Training of Clinical Psychologists in Russia

Task 14. Before you read the text share with your partner your ideas of available courses and degrees in clinical psychology in Russia, admission requirements, duration of these courses, their syllabi, and forms of academic process.

Task 15. Read the text below and say which of the issues from Task 14 are discussed in it and what paragraphs provide information on them. What other issues are covered in the text?

There are a lot of medical educational establishments in our country ranging from a medical college, institute or academy to a medical university. They differ in the number of faculties, courses and teaching facilities but their structure, application requirements and the curriculum are much alike.

Those who want to enter a medical university should have considerable (if not outstanding) academic achievements at school reflected in the universal state exam results. An applicant has to gain a high score in such subjects as biology, chemistry and Russian. The applicants whose score is the highest become university students.

First-year students have to get used to a new mode and pace of life. Some students live at hostels, others rent rooms or flats. Local residents live with their parents and relatives.

A course of study varies from four to six years. Those who seek for a bachelor’s agree (prospective social workers) do a 4-year course. The future dentists, pharmacists and clinical psychologists study for 5 years while the future therapeutists (Amer. – therapists) and pediatricians study for 6 years. The courses are mainly full-time but there are also part-time courses (the one for pharmacists).

The structure of a higher educational establishment is similar for all the universities. A university is headed by a rector and pro-rectors. A dean and a deputy dean are at the head of a faculty. University courses are delivered by various departments. A head of the department (mainly a professor) is in charge of the department. The staff of a department includes professors, assistant professors, senior lecturers, and instructors. Post-graduate students participate in the research work of the department.

The most common forms of teaching process are lectures, practical classes, laboratory works, tutorials, case studies and on-the-job training. The most hard-working and enthusiastic students join scientific societies.

At the end of each term (academic year) students’ performance is evaluated by means of credit tests and exams. In their last year students take State Examinations and get a diploma. After that they can either get a job based on qualifications obtained or apply for a post-diploma course.

Professional training of clinical psychologists is currently provided in a number of higher education institutions all over Russia. Graduates are qualified as specialists in clinical psychology. The course takes five and a half years to complete.

The syllabus of the course includes a number of subjects such as humanities, social sciences, mathematics, general psychology, animal psychology and some others which are studied in junior years. While doing professionally oriented courses in senior years students find out/learn about legal, economic, methodological aspects of clinical psychology. They also have practice placements to gain required experience and learning in practice settings.

Task 16. Say which of the sentences are true/false. Correct the false sentences.

1. Nowadays all applicants have to sit for entrance examinations to be admitted to a higher medical school. 2. Students do professionally oriented courses in junior years. 3. There are two major degrees granted in clinical psychology in Russia – Bachelor in Clinical Psychology, and Specialist in Clinical Psychology. 4. There are many higher education institutions providing professional training in clinical psychology. 5. Training in clinical psychology provided by Russian higher schools is purely theoretical. 6. Clinical psychology graduates can continue their education by doing post-diploma courses. 7. The syllabus of a clinical psychology course includes only general and animal psychology. 8. Applicants are admitted to a higher school on a competitive basis.

Дата добавления: 2014-11-08