BSc in Psychology (Distance Learning)

The educational philosophy that guides the undergraduate programme in Psychology at Neapolis University Pafos can best be understood in light of the NUP’s general mission, which is the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community. In support of its mission, the University:

• Encourages and supports rigorous scholarship and innovative teaching in all academic areas offered by the University.
• Creates an academic environment that values and promotes free, active, and original intellectual inquiry among its faculty and students.
• Fosters programs that respond to local and national needs and collaborate with other state and private stakeholders to promote economic development and alleviate ignorance, poverty, and injustice.
• Strives continuously to promote activities that apply its intellectual and ethical heritage to work for the good of society.
• Welcomes students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds and beliefs, creating a sense of community that facilitates their development and enhances their career aspirations.

The Distance BSc in Psychology reflects the priorities of the NUP’s mission, and is designed to provide a course of studies that meets local and national needs, promotes links with local communities, and embraces modern pedagogy and learning technologies.

Neapolis University Pafos aspires to extend the range of taught programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Distance BSc in Psychology programme helps to further build the School of Health Sciences’s capability by attracting academics with a long experience in teaching, research, and professional application.

The Distance Bachelor of Science (BSc) programme in Psychology focuses on the study of the physiological and divergent patterns of human behaviour.

The program, in particular, aims at the following:

1. Promote students’ understanding of the biological, cognitive and emotional processes involved in a wide range of behavioral responses.
2. Familiarize students with behavioral assessment techniques and the application of theoretical principles for behavior modification.
3. Develop sensitivity to connections between depth of theory and width of application.
4. Familiarize students and provide basic knowledge for all the core fields of Psychology, such as Clinical Psychology, Counselling, Developmental Psychology, Psychopathology, Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Statistics, Research Methods, Organizational Psychology, Health Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychology of Language, Educational Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and other specialized courses.
5. Apply acquired knowledge and skills within a wide range of professional occupations.
6. Develop skills related to critical thinking and autonomous learning.
7. Develop communication and teamwork skills.
8. Critically assess and evaluate scientific documents such as journal articles.
9. Develop a critical understanding of the scientific methodology.
10. Develop the ability to write scientific reports using APA standards.

Upon completing the program, students are expected to be able to:

1. Understand the biological, cognitive and emotional processes that govern human experience and behavior,
2. Understand in depth the fundamental principles of psychology,
3. Identify the techniques through which behavior is evaluated and modified,
4. Apply psychological theories to help solve behavioral problems,
5. Develop critical thinking, provide scientific explanations, and acquire further skills such as academic writing,
6. Make use of the knowledge and skills they will acquire to achieve high professional goals.

To qualify for the Distance BSc in Psychology degree, students are required to complete a programme of study totalling 240 ECTS over 8 semesters. The BSc Programme of study is organized into one-semester modules (13-week including reading period and examinations). Thus, students can complete the Programme in eight (8) semesters totaling twenty-two (22) core modules and electives plus the dissertation and practicum components.

Practical component: The programme incorporates many strong practical components. Students are required to examine case studies and articles and deliver professionally written reports. The practicum experience is completed allocating a further 20 ECTS in the 8th semester for hand-on practical training.

Teaching Schedule: All modules’ full study guide material will be delivered to students through Moodle during the first week of their studies. Support material for the lectures, including all electronic files used by the instructor during the meetings as well as any lecture notes will be provided online through the Moodle page. The programme module page will be used for: a) interacting with students and communicating additional material that may be relevant to the subjects taught, b) for providing the material that students can review in preparation for the next class and c) for providing material and feedback to students in the context of formative and/or summative assessments aimed at helping them to understand better and learn the material taught.

Assessment: Each module is assessed individually, through coursework, such as submission of reports. Also, each module is assessed through interactive activity quizzes, simulation games, case studies, article critiques, jigsaws, peer reviews, and formal written evaluations.

Research-related aspects of the Program: The Undergraduate Thesis is one main element of the Distance BSc programme through which students develop their research skills. However, most of the program’s modules provide course activities designed to teach students how to work autonomously or in a team and use bibliographical and other resources. The BSc Undergraduate Thesis is obligatory and corresponds to 20 ECTS.

Support material for the lectures, including all electronic files used by the instructor during the lecture and any lecture notes distributed in class, will be provided online through the programme module page. The programme module page will also interact with students and communicate additional material relevant to the subjects taught. More specifically, the page will be used for a) providing material that students can review in preparation for the next class b) providing material and feedback to students in the context of formative and summative assessments aimed at helping them understand better and learn the material taught.

Candidates for the Psychology Programme must be graduates of secondary education from an accredited institution, and they must have a good knowledge of English. The University uses various forms of assessment of competency in English.

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.