Magister Artium in School Psychology

The mission and vision of the Master’s program in School Psychology is the training of professional psychologists specialized in School Psychology who will serve the profession and the consumer by offering high-quality psychological services based on psychological theory, high ethical and legal integrity, and respect for the Laws and Regulations of Cyprus and the European Union, on the basis of empirically validated practices. The program was developed based on contemporary trends in the training of professional psychologists, and the requirements of the profession of School Psychology. Consequently, it emphasizes the development of professional skills for the practice of psychology while offering a wide theoretical and research background to the graduate student.
During the first year of studies, the program aims to provide the student with the necessary theoretical and methodological foundation of psychological knowledge on which to build, in the second year, specialized knowledge through coursework and hands on experiences that will help the student develop important clinical and professional skills in the area of psychological assessment and intervention. The third and last year of the program allows the student to integrate theory and practice and centers on clinical training via clinical internship, combined with professional seminars and graduate research. Furthermore, for students who wish to gain research knowledge and skills beyond what the program requires the program encompasses the flexibility to allow them the opportunity to take additional independent research with extra ECTS towards the completion of a Master’s thesis.
The program is geared towards training students who primarily want to work with children, teenagers, families and educators and want to support the school system as well as the process of learning and education. The completion of a Graduate Research project is required for all students in the School Psychology program. The goal of research participation is to help students develop skills that will allow them not only to read research critically, as educated consumers, but also to design and produce clinical research. Recognizing that a number of students may wish to pursue Doctoral degrees after graduation, the program allows but does require the completion of a Masters Thesis under the supervision of a faculty member upon the approval of the Department’s Council.

Key Learning Outcomes

The curriculum aims to help students acquire specialised knowledge and competencies and gradually adopt a range of roles relating to the practices of School Psychology according to the learning objectives of the International School Psychology Association ISPA (http://www.ispaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Microsoft-Word- STANDARDS-August-2017-cx.-1.pdf) and other international standards of training (e.g. EuroPsy).This specialized knowledge and skills are solidly based on psychological theory and empirical findings and include the understanding of normal/typical development, cognition and social behaviour, which form the foundation of theoretical and practical competency in assessment and intervention with non-typical populations in the school
context.
Professional skills are developed initially through pre-practicum experiences (as part of coursework and/or research collaborations) and then through the supervised practicums and internship. The first practicum stage (Practicum I) is offered during semester 3 and is made up of a program visits to schools under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. The second practicum stage (Practicum II) is offered in the 4th semester during which students are placed for specific days per week in external practicum sites, under the supervision of licensed psychologists in accordance with the legislation of Cyprus. During the 3rd and last stage of professional training (Internship) trainees continue their practical training in schools, in the context of full time placement. Thus, in total the program requires the completion of at least 1500 hours (500 hours more than the minimum requirement of the Cyprus legislation) of practical training in schools and other related settings under the supervision of licensed psychologists, in accordance with the Cyprus Legislation for professional psychologists. The duration of the internship is in line with international best practices in the training of school psychologists of the International School Association (ISPA) and corresponds to the basic level of specialization of the European Certificate EuroPsy of the European Federation of Psychologists Association (EFPA) (http://www.europsy-efpa.eu/). At the end of the internship, students are expected have gained knowledge and skills for cognitive and emotional assessment and diagnosis, intervention with children, parents, families, teachers and the School System, counselling and interprofessional collaboration, development and evaluation of prevention programs, and the application of ethical judgment and professional attitude in matters related to School Psychology.
Students are also expected, based on the compulsory program, to acquire the methodological knowledge and research skills required to be a highly competent consumer of research, in order to be able to evaluate the quality of assessment, intervention, consultation and prevention practices. Students who select to undertake a Masters Thesis are expected to additionally acquire skills in the design, execution and write-up of original research, corresponding to the level of purely academic programs, so that they can effectively compete for Ph.D. entrance at competitive programs of study.