Daugavpils Pedagogical University

The Under-graduate and master’s study programs in psychology

1. The aims, objectives and Tasks of

the Study program

The Daugavpils Pedagogical University’s Study program in psychology has been created as the 4-th category study program (according to the Educational qualification structure) . It takes 4 years to implement this program and obtain a Bachelor’s degree in psychology (the first academic degree). Its also provides an opportunity to study two more years to obtain a Master’s degree in Psychology (the second academic degree). The program was drawn up in 1995 on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education.

The main aim of the program is to promote the development of psychological education. The objectives of the program are as follows:

  • to stimulate the development of a well-educated, highly-cultured personality with analytical mind, who would be able to efficiently perform qualified and creative work, to analyse problem situtuations and solve them constructively and independently;
  • to prepare qualified specialists, who have a profound knowledge of psychological theories, European and world experience, can take opportunities offered by computers and can solve practical psychological problems.

To achieve these goals and objectives, several kinds of activities are envisaged for the faculty and students who have chosen psychology as their speciality:

  • Study course;
  • Scientific work;
  • Methodological work.

The teaching staff from 8 universities departments are engaged in this program. The program is supposed to be realised in cooperation with other Latvian and foreign universities and scientific institutions.

2. The self-ASSESSMEnT of the Study program in psychology

In order to make a self-assessment of the study program a Lead Committee headed by the Prorector on Academic work Mr. Stanislav Rabsha was formed. This committee, in its turn is subdivided into 4 commissions:

  • the commission for the assessment of under-graduate and post-graduate study programs;
  • the commission for the assessment of teachers’ and students’ scientific work;
  • the commission for the assessment of logistics and material base;
  • the commission for the assessment of the professional program.

2.1. INFORMATION ON THE PRE-SCHOOL AND PRIMARY EDUCATION FACULTY

The Daugavpils Pedagogical University’s study program in psychology is implemented at the Pre-school and Primary Education Faculty (Dean I.Salîte). The Department of Psychology is responsible for it’s realisation.

The Pre-school and Primary Education Faculty consists of Pedagogics Department (headed by the docent I.Kokina), Psychology Department (headed by the docent V.Dombrovskis) and Department of Art (headed by the docent A.Ðïahova).

In the process of the study program implementation the Department of Psychology closely co-operates with the Computer Science Department, Mathematical Analysis Department, the English Language Department, the German Language Department, Department of Economics and Social Studies, Department of History, Department of Pedagogics, etc.

2.1.1. Students Majoring in Psychology

The academic process at the Pre-school and Primary Education Faculty is organised in accordance with Statues of the University, the Law on Higher Education, the Regulations on the Acquisition of a Bachelor’s Degree, the Regulations on the Acquisition of a Master’s Degree and other regulations that are in effect on the territory of the Latvian Republic.

The studies are organised in compliance with the bachelor’s and master’s study programs.

The number of students and their distribution according to years and forms of studies on September 1, 1997 are represented in Table 1.

Table 1

Bachelor’s course / Master’s course
year 1 / year 2 / year 3 / year 4 / total / year 1 / year 2 / total
Full time / 50 / 36 / 42 / — / 128 / — / 3 / 3
Extra-mural / — / — / — / — / — / 21 / 15 / 36
Total / 50 / 36 / 42 / — / 128 / 21 / 18 / 39

Students come mainly from towns and regions of Latgale. Only about 5% are from other regions of Latvia. About 61% of students who came to study Psychology are from Latvian towns and cities, 44% of students are from Daugavpils and its region.

Matriculation is realised in accordance with the Rules on admission to the Daugavpils Pedagogical University, which are laid down every year by the Department of Studies and approved by the DPU Senate. The enrolment of students during the previous three years is presented in Table 2.

Table 2

1995 / 1996 / 1997
vacan- cies / candi-dates / com-peti-tion / vacan- cies / candi-dates / com-petiti-on / vacan- cies / candi-dates / com-petiti-on
Full-time / 20 / 125 / 6,25 / 30 / 132 / 4,4 / 40 / 143 / 3,6
Extra-mural / — / — / — / — / — / — / — / — / —
Total / 20 / 125 / 6,25 / 30 / 132 / 4,4 / 40 / 143 / 3,6

As is shown in the table the candidates have to compete in order to be admitted to the Psychology bachelor’s program. The competition ratio is one of the highest at the Daugavpils Pedagogical University. This gives a possibility to select the most capable school graduates, who can successfuly master the study program in future, showing good knowledge at the exams. This can be proved by the following figures showing the progress of full-time students:

1995/96 academic year:

got only excellent marks: / 30 students (71%)
got good and excellent marks: / 12 students (29%)

1996/1997 academic year:

got only excellent marks: / 31 students (41%)
got good and excellent marks: / 31 students (41%)

The post-graduate program is also being developed. The Master’s level of knowledge is comparatively high. The academic staff in the Psychology Department is skilled enough to be able to implement the Master’s studies. All academic staff at the Psychology Department have the Doctor’s degree in Psychology. At the Department of Psychology there is a possibility to obtain a doctor’s degree.

