Applied Psychology

FACULTY OF LAW
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Speciality: Psychology, Master Program “Applied Psychology”

Awarded qualification: Psychologist

Level of qualification: Master, Second cycle, level 7

Length of programme: 2 years (4 semesters)

Number of credits: 120

Field(s) of study (ISCED-F): 0313: Psychology

Specific admission requirements: A higher education degree and an admission examination.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning: The ECTS coordinator of the Psychology major, Assoc. prof. Daniela Andonova, e-mail gradiva@abv.bg, informs the students about the possibilities for recognizing and awarding credits. This happens in two ways:
1. The student presents documents for prior education.
- an academic transcript or higher education diploma;
- international diplomas and foreign language certificates (English: Cambridge FCE, TOEFEL; German - Zertifikat Deutsch, Sprahdiplom, Zweite Stufe; Russian – ТРКИ; French - DELF; Spanish - DELE);
- international computer skills diplomas and certificates corresponding to the ECDL (The European Computer Driving Licence).
2. The student states willingness to sit for exams for the certification of skills and knowledge acquired in prior education. Knowledge and skills in a foreign language are certified by the Department of Foreign Languages; computer skills and knowledge are certified by the Technological Institute; specific professional knowledge and skills are certified by the Social Sciences Department.
Based on the documents presented and the results from the certification examinations, the Social Sciences Department awards the number of credits in accordance with the program of the Psychology major. The ECTS coordinator prepares an individual study program for the student, which reflects the number of credits awarded.

Qualification requirements and regulations, including graduation equirements*: In order to obtain the professional qualification of Psychologist, the students need 120 credits, of which 90 credits are from the compulsory courses, 9 are obtained from elective courses, 6 are obtained from optional courses and 15 are obtained from the state exam. Students who have obtained the professional qualification of Psychologist in prior education need 60 credits, of which 30 credits are obtained from the compulsory courses, 6 are obtained from elective courses, 9 are obtained from optional courses and 15 are obtained from the state exam.

Profile of the programme: The main objectives of the programme are:
- preparation of highly qualified specialists to work in the field of social psychology in theoretical and applied aspects who are able to carry out empirical research, to analyze mass psyche current events, public opinion and short- and long-term social processes.
- formation of attitudes to professional development and further education.

Programme learning outcomes: The students who have obtained the professional qualification of Psychologist and the educational-and-qualification degree of Master:
Theoretical knowledge
The students are able to make an interpretation, a comment and critical theoretical analysis of the leading ideas in specific subject areas of applied psychology from a social-psychological perspective: analyses of mass psyche current events, of public opinion and of short- and long-term social processes. The students have acquired knowledge of the social and psychological aspects of personality development in correlation with a group and social environment. Тhey have theoretical knowledge of the nature and potentialities of the social-psychological training, social psychodiagnostics and social-psychological counselling.

Practical skills
The students are able to define independently a research issue, to formulate hypotheses, to conduct empirical research, to analyze and interpret empirical results of personal research projects. They can select an adequate set of research tools for each branch of applied psychology with a social-psychological significance, and to create their own methods as well. They possess the necessary skills for social-psychological diagnostics, assessment, psycho-counselling and psycho-corrective work in the main areas of social psychology. They know the potential of social-psychological counselling application, and are capable of formulating and actualizing practical social-psychological knowledge in different areas of social life. The students possess skills for independent scientific-research activities. The students, obtaining the educational-and-qualification degree of Master, have acquired knowledge and skills which would allow them to continue their education at a higher level of independence - the educational-and-qualification degree of Doctor (Ph.D.) – and have formed attitudes to professional development.

