The organisation of the department of psychology is very similar to any other department in the University of Bucharest. The more specific aspects concern differences in the way admission exams are concerned, the structure of syllabus, whether for undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate programmes. Other distinctions pertain to the way theory and practice combine in organising the teaching of courses of lectures or tutorials, all of the approaches used playing an essential role in the training of students in psychology.
Admission for undergraduate study is by an entrance examination consisting of two parts: an oral examination of creativity, expressivity and spontaneity and a written examination in psychology. Candidates' Baccalaureate marks also count for 30% in the admission process. The duration of studies towards a Degree in Psychology is 4 years full-time.
The syllabus is based on the Credit Transfer System and includes three main categories of disciplines: fundamental disciplines (interdisciplinary and specific to Psychology), specialised disciplines (optional) and complementary disciplines (optional). The programme offers a combination of general and specialised knowledge, theoretical and applied training and allows students to specialise in a particular area of psychology (educational, clinical, industrial and organisational).
As well as lectures, the teaching activity includes laboratory work (experimental psychology, information technology and statistics, psycho-diagnosis, experiential psychotherapy, communication and psychological research), where students can develop their professional skills; these aspects are vital for the practical application of the knowledge acquired. The evaluation system includes continuous assessment (30%) and final examinations (70%).
The undergraduate studies lead to a Degree in Psychology. Graduates may make an option for one of the two Master's degree programmes organised by the Department of Psychology: Psycho-diagnosis and Psychotherapy (2 years full-time), and Organisational and Economic Psychology (1.5 years full-time).
Graduates in psychology may find work in school and university education; research in relevant institutes; forensic laboratories and judicial evaluation; psychological testing (for transport, etc.); counselling and psychotherapy; marriage guidance; psychological assistance in health and social work institutions; careers counselling; personnel management and training; psychological consultancy for various organisations; advertising and publicity; the study and the analysis of psycho-social phenomena (political, religious, cultural phenomena etc); psychological assistance in military laboratories.
The specialisation in psychology may be continued with full-time or part-time doctoral studies (max. 7 years), leading to the title of Doctor in Psychology. The authorised supervisors are: Professor Mielu ZLATE, Professor Pantelimon GOLU, Professor Nicolae MITROFAN, Professor Iolanda MITROFAN, Professor Emil VERZA, Professor Ursula ŞCHIOPU, Professor Tatiana SLAMA CAZACU, Professor Mihai GOLU.
RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
Research work is fundamental to the activity of members of the department. The themes of research are very varied, covering practically all the fundamental areas of psychology (personality, organisational psychology, cognitive psychology, psycho-diagnosis and psychotherapy, educational psychology etc). In addition, many members of the department are involved in applied research projects, including: Counselling and Experiential Psychotherapy (Master's / doctoral programme financed by NCRHE (National Council for Research in Higher Education)), Dynamics of the Excessive Utilisation of Alcohol and Drugs by Young Persons, Causes and Risk Factors, Preventive-Ameliorative Measures in the Field of Addiction (research project financed by NCRHE (National Council for Research in Higher Education)), Optimisation of the Professional Behaviour of Students on the Master's Programme in Psycho-Diagnosis and Psychotherapy (project financed by the Foundation for an Open Society), Structuralist-Genetic Analysis of Moral and Religious Thinking (in collaboration with the Romanian Academy), A Counselling Project for Final-Year High School Pupils (in collaboration with the Institute for Educational Studies).
INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS AND GRANTS
The international relations of the department have considerably expanded in recent years, and now take many different forms. We may mention here participation in the TEMPUS programme, the organisation of specialised courses in the experimental psychotherapy at the European School of Socio- and Somato-Analytical Psychotherapy in Strasbourg; staff exchanges between our department and similar departments in Europe and the United States, participation at international meetings and conferences (practically all the members of the department have been involved in these activities), elaboration, development and finalisation of international research programmes (the most recent being, for example, the collaboration agreement signed by the department with Lumière University Lyon 2, France, in the areas of organisational psychology and the psychology of religion - October 2000).