2.1.2.Academic staff and support staff of the Department of Psychology

Highly-qualified academic staff help the students to successfuly master the study program. In the period from 1994 to 1997 the teachers of the Department published more than 20 scientific articles and several monographs, that contain research in and analysis of psychological problems. The teachers and support staff of the Department participated in the international and Baltic conferences (Göteborg, 1993 (Sweden), Tel Aviv (Israel), Netania 1996 (Israel), Minsk 1997 (Belorus).

Education psychologists of appropriate qualification are actively involved in organising and supervising practical classes as well as supervising research practice.

At the Psychology Department on September 1, 1997 the academic staff was represented by:

Dr.psych., Dr.H.paed. - 1;

Dr.psych. - 3;

M.A.psych. - 3.

Now the situation is the following:

Dr.psych., Dr.H.paed. - 1 - 14%;

Dr.psych. - 6 - 86%.

2.2. STUDY PROGRAM

The study program consists of two parts: the under-graduate program and the post-graduate program. It contains the description of the study contents, the description of the study process organisation and regulates the activities of the students, teachers and faculty administration. After the independent experts’ report the study program is approved by the Senate.

At the first stage (bachelor’s studies) stress is laid on study work (lectures, seminars, work in the library, studying computer science and psychological research). The students’ research work at this stage is mainly connected with writing and defending the project’s and bachelor papers, with organising psychological researches.

At the second stage (master’s study) emphasis is laid on the students’ independent work, that is associated with thorough investigations of some special problems of psychological theory, their comprehension and application in practical work at schools and educational institutions. In order to stress the importance of research work at the second stage the post-graduates students are to make presentations on the results of their investigations either at scientific conferences or to have these results published.

2.2.1. Bachelor’s course study program

The total amount of the program is 166 credits (1 credit corresponds to 16 lessons). The course of studies lasts 3 years. The study program contains three blocks of courses.

Block A. Compulsory courses - 85 (credits).

The aim of this block is to give the students knowledge in the main psychological disciplines, the stress is laid on psychological theories, history and methodology of psychological investigation. The structure and volume of compulsory courses block meet the requirements of other European and Latvian under-graduate programs.

Block B. Special courses - not less than 65 (credits).

Block B has been introduced into the study program with the aim to give students knowledge in special psychological disciplines, to give them an opportunity to concretise the acquired skills and habits. For these disciplines each student is to choose a certain among of the theoretical disciplines and selective practice which correspond to the set number of credits. All the changes in the list of disciplines are annually confirmed by the University Senat , the Faculty Council on the request of the Psychology Department.

Block C. Optional courses - not less than 16 (credits).

It contains subjects which can be optionally chosen by students to enlarge their professional skope and creative abilities.

Study program blocks / Volume of study program
credits / Percentage
A. Compulsory courses / 85 / 57 %
B. Special selectivecourses / 65 / 39 %
C. Optional courses / not less than 16 / not less than 4%
Total / 166 / 100

2.2.2. Master’s study program

The main aim of the program is to train highly quilified psychologists, who will be able to teach psychology effectively at higher educational establishment and work successfully at other institutes. The peculiarity of this program is that in the process of research work the students acquire some practical skills.

The study program is planned to be covered within two academic years and it consists of three parts:

Block A. - obligatory courses

Block B. - special selective courses

Block C. - optional courses

The study program provides the trainings, seminars, counsultations, and creative work under the study advisory and doing the different activities as well as preparation and defence of master’s paper.

2.3. THE SYSTEM OF ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF STUDIES

The assesiment of the quality of studies is performed with the aim to control the implementation of the study program and to plan it’s development in order to achieve the aims set by the study program.

The system of evaluation of the quality of studies contains the following components:

1)Evaluation of the contents of the academic courses and their coordination.

2)Assesement of the quality of teaching.

3)Assesement of the students’ level of knowledge.

4)Evaluation and analysis of the teacher’s methodological and scientific work.

5)Evaluation of learning activities.

The assessement of the content of courses and their coordination is done by the scientific achievments and comply with the modern literature, and compare them with the corresponding academic courses in higher educational establishments in the Latvian Republic and the EC countries. For each subject included to the program is responsible a teacher who is appointed by the Department.

The assessment of the quality of teaching is performed at two levels:

  • the quality of teaching is evaluated by the results of the students’ opinion poll. The administration of the Department polls under-graduates and post-graduates in written form after the academic course is finished and the students’ knowledge is checked. The opinion poll is conducted also before regular elections of teachers for a new period of work. The results of the opinion pools are discussed at the meetings of the academic staff;
  • the quality of teaching is evaluated by means of attending classes. The results of such control visits are discussed at the meetings of the academic staff.

The students’ level of knowledge is checked by means of exams and tests. The number of exams and tests in each semester is determined in the curriculum. The exams and tests are taken in accordance with the schedule. The level of knowledge is assessed by a ten-point system.

At the beginning of the academic year each teacher makes up an individual plan of academic, methodological and scientific work. It is discussed and approved at the meeting of academic staff. At the end of the year the teachers write a report of fulfillment of the plan. The report is discussed again at the meeting of the academic staff.

