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 greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it. (W. James)

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.

Practical training

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

Further information

http://psych.phil.muni.cz/en

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.

Deadline for submitting applications: January 1 - April 30

Who the programme is intended for: the programme is intended only for graduates of the single-subject Bachelor’s study programme in Psychology, completed by a state final examination. Applicants, who have completed a Bachelor's degree abroad, must submit an extract from their study records to the Study Department of the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University (via email prijimaci.rizeni@phil.muni.cz). The minimum number of credits for the previous Bachelor's degree is set at 180 credits. The study plan must include the following courses: General psychology, Developmental psychology, Social psychology, Methodology, Basics of statistics, Psychopathology, Basics of clinical psychology, Basics of psychodiagnostics.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: The entrance examination is designed as a two-round examination. In the first round, candidates take a subject test covering knowledge in the field of psychology. The threshold for success in the written test is the 50th percentile. Based on the test results, the 120 most successful candidates will be invited to an oral interview, which is aimed at verifying their ability to think critically in the relevant knowledge context and at the same time mapping the candidates' motivation to study.

The written test includes 50 items, with five answer choices, of which exactly one will always be correct (correct answer +1 point, incorrect answer -0.2 points, 0 points omitted). The test covers knowledge of general psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, psychology of personality, methodology and statistics, and psychopathology. A list of recommended readings is available below. The duration of the test is 40 minutes and is administered in computerised form.

The oral interview is a commission based interview, the commission consists of three members. The oral examination includes a debate on a chosen psychological topic, which focuses on the candidate's ability to think critically and integrate knowledge from the basic psychological disciplines. In addition, the interview focuses on the applicant's professional activities and achievements to date, and his/her motivation to study. The applicant's results in the oral part of the entrance examination will be evaluated on a score range of 0 to 50 points. Successful candidates must reach a threshold of 30 points.

The applicants shoudd submit a structured CV of no more than 2 standard pages (this may include e.g. work experience beyond teaching, volunteer activities, professional training and other relevant facts). Upload the CV into your electronic applications (rubric “Documents”) by 1 June.

Both rounds of the entrance exam are held on the same day.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office for Studies by email prijimaci.rizeni@phil.muni.cz.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Criteria for evaluation

The threshold for success in the written test is the 50th percentile. Based on the results obtained in the test, the 120 most successful candidates will then be invited to an oral interview.

The score for the oral examination will range from 0-50 points, with successful candidates having to reach a threshold of 30 points.

Recommended literature

Basic recommended literature:

• Eysenck, M. W., &Keane, M. T. (2008). Kognitivní psychologie. Praha: Academia
• Sternberg, R. J. (2002). Kognitivní psychologie. Praha: Portál, 2002.
• Stuchlíková, I. (2007). Základy psychologie emocí. Praha: Portál.
• Plháková, A. (2004). Učebnice obecné psychologie. Praha: Academia.
• Blatný, M. (Ed.) (2016). Psychologie celoživotního vývoje. Praha: Karolinum.
• Lerner, R. M., & Damon, W. (Eds.) (2006). Handbook of child psychology (vol. 1.). New Jersey: Wiley.
• Millová, K. (2012). Psychologie celoživotního vývoje: uvedení do moderních teorií. Brno: Host.
• Thorová, K. (2015). Vývojová psychologie. Proměny lidské psychiky od početí po smrt. Praha: Portál.
• Výrost, J., & Slaměník, I. (eds, 2008). Sociální psychologie. Praha: Grada, 2008.
• Hewstone, M., & Stroebe, W. (eds, 2006). Sociální psychologie: moderní učebnice sociální psychologie. Praha: Portál, 2006.
• Myers, D. G. (2016). Sociální psychologie. Brno: Edika.
• Blatný, M. a kol. (2010). Psychologie osobnosti: hlavní témata, současné přístupy. Praha: Grada.
• Cervone, D., & Pervin, L. (2014). Personality psychology: international student version. (12th ed.). Singapore: Wiley.
• Pervin, L. (2008). Handbook of personality: theory and research. (3rd ed.) New York: Guilford Press.
• Ferjenčík, J. (2010). Úvod do metodologie psychologického výzkumu: jak zkoumat lidskou duši. Vyd. 2. Praha: Portál.
• Goodwin, K. A., & Goodwin, C. J. (2016). Research in psychology: methods and design. 8th ed. Hoboken: Wiley & Sons.
• Miovský, M. (2006). Kvalitativní přístup a metody v psychologickém výzkumu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Grada.
• Svoboda, M. (ed.), Češková, E., Kučerová, H. (2006). Psychopatologie a psychiatrie pro psychology. Praha, Portál.

---

Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

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