Programme structure diagram with credits *:

№	ECTS code	Course	Lectures & seminars	Out-of-class workload	Credits
1	PSY3048	The conscious and unconscious in human relations	30	60	3
2	PSY3042	Psychology of marketing, advertising and PR	30	60	3
3	MAN3038	Human resources management	30	60	3
4	PSY3135	Social psychodiagnostic	30	60	3
5	PSY3009	Cultural anthropology: social-psychological applied aspects and research	30	60	3
6		Elective course	30	60	3
7		Elective course	30	60	3
8		Elective course	30	60	3
9		Optional course	30	60	3
10		Optional course	30	60	3
Total for semester I			*300*	*600*	30
1	PSY3083	Psychology of interpersonal communication	30	60	3
2	PSY3086	Social Psychological Training	30	60	3
3	PSY3003	Existential Psychology	15	30	1,5
4	PSY3021	Applied psychology and social practice	30	60	3
5	PSY3140	Social relationships of personality	15	30	1,5
6	PSY3019 PSY3120 PSY3150	Practice:
		Practice in psychodiagnostic and psychotherapy	10	20	1
		Practice in volunteering and social skills	10	20	1
		Practice in social crises and extreme situations	10	20	1
		State Exam or writing and defence of a Master's Thesis	150	300	15
Total for semester II			*150*	*300*	30
		Total for the course of study:			60
		Elective courses (3 of 5)
1	PSY3155	Help, helping skills,and volunteering	30	60	3
2	PSY3002	Deviant and criminal behaviour	30	60	3
3		Personality and Communication	30	60	3
4	PSY3160	Manipulation and group relations	30	60	3
5	PSY3056	Computer systems for psychodiagnostic	30	60	3
		Optional courses (2 of 5)
1	PSY3011	Media and social psychological impact	30	60	3
2	INF3039	Contemporary computer technologies in psychology	30	60	3
3	PSY3165	Philosophy and social functions of art	30	60	3
4	PSY3170	Virtual culture	30	60	3
5	PSY3175	Human skills - theory and practice	30	60	3
Module of equivalency courses for holders of Bachelors`s degrees in other majors
1	PSY3068	Introduction to Psychology	45	90	4.5
2	PSY3070	Physiological Psychology	30	60	3
3	PSY3006	Cognitive Psychology	60	120	6
4	PSY3005	History of Psychology	30	60	3
5	PSY3004	Experimental Psychology	45	90	4.5
6	PSY3041	Personality Psychology	60	120	6
7	QMS3003	Methods of Collecting, Processing and Analyzing Data in Psychological Research	30	60	3
Total for semester I			*300*	*600*	30
1	PSY3052	Psychopathology	30	60	3
2	PSY3047	Social Psychology	60	120	6
3	PSY3026	Psychology of Development	60	120	6
4	PSY3015	Psychological Measurements	45	90	4.5
5	PSY3065	Educational Psychology	30	60	3
6	PSY3014	Organizational Psychology	45	90	4.5
7	SOC3012	Cross-cultural Psychology	30	60	3
Total for semester II			*300*	*600*	30

* In Varna Free University, a credit equals 30 lessons, of which 10 contact hours (lectures and seminars) and 20 hours independent work.

Mode of study: full-time

Examination regulations and grading scale: During the classes, the students receive individual and group tasks such as summarizing bibliography or writing course assignments, essays, research papers, reports. A grade reflecting their participation and activity during the classes is added to the above. The training in the various courses ends with a final examination or test.

Obligatory or optional mobility windows: none

Work placement(s): schools, clinics, and organizations

Work-based learning: none

Occupational profiles of graduates: The graduates who have obtained the professional qualification of Psychologist and the educational-and-qualification degree of Master can work successfully both in state institutions and in the non-governmental sector:
- in the educational system as school psychologists and teachers of psychology, logics, philosophy, ethics and law;
- in resource centres for the integration, education and raising of children and students with special educational needs;
- in medical institutions as clinical psychologists;
- in NGOs providing social services for children and families; for drug-addicted individuals; for working with aged and disabled people and people with mental disabilities; for working with families at risk – as psychologists or volunteers.

Access to further studies: The graduates who have obtained the professional qualification of Psychologist and the educational-and-qualification degree of Master can continue their education for the educational-and-qualification degree of Doctor (Ph.D.) in three accredited scientific programmes – “General Psychology”, “Educational and Developmental Psychology”, and “Social, Organizational and Counselling Psychology”, as well as in post-graduation qualification courses.

Head of Master’s Degree Programme: Assoc. Prof. Petar Neshev, PhD
tel: +359 52 359 569
е-mail: neshev_petar@abv.bg