The study facilities (equipment of rooms and laboratories, audio, video and computer equipment, academic literature and periodicals) are reevaluated annually at the beginning of the academic year by the Study Department.

2.4. ACADEMICS’ AND STUDENTS’ RESEARCH WORK

The components of research work at the Department of Psychology are as follows:

  • students’ research work;
  • research work of the Department’s academics.

Students’ research work is mainly connected with project works, bachelors’ and masters’ papers. Those students, who who have written the best papers, make presentations at the annual DPU students’ scientific conferences. For post-graduates, participation in such conferences or publication of the results of their researches is an obligatory condition for the presentation of their masters papers.

Since 1993 there has been presented four Doctors’ theses (nostrification) (A.Pipere, I.Kokina, V.Dombrovskis, S.Guseva) at the Department

2.5. LOGISTICS

The logistics of the Department of Psychology can be devided into two parts: the logistics, which are at the disposal of all the University students and the logistics of the Pre-school and Primary Education Faculty. The University has a sufficient number of lecture-rooms and special laboratories. The University structural units are sufficiently well equipped with computers, copiers, audio and video equipment. The students can use computer facilities of the Computer Science Department Information Center with the help of which both the students and the teachers can gain access to Internet. At the disposal of students and teachers there is the Multimedia Center, where it is possible to acquire skills in using multimedia in the academic process. The students can use a library with 350 000 books and two reading-rooms. The sport complex with a swimming-pool helps the students to keep fit.

The fund of psychological literature is not very large. (approximately 8200 books), but it is rapidly increasing. Every year there is an increase in the number of periodicals. A part of incoming literature is in English.

The teaching practice is organised in the schools and educational establishments of the city and region.

2.6. FINANCING OF STUDIES

The main source of financing is the state budget. The studies are also partially financed from the municipal budget and the students themselves. Financing from the state and municipal budgets is done mainly for full-time students and post-graduates. Post-graduate studies for extra-mural students are financed by the students themselves. In 1997/1998 the tutition fee was 150 Ls. It is to be noted that the students’ money is used for paying the staff and developing logistics. Public services are paid from the state budget. The best students are given a scholarship that is paid also from the state budget.

2.7. THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF STUDY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

The study program development planned which is jointly plained with the Pre-school and Primary Education Faculty development sets out the following principal directions:

  • the change in the number of students;
  • the change in the study program content and structure;
  • post-graduate studies organisation;
  • the improvement of the study process quality;
  • establishing new international contacts;
  • the improvement of logistics.

The change in the number of students provides for a slight growth.

In relation to the changes in the study program content and structure it is intended to provide a possibilitiy of a wider choice of courses for students by enlarging the list of Special and Optional courses is envisaged. To develop the study program main attention will be paid to computer science and foreign languages studies as their knowledge is indispensible for future specialists of Psychology. In its turn it requires a more extentive computerization of the study process.

To ensure a wider possibility of independent work with literature, it is necessary to enlarge and replenish the fund of the library. The cooperation with the EC countries would make the solution of this problem easier. Therefore searching for and establishing new contacts with foreign higher schools is one of the priority questions in the field of the psychology program development.

The Main Directions of the Study Program Development

1997/1998 academic year

  • Master thesis presentation - 11;
  • Doctor thesis presentation (nostrification) - 1;
  • Replenishing the computer studyroom;
  • A would-be introduction of new specialities;
  • Replenishing the library fund;
  • Publishing collections of scientific and methodological papers;
  • Participation in international conferences.

1998/1999 academic year

  • Bachelor course graduation - 40 people;

including the full-time students - 40;

  • Presentation of master’s dissertations - 20;
  • Studies abroad for the Department’s assistant

Århus Lærerhøjskole (Denmark);

  • The organisation of international seminars in order to stimulate theprofessional development of young specialities (with the participants from Latvian University, Latvian Professional Psychology Association, Higher School “Attîstîba”);
  • The replemishing the technical equipment and the library fund at the Department;
  • Publishing collections of the methodological literature.

1999/2000 academic year

  • Bachelor course graduation - 36 people;

including the full-time students - 36;

  • Master thesis defence - 20;
  • Introduction the new speciality:

the social psychologist;

  • The organising the Doctor Preparation studies and the replenishing the library fund;
  • Publishing the collection of scientific and methodological literature;
  • Organisation of a international conference;

2000/2001 academic year

  • Bachelor course graduation - 45 people;

including the full-time students - 45;

  • Presentation of master’s dissertations - 30;
  • Doctor hab. thesis presentation - 1;
  • Replenishing the library fund;
  • Publishing collections of scientific and methodological literature;
  • Revision and improvement of the study programs;
  • The organisation of seminars to exchange academics’ teaching experience.

Logistics

At the given point a computer study room is being fitted out at the Pre-school and Primary Education Faculty. Besides, the students can use the DPU library, the DPU Computer Science Department study rooms (3 of them), the DPU Multimedia Center, the study rooms of the DPU English and German Departments, the sport complex and other DPU facilities.

The computers used by the students of the Department have new programmes. Some of the computers will be connected to the Internet which provides a possibility to obtain a great amount of information including the news about psychological publications abroad, stastistics data, social information, etc.