is also devoted to engineering psychology and ergonomics, interaction between a human being and machinery.

Table 7.1.

Changes made to the programme during the period of years from 2003 to 2006.

Nr.	Courses in the professional study programme in year 2003.	CP	Changes to the professional master studies programme	CP
1.	Psychology of professional activity	2	Psychology of professional activity	8
2.	Staff management	4	Staff management (psychological aspects)	4
3.	Team building	2	Incorporated into the course “Staff management ”
4.	Time management	2	Incorporated into the course “Staff management ”
5.	Practical (applied) psychology	6	Practical (applied) psychology	4
6.			Psychology of professional development	6
7.	Psychology of personality and social adaptation	6	Incorporated into the course “Psychology of professional development”
8.	Methods of psychological self-regulation (practicum)	2	Incorporated into the course “Psychology of professional activity”
9.	Methods of psychological research, data analysis and interpretation	4	Methods of psychological research, data analysis and interpretation	5
10.	Theories and techniques of psychological counseling	4	Theories and techniques of psychological counseling	4
11.	Theories and methods of teaching psychology	2	Theories and methods of teaching psychology	2
12.	Information technologies in psychology	2	Information technologies in psychology	3
13.	Modern technologies in teaching psychology (practicum)	2	Incorporated into the course “Information technologies in psychology”
14.	Business planning and marketing of psychological service	2	Business planning and marketing of psychological service	1
15.	Design of research project in psychology	2	Design of research project in psychology	2
16.	Preparation and conducting of a seminar and practicum(teaching practice)	2	Preparation and conducting of a seminar and practicum(teaching practice)	2
17.	Practical work	12	Practical work	12
18.	Research material prepared for publication	1	Incorporated into the course “Methods of psychological research, data analysis and interpretation”
19.			Cross-cultural communications (theory and practice)	2
20.	Psychology of deception and lying	1
21.	Modern issues in marketing	1
22.	Modern issues in corporate management	1	Science of management	1
23.	Modern issues in labour legislation	1	Labour law	1
24.			Engineering psychology and ergonomics	3
25.	Elaboration of master paper	20	Elaboration of master paper	20
	Total:	80	Total:	80

The comparative table (table 7.1. ) presenting the changes made to the study programme demonstrates the following:

1. 
   The total number of the credit point has not changed (80CP);
   
2. 
   With the aim to improve the master study programme the following changes to its content have been made:
   

• 
  The study courses of the licensed programme served the basis of the main parts of the present study programme without any changes to the number of the credit points.;
  
• 
  The content of the basic courses has been broadened, several study courses of the licensed were merged together under the basic study course, such as “Psychology of professional activity”, “Staff management (psychological aspects)”, “Psychology of professional development”;
  
• 
  A new basic study course “Psychology of professional development ”, was introduced onto the programme with the study course “Psychology of personality and social adaptation” being integrated into it;
  
• 
  Into the study course “Methods of psychological research, data analysis and interpretation ” the course “Research materials preparation for publication” has been integrated;
  
• 
  The extent of the credit points to be earned in the study course “Information technologies in psychology” has been increased, as the course has been reconsidered and integrated with the study course “Modern technologies in teaching psychology”;
  
• 
  New study courses have been introduced on the programme (see table 7.1.);
  
• 
  Two study courses have been replaced with the study course “Cross-cultural communications (theory and practice );
  

3. 
   The entire result of the changes to the study programme amounts to 16% of the total credit point number of the licensed programme.