Home / The University / Faculties / Faculty of Philosophy / Degree Programmes / Bachelor's Degree Programmes / Faculty of Philosophy / Psychology

   

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

QUALIFICATIONS

The BA in psychology provides the academic ground for those who want to qualify as professional psychologists. The main goal of BA education is to grant a sound basis in all areas of psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, industrial/organizational and educational psychology, developmental psychology, psychopathology, biological roots of behavior, individual differences, and statistics. BA curriculum is aimed at helping the undergraduates to conform to the preliminary requirements for continuing their education in graduate and doctoral programs. Students may graduate after four years of study as Bachelors of Arts in psychology.

The main educational results from the BA program are:

1. Knowledge

All main subjects which are required for an accredited BA education in psychology: biological roots of behavior; perception; cognition, information processing and language; learning; motivation and emotions; social psychology; child psychology, life-span developmental psychology; individual differences, testing and psychological measurement, personality; psychopathology, industrial, and organizational psychology. The methodologies used for gathering and analyzing data in the above-mentioned areas and subjects. Historical origin of psychological ideas. Some of the ways contemporary psychology is applied to real world problems.

2. Intellectual and social skills

Ability to communicate with audiences with differing levels of psychological understanding. Ability to participate in rational debate on psychological issues. Ability to critically assess the validity of statements that are relevant or deduced from psychological research studies. Understanding of qualitative and quantitative methods for analysis of data which are gathered for assessing psychological knowledge validity and for answering specific research questions in psychology. Ability to write texts on psychological subjects and issues. Fundamental understanding of how contemporary knowledge and methods could be applied for the management and/or solving people’s problems.

3. Values and attitudes

Sensitivity to cultural and ethical issues and problems which influence the way the accumulated psychological knowledge is interpreted and used. Respect to people and their fundamental human rights regardless of their age, sex, abilities, ethnic origin or religious affiliation. Respect to scientific legacy of psychology as an academic subject as well as to past, present and future contributions of psychology as profession.

4. Qualification

BA in psychology qualifies graduates to work as assistants of psychologists and other helping professionals, work rehabilitation and other remedy programs. Bachelors of Arts in psychology could work as research and administrative assistants of qualified psychologists as well as technical assistants in areas like human resource management, marketing research, sales or business management. When teacher’s qualification module is selected, BAs in psychology could work as teachers of psychology and philosophy subjects in high schools.

With the increasing complexity and wealth of psychological knowledge in order to professionally practice psychology, it is crucial to continue one’s education in graduate and doctoral programs. BA in psychology does not qualify one for professional practice (psychologist or professional counselor). However, BA in psychology provides the necessary basis and is valuable for almost any type of work which is focused on people. A minimum of MA in psychology is required in order to work at academic or public/private health-care institutions.