Study plan

The state examination comprises a defence of the diploma thesis, an oral exam from one compulsory subject and from one subject selected from three options. To prepare for the examination, students use literature listed in the syllabi of relevant profiling courses and basic theoretical courses.

1. Theories and systems in psychology
In this part of the state examination the student shows her ability to synthesise her knowledge of basic and applied psychological disciplines. The student individually prepares a review of each examination topic and is prepared to argue why she prefers the selected theoretical approach over other approaches. In each review the student is required to briefly describe one classical theory and one current or new theory. Current and new approaches are documented by current published studies.

2. Psychological assessment with children and adults
In this part of the state examination the student shows his knowledge of the whole assessment process - from the formulation of assessment goals or diagnostic problem, selection of methods, consideration of assessment context, validity, limitations, ethical considerations to the formulation and communication of findings. The knowledge of individual assessment methods includes the knowledge of the theory a method is built on, its purpose, its limitations. Students are expected to provide examples of theoretical point and interpret practical examples provided by the examination commission.

The second examination subject is selected from the three following subjects based on the courses taken during study programme: Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology, Work Psychology, and Educational and School Psychology. All three subjects also incorporate general knowledge of psychological assessment (case and assessment goal formulation, method selection, considering the context, validity, and ethical aspects of the examination, report wrtiting and communication) and knowledge of assessment issues specific for that branch of psychology.


2a. Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology
In this part of the state examination the student shows her knowledge of clinical psychology, health psychology, and psychotherapy. The exam is structured into a number of topics. Students are required to show knowledge diagnostic categories and terminology used in clinical psychology, types of therapy and therapeutic interventions, important figures in psychotherapy, clinical research and field research in clinical psychology.

2b. Work Psychology
In this part of the state examination the student shows his ability to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experiences and problems, to consider a range of relevant methods and procedures. The student is required to both show a broad knowledge of the field and ability of document a selected topic with an empirical study and provide practical applications of discussed findings.

2c. Educational and School Psychology.
In this part of the state examination the student shows her knowledge of the theory, issues, methods, and intervention methods in educational settings. The student is required to integrate theoretical findings with practical experience and contextual knowledge, to show ability to gather relevant data in educational contexts, and use them for the benefit of individual students and the educational system. The student brings her student assessment report and will present her knowledge, assessment and intervention deliberations in the context of this report.

Topics of diploma theses are related to current research of the faculty of the Department of Psychology and of the Institute of the Research of Children, Youth and Family. Students can propose their own topics that are subject to authorisation by the Head of the Department and the Head of the study programme.
Selected defended theses:
Psychometric characteristics of the Czech adaptation of the ECR-RS, estimation of the association between global and specific attachment (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/x1k04/?lang=cs)
Perceived work future as a moderator of the association between job properties and burnout (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/bvoa7/?lang=cs)
Standardisation of Bloch's multidimensional drawing test for the use in the assessment of psychotic patients (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/bc8dm/?lang=cs)
Individual differences in rejection sensitivity: associations with negative affect and proneness to shame and guilt (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/va2qz/?lang=cs)
Maternal self-evaluation during pregnancy: associations with selected characteristics of women and romantic relationship (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/c2hue/?lang=cs)
Tolerance towards immigrants: social-identity approach and the fear for a nation's fate (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/biiwg/?lang=cs)
Systematic review of self-report screening and assessment methods for eating disorders (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/wmvel/?lang=cs)
The relationship of mathematical giftedness, processing speed and other cognitive abilities (https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/mfjg5/?lang=cs)