MSc in Educational Psychology (Distance Learning)

The Educational Psychology programme focuses on the study of cognitive, emotional and social – cultural processes that are fundamental to education and lifelong human development. The programme is addressed to current or potential teachers of pre-school, primary and secondary education who wish to acquire specialized knowledge of the normal and abnormal pattern of development and learning.

The basic philosophy of the programme is the empirical approach to the study of Educational Psychology, where the acquired knowledge and expertise are combined with the students’ experience with everyday problems within and outside the school environment. This approach will help students expand their knowledge, and at the same time acquire a deeper understanding of various topics in education and psychology. Specifically, the students of this Graduate Programme will be trained in depth in the following areas:

• Theoretical approaches to learning and their educational applications.
• Learning difficulties, especially in the developmental stages of pre-school, school and adolescence, with the aim of their adhoc handling or referral to appropriately trained therapists.
• The psychological development field with emphasis on pre-school, school and adolescence and its interaction with learning processes.
• The main developmental disorders such as those occurring in childhood and adolescence and their impact on learning outcomes.
• Gender identities and their connection to the school context.
• Awareness of the roles of the cultural and social aspects as part of the educational interaction with students and parents.
• Educational research methods and techniques.

The Programme is addressed to:

• Graduates of Pedagogy / Education or similar disciplines who are already working or looking for work in the public or private sector, across the spectrum of typical and atypical education.
• Graduates of Psychology who wish to pursue a research or academic career in Educational Psychology.
• Managers and employees in public or private schools or training institutions, who are interested in further strengthening and specialization of their knowledge in the field of educational psychology.
• Graduates of other disciplines (university and/or technological institutions) who wish to broaden their knowledge and skills in an applied field of psychology, whose applications can also be extended to other areas apart from education.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PROGRAM

• Adaptation of the program to the needs of the school environment and education in general.
• The international prestige and recognition of Neapolis University Pafos.
• Experienced academic staff.
• The international collaborations of the University and its links with the market.
• The flexibility of distance learning and the use of modern technology.
• The students’ choice of preference between synchronous and asynchronous remote education.
• The competitive fees.

The graduates of the MSc Programme in Educational Psychology will:

• acquire an in-depth understanding of the cognitive processes that underlie learning and thinking in both formal and informal education and their typical as well as atypical development
• acquire strategies that can enhance their professional practice in schools and universities, early childhood programmes, and government agencies.
• develop scientific research skills (by participating in ongoing research projects and by conducting small-scale research projects in the context of the Independent Research Study, and/or by conducting an empirical study in the context of a Masters Thesis) that can be applied to advance scientific knowledge in Educational Psychology and address practical issues in diverse education and community settings.

This is a Distance Learning Programme. For each subject there will be six (6) skype-meetings with the instructor lasting two (2) hours each. During this period the student should study the educational material following its specific timetable. Each module requires about 14 hours of study per week. Also, for each module the student should complete a number of weekly activities and a written assignment. At the end of the semester students will participate in written exams at Neapolis University in Pafos, or at local partner examination centers in Cyprus and Greece. The student must be awarded a minimum grade of 50/100 in the final examination, the weekly activities and the assignment in order to successfully complete the course. In case of failure the student can be re-examined in the examination period of the next semester. The final grade for each module will be the weighted average of the final (or iterative) written test score and the average of the written assignment(s), based on the weights outlined in the course syllabus.

The minimum requirement for admission to the programme is an undergraduate degree from an accredited university plus very good knowledge for both Greek and English language.

The University reserves its right to define the electives offered on an academic year basis.

The programme structure may change without prior notice, as a result of quality assurance procedures or/and programme recertification.