Prospectus

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School Psychology

Course
2018-2019

Entry requirements

  • All 60 ec of the first-year in Psychology have been obtained.

  • Students are strongly encouraged to have completed the Developmental Psychopathology course.

Description

School psychologists are becoming increasingly important in a wide variety of settings, not only in schools. Through their unique expertise in mental health, learning, behaviour and education they help children and youth succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviourally. School psychologists work closely with families, teachers, school teams and other professionals to support the students´ ability to learn and to advise teachers on how to create a safe and supportive learning environment.

In this specialisation course, students will study the development of scholastic abilities and cognition such as reading, math, reasoning, problem-solving, memory, creativity and executive functions. Students also study motivation and intelligence. This course focuses on typical cognitive development of children and adolescents within a school context , but important preschool developments (e.g., conceptual and language development) will also be considered. Furthermore, the course touches on subjects such as learning disabilities and the developing brain, to set the stage for a successful entry to several courses within the Master’s programme in School Psychology, such as Educational Neuroscience.

Course objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will:

  • Have a clear understanding of key concepts regarding the development of learning and cognition within a school context;

  • Be able to inform, convince, and give written as well as oral recommendations to an audience of teachers, school boards and parents concerning topics on cognitive development in the school context based on a critical interpretation of the scientific literature; and

  • Be able to critically read, discuss, and reflect on the recent scientific developmental literature as well as on the work of peers.

Timetable

For the timetables of your lectures, workgroups, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables

Semester 1: Lectures Work group sessions Exams

Semester 2: Lectures Work group sessions Exams

Registration

Course

Students need to register for lectures, workgroups and exams.
Instructions for registration in courses for the 2nd and 3rd year

Elective

Elective students have to enroll for each course separately. For admission requirements contact your study advisor.

Exchange/Study abroad

For admission requirements, please contact your exchange coordinator

Examination

Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the examination date; students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination.
Registering for exams

Mode of instruction

8 2-hour lectures and 8 2-hour work group sessions.

During the work group sessions, students will complete two assignments.
1. Students are required to explore and critically reflect on a topic from the lectures in more detail and write a scientific report (essay) on this topic. This report (essay) should be suitable for teachers, school boards, and/or parents. Students are also asked to review the reports (essays) from two peers.
2. Studetns are required to develop their own learning instruction based on the knowledge acquired during lectures on learning principles and cognitive development. Students present their learning instruction design to the other members of the work group.

Lectures and work group sessions take up to a total of 120 hours, including the research and preparation of the assignments and lectures. In addition, students are expected to spend 160 hours preparing for the examination.

Language of instruction
Lectures are in English. Work group sessions are in Dutch or English (IBP). Work group assignments can be completed by the students in Dutch or English (IBP). The questions on the examination are in English; however, students are allowed to answer in Dutch and/or English.

Assessment method

The final grade for School Pychology will be based on the following:

  • Grade for the examination (70%): The examination consists of 8 open-ended essay questions based on the literature (book and mandatory articles) and lectures.

  • Grade for work groups assignments (30%): participation during group discussions; scientific report (essay); final presentation or video of learning instruction assignment. Active participation in all work group sessions is mandatory. Students are allowed to miss one work group session at most, if compensated for with a sufficiently completed make-up assignment.

A one-hour post-examination consultation will be held within three weeks after the examination date. During this time students receive the opportunity to view their exam and ask questions to the lecturer(s) and/or course coordinator. The date and time of the post-exam consultation will be announced through Blackboard soon after the exam has taken place.

The Institute of Psychology uses fixed rules for grade calculation and compulsory attendance. It also follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of these three policies.

Reading list

  • Goswami, U. (2008). Cognitive development. The learning brain. (448 pages). Hove: Psychology Press. [ISBN 9781841695310].

  • Peer-reviewed articles on cognitive development, as provided on blackboard

  • Lecture sheets

Contact information