Psychology

The follow-up Master’s degree program in General Psychology is a single-major study program offered by the Department of Psychology and designed for graduates from the Bachelor’ study program in Psychology. The program follows current educational trends in the area and builds on the Department’s long, successful tradition of education and research. The high prestige as well as quality of study is reflected by the consistently high numbers of applicants (see below).

The main objective of the Master’s study program is to produce highly qualified graduates prepared for numerous psychology-related careers, both in the various fields of psychological practice (for instance, in healthcare, education, marital and family counseling, transport, industry, HR, management, military and security) and in the academic sphere, i.e., in institutions focusing on science, research, development and innovations. The study program aims to equip the students with the ability to integrate, critically evaluate and utilize the acquired theoretical knowledge about theories, approaches and methods used in basic and applied psychological disciplines as well as in related subject fields. An emphasis is also placed on familiarity with the interdisciplinary nature of the given field of study and on adequate use of psychological methodology and of qualitative, quantitative and experimental research methods, psychodiagnostic methods and intervention procedures. Another significant objective of the study program is to teach the students the ethical aspects of psychological practice. Also, the students should acquire deep knowledge of the research methods, procedures and tools used in the area of mental health and quality-of-life improvement.

The key educational objectives are met in close cooperation with foreign academic and research bodies and also in cooperation with the application sphere (http://psych.phil.muni.cz/ustav/vnejsi-vztahy), which translates into high professional quality of the graduates.

The excellent nature of the study program is further underpinned by focusing on academic mobility, by the high number of subjects taught in English and by the employment of e-learning, technological innovations and interactive features; a selection of subjects make use of simulation devices, technologies and methods. Last but not least, an emphasis is placed on the practical aspects of education, practical training and internships of students in prospective career options, inviting guest speakers from psychological practice, and on various forms of project-oriented education.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of psychological facts, principles, processes and methods in the contexts provided within the curriculum areas of the study program and to critically evaluate them.
• Integrate the knowledge and skills from basic and applied psychological disciplines and from related subject fields, and to use them in an appropriate way in research, educational and practical situations.
• Integrate, appropriately use and critically evaluate knowledge, principles and methods related to psychological methodology, psychodiagnostics and psychological intervention.
• Demonstrate a number of cognitive and practical skills needed to solve the specific and complex tasks related to the selection and utilization of specialized methods, tools, materials and information.
• Plan, perform and evaluate the results of a psychol. examination and intervention, and to inform the client of the results of any psychol. treatment in a professional and ethical manner.
• Communicate clearly and convincingly their own expert opinion informed by adequate qualification and professional experience, and the results of psychological research, both own and that done by others, to experts as well as to the general public.
• Use the acquired knowledge and skills to improve the clients’ life satisfaction and mental health while respecting the individuality of each client when providing a psychological service.
• Reflect on and examine critically their own professional activity with respect to its quality and effectiveness.
• Control own work as well as the work of others and take certain responsibility for improving the professional and educational aspects of the field of psychology.
• Control complex professional activities and psychological projects, carrying responsibility for all relevant decision-making.
• Plan, conduct and evaluate empirical research and deliver psychological interventions in laboratory conditions.
• Adhere to the ethical principles of working with people.
• Demonstrate a B2-level of a foreign language competence (according to the European Framework of Languages), due to the necessity to work with specialized information sources written in a foreign language.

Career options for a successful graduate from the follow-up Master’s degree program in General psychology, a single-major academic study program, include becoming an academic expert in a range of institutions focusing on science, research, development and innovations, and working in the various fields of psychological practice (for instance, in healthcare, education, marital and family counseling, transport, industry, HR management, military and security, state administration and many others); some of the above professions (e.g. clinical psychologist and child clinical psychologist) require completing a single-major study program.

• Psychologist at schools

Students are required to complete elective and optional practical trainings and internships, which provide them with experience with clinical application of theoretical findings, research and psychodiagnostic methods and intervention procedures. Throughout the trainings, the students are expected to develop the necessary professional competencies and key application skills.

Practical training – required courses:

Practical Training in Psychodiagnostics (duration: 7 days) – 3 credits

Practical Training in Clinical Psychology (duration: 7 days) – 3 credits

Practical Training in Counseling and School Psychology (duration: 14 days) – 6 credits

Practical Training in Marital and Family Counseling (duration: 7 days) – 3 credits

Practical Training in Work and Management Psychology (duration: 7 days) – 3 credits

Elective practical training courses – elective courses – for example:

Pedagogical Training in Secondary School Psychology (duration: 14 days) – 6 credits etc.

The overall number of credits for practical trainings and internships that a student can earn throughout the study program:

required courses 18 credits

elective courses : 12 credits

The students are required to produce and submit a diploma thesis, which is a theoretical or empirical study of a recommended length of 140 000 characters; this number includes the main body of the thesis, notes and the table of contents. It is for the thesis supervisor to decide whether appendices and supplemental material are included. The bibliography section, title page and statutory declaration do not count towards the required number of characters.

In their diploma thesis, students demonstrate their ability to articulate theoretical and/or empirical research questions, select and process relevant professional literature, make logical deductions, clearly formulate hypotheses and arguments, conduct research independently, and present the results of own research in a written form, adhering to academic discourse standards.

The thesis shall be submitted in print to the Secretary’s Office at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. In addition to the print form, the thesis shall also be submitted in an electronic form by appropriately filling in the diploma thesis archive (archiv závěrečné práce) in the Information System of Masaryk University.

Submission of the thesis in print as well as electronic form is binding.

For more information see the Dean’s Directive No. 3/2015 on The Final State Examination at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University (O státních závěrečných zkouškách na Filozofické fakultě Masarykovy university).

The APA Publication Manual (last revision APA) is recommended as a formatting guideline; for empirical studies, the IMRAD structure is recommended: http://psych.phil.muni.cz/media/34721/imrad.pdf

The final shape and form of the diploma thesis is at the discretion of the thesis supervisor.

The supervisor confirms with a “credit granted” (započteno) that the thesis is complete and ready for defense. The credit is granted based on the supervisor’s evaluation of the student’s work on the thesis.

The thesis is graded after the defense based on the supervisor’s and reviewer’s reports. Thesis assessment is a part of the Master’s Final State Examination assessment.

The graduate can complete additional pedagogical studies, either in the form of a lifelong education course at the Masaryk University, or at any other university, which will make it possible for them to work as a secondary school psychology teacher. Similar career options are provided by other additional courses, such as Psychology in Healthcare and Forensic Psychology.

Earning a Master’s degree in General Psychology entitles the graduate to submit a rigorosum thesis and an application for a state rigorosum examination, upon whose successful completion a PhDr. will be awarded.

The graduate may decide to further enhance their professional qualification by enrolling in a Psychology doctoral program or in another doctoral program offered to the Master’s degree graduates, upon whose successful completion a Ph.D. will be awarded. Within Masaryk University, the relevant faculties are primarily the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Studies and the Faculty of Medicine (for instance, at the Department of Psychology and Psychosomatics); other options include various universities and faculties within the Czech Republic and their relevant doctoral study programs (e.g. the Medical Psychology and Psychopathology Ph.D. program at the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague), and also various universities abroad. Doctoral study programs are primarily intended for those interested in pursuing an academic career at a university, or a research career in an institution focusing on science, research, development and innovations.

https://www.muni.cz/en/bachelors-and-masters-study-fields/255-psychology