Objectives
The Inter-University Bachelor’s Degree Program in Psychological Sciences and Techniques provides solid and up-to-date foundational training across the various fields of psychological disciplines, with particular emphasis on the methodologies that characterize their scientific study.
From a cultural and academic perspective, the degree provides an appropriate foundation for Master’s Degree programs in psychology, particularly those offered by the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology. From a professional perspective, it prepares graduates to carry out psychological activities under the supervision of a psychologist registered in Section A of the Professional Register, also interacting—when required—with other professionals working in the same field (such as anthropologists, sociologists, communication experts, teachers, and educators).
Graduates of the program must:
have acquired foundational and core knowledge in various areas of psychological disciplines;
have acquired adequate knowledge of scientific research methods and procedures;
have developed practical skills and applied experience;
have acquired appropriate communication and information management skills and tools;
have developed adequate written and oral proficiency in at least one European Union language other than Italian, within their specific field of expertise and for general information exchange.
Graduates may pursue professional activities in public and private institutions, educational institutions, businesses, and third-sector organizations. Under the supervision of a psychologist registered in Section A of the Professional Register, graduates may work in areas such as services directed toward individuals, groups, organizations, and communities, as well as in health assistance and promotion. These activities include psychometric assessment, psychosocial and developmental domains, and human resource management.
To achieve these objectives, the program:
includes activities aimed at acquiring theoretical foundations and operational elements in: general, social, and developmental psychology; research methodologies; statistical methods and data processing procedures; psychophysiological mechanisms underlying behavior; and the dynamics of human relationships;
provides courses designed to place psychological and cognitive disciplines within the broader context of natural sciences and the human and social sciences;
includes, among the educational activities in various disciplinary sectors, seminars and applied experiences—both in real and simulated settings—aimed at developing skills in experimental methodologies and the use of research tools in personal and social contexts;
includes internship-related activities (10 ECTS credits).
Description of the Educational Path
The curriculum includes 19 modules, two of which provide an interdisciplinary foundation designed to offer students two complementary perspectives: biological and sociological. Training in non-psychological areas is also supported by disciplines such as sociology of cultural and communication processes—complementary to the psychological study of communication—and experimental pedagogy.
With regard to psychological training, in addition to the areas covered by the five core psychology exams (M-PSI/01, M-PSI/02, M-PSI/03, M-PSI/04, M-PSI/05), as in the other on-campus degree programs, all PSI sectors have been included among the core educational activities. In three cases, foundational subjects (M-PSI/01, M-PSI/02, M-PSI/05) have been duplicated in order to adequately cover the theoretical and methodological aspects of these broad academic-disciplinary fields.
Finally, 27 credits are reserved for in-depth study in Work and Organizational Psychology, Dynamic Psychology, and Clinical Psychology, which represent some of the defining educational areas of this degree program.
Considering that the large majority of students continue their studies in LM-51 Master’s Degree programs, beyond the preparatory training to be further developed and refined at the second-cycle level, it was deemed appropriate to offer additional opportunities for in-depth study in psychological disciplines. This expansion increases the range of available courses once students have identified a professional area of interest and introduces them to the content and professional experiences that characterize the various LM-51 Master’s Degrees.
The expansion of the educational offering—through the inclusion of all M-PSI scientific-disciplinary sectors among related and supplementary activities, including electives, and the addition of two credits dedicated to professional ethics—responds to recommendations arising from consultations with the Professional Order of Psychologists of Lazio. The Order recommended the inclusion, already at the Bachelor’s level, of professionalizing training activities and more specific coverage of professional ethics.
Following the reform of qualifying psychology degrees (in accordance with Law No. 163/2021 and Ministerial Decree No. 654/2022, published in the Official Gazette No. 303 of December 29, 2022), this Degree Program includes 10 ECTS credits dedicated to Additional Professionalizing Training Activities (UAFP). These may consist of internships and placements in companies, public and private institutions, as well as supervised critical reflection activities on the experience undertaken.
In conclusion, the main objective of this Bachelor’s Degree Program is to provide essential foundational knowledge and skills necessary for access to higher levels of specialized education. At the same time, it offers the knowledge and competencies required to access professional activities that can be carried out autonomously by graduates in Psychological Sciences and Techniques, and provides initial preparation for work in public and private services, local services, and companies. It also develops interpretative competencies for working in the educational and communication sectors.
In addition to the general competencies specific to the degree class, the program offers opportunities for further study:
in the field of individual and social developmental processes;
in educational and training processes;
in the study of communication processes, including those mediated by technologies, and their multiple applications within the psychologist’s areas of expertise.
Moreover, thanks to distance learning delivery, the program allows the achievement of specific educational objectives for students who, due to residence or work commitments, may find regular attendance in equivalent on-campus programs difficult or impossible.
The online delivery format and the various planned activities (content delivery, interaction with instructors, and participation in collaborative online activities) also enable the achievement of an additional objective: familiarity with digital tools for education. This aspect is particularly relevant for this specific program—where students learn extensively about educational and training processes—since students themselves experience innovative modes of learning and can reflect on the educational process in which they are involved.