School Psychology

Introductory course in School Psychology. School Psychology is an applied field in Psychology. Compulsory course offered in the undergraduate programme of studies.

Objectives

Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of the course, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes: (a) awareness of the subject of School Psychology and the role of school psychologist nowadays, (b) understanding of the field of learning disabilities in order to be able to support students with learning disabilities, their teachers as well as their parents, and (c) competence to organize first-order prevention programs in the school community aiming at the promotion of children’s and adolescents’ psychological well-being and learning, as well as the improvement of the school psychological climate. General Competences • Apply knowledge in practice • Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies • Adapt to new situations • Make decisions • Work in teams • Work in an international context • Work in an interdisciplinary team • Generate new research ideas • Appreciate diversity and multiculturality • Demonstrate social, professional and ethical commitment and sensitivity to gender issues • Be critical and self-critical • Advance free, creative and causative thinking

Prerequisites

Good command of English

Syllabus

1. Introduction and history of school psychology. School vs Educational Psychology. Defining the role and the specialty of school psychologist. Students with special educational needs. 2. Learning disabilities: Definitions, taxonomy, interpretation. Cognitive, metacognitive and psychosocial characteristics of students with learning disabilities. Assessment, intervention and support of students with learning disabilities. 3. Crisis management in school settings. 4. Children’s and adolescents’ resilience in school settings. 5. Prevention and intervention programs in school settings: The example of social and emotional development in school as a program promoting children’s and adolescents’ psychological well-being and learning (e.g., communication skills, self-esteem, emotion regulation, conflict resolution, stress and anxiety).