School: School of Education

Applications of Psychology and Counselling in the Community

Academic year

2023-2024
Taught Language: Greek
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Course Summary

The first Postgraduate Program of Studies (MA), offered by the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus entitled “Applications of Psychology and Counselling in the Community (2 years / 120 ECTS, Master)”, was approved by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA). The new Postgraduate Program of Studies is an academic, conventional program and is offered starting from September 2019 at the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus in Nicosia.
The Master’s programme in “Applications of Psychology and Counselling” in the Community addresses the pressing need to redesign and/or upgrade the existing, local services promoting social welfare and psychological health provided by church parishes, NGOs and municipalities.
The program appeals to:
  • individuals who wish to offer their services to ecclesiastical communities (clergy and lay people),
  • persons interested in working in charitable organizations,
  • teachers and trainers who offer their services in schools, educational programs or in training, taking on health education services, programs to prevent behavioural problems (e.g. bullying, delinquency, emotional management, etc.),
  • finally, for those who want to pursue research and academic careers, it is a scientific program, which also offers the opportunity for Postgraduate Research, Statistics and Dissertation in empirical research.

Career Prospects

Specifically, after completing the postgraduate program in Applications of Psychology and Counselling in the Community, graduates will have a variety of career choices. They will be able to take advantage of employment opportunities as parish executives of the Church of Cyprus, or non-profit organizations. They will also be suitably trained to work in non-profit organizations, institutions, municipalities, public service organizations (governmental or private) to organize social and charitable work.
Those already working as educators, or as trainers in the police or in a prisons or in health care centers or elsewhere, will be able to take up their services in their workplace, for example, health education at school or training programs in the police or prisons or health care centers. 
A postgraduate degree in applied psychology offers the graduate a superior position in the labour market, especially for jobs related to the design and management of prevention / intervention programs. In an academic or research institution they can work as researchers, trainers or consultants. They will be able to even continue their studies at doctoral level.

Modules

1st Semester
Course Code & Course Title / ECTS
APC 510 Current Issues of Developmental Psychology (C)  7.5
APC 511 The Principles of the Orthodox Theology (C) 7.5
APC 512 Research Methodology and Ethics (C)  7.5
APC 513 Development of Counselling Skills (C)  7.5
Total: 30
2nd Semester
APC 514 Counselling for Children and Adolescents (C) 7.5
APC 515 Applied Pastoral and Social Ministry (E*)  7.5
APC 516 Research Study (E*) 7.5
APC 517 Management of Non-Profit Organisations (E) 7.5
APC 518 Statistics (E) 7.5
APC 520 Practicum (C) 7.5
Total: 30
3rd Semester
Course Code & Course Title / ECTS
APC 620 Dissertation (C) 15
APC 616 Juvenile Delinquency (C)  7.5
APC 614 Counselling of Families and Elderly (E**) 7.5
APC 617 Seminars (E**) 7.5
Total: 30
Special issues of Applied Psychology in Education – (Out of nine seminars, the six most popular with students will be offered. Each seminar has a duration of two 3-hour long meetings)
  1. Development of spirituality in Children and Adolescents in relation to mental health
  2. Mentorship in School
  3. Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health.
  4. Educational Prevention – Intervention Programmes
  5. Literacy, what should teachers know
  6. Gender Issues in school
  7. Self-esteem development in children and adolescents
  8. Intercultural Skills
  9. Theology vs Psychology
  10. Other current issues
4th Semester
Course Code & Course Title / ECTS
APC 621 Dissertation (C) 15
APC 610 Individual Differences and Deviations (C) 7.5
APC 618 Seminars (C) 7.5
Total: 30
Special Issues of Applied Psychology in the Community- (Out of nine seminars, the six most popular with students will be offered. Each seminar has a duration of two 3-hour long meetings)
  1. Anger Management
  2. Abuse Counselling
  3. Loss-moaning management
  4. Development of the Skill of Clinical Understanding
  5. Family in Crisis or a Mutating institution.
  6. Counselling of Patients and their Relatives
  7. Parenting Skills
  8. Self /Suicidal Ideation
  9. Anorexia – Bulimia
  10. Other Contemporary Issues
The courses are three (3) hours weekly and are allocated to the program as “Compulsory Courses” with the designation (C) and as “Elective Courses” with the designation (E).
*Those students who will be specializing in ecclesiastical parish service will have to choose from the offered selected courses of the 2nd semester: APC 515 Applied Pastoral and Social Care and APC 517 Management of Non-profit Organizations. Those students who will specialize in non-profit organizations, charities, municipalities, etc., should choose APC 517 Management of Non-profit Organizations course and accordingly one of the two other courses. Those who will pursue an academic or research career should choose the APC 516 Research Study and APC 518 Statistics. Teachers and trainers can freely choose 2 courses of the 4 depending on their preferences and the advice of their academic advisor.
** Teachers and trainers should choose APC 617 Seminars – Special Issues of Applied Psychology in Education. Those who work in ecclesiastical parishes or organizations should choose the APC 614 Counselling of Families and Elderly.

Assessment Method

Dissertation Project
Assesment examinations end of each semester

How to apply

The postgraduate Master in “Applications of Psychology and Counselling in the Community” appeals to graduates in Psychology, Theology, Education, the Humanities or Social Sciences, who have attended introductory courses in Psychology for the completion of their bachelor. The degrees must be awarded by an institution offering an evaluated-accredited undergraduate program of studies or a recognized University.
  1. An appropriate bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, with a final year average of at least mid-B from a recognized University.
  2. Transcript of studies.
  3. School-leaving Certificate –Apolytirion.
  4. Evidence of Adequate Knowledge of the English Language

Application deadline

Mid July

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements
Applicants for the MA in Applications of Psychology and Counseling in the Community unity should submit:
  1. An appropriate bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, with a final year average of at least mid-B from a recognized University.
  2. Transcript of studies.
  3. School-leaving Certificate –Apolytirion.
  4. Evidence of Adequate Knowledge of the English Language
  5. If the applicant’s primary language is not Greek and she/he has graduated from a non-Greek university where the language of instruction and examination was not Greek, then she/he must complete an acceptable Greek language proficiency test.
    • A recognized Certificate of Competency in Greek, Level C1
    • Modern Greek GCE O Level or equivalent to IGCSE Modern Greek or GCSE Modern Greek with minimum grade B
  1. Two reference letters
  1. A personal statement
  1. Interview
Candidates who successfully submit their application according to the above- mentioned criteria will be notified for an interview, which will be held at the Students’ Admission Office. The candidates will be asked to explain to the three members of the Committee the reasons why they are interested in pursuing the MA in Applications of Psychology and Counselling in the Community. The personal interview will also identify the readiness and sufficiency of candidates to attend the Applications of Psychology and Counseling in the Community. In case a candidate cannot be present at the interview, a teleconference can be arranged.
Additional entry requirements

English language requirements

Minimum admission requirements for the English Language:
  • TOEFL – a minimum score of 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet based) in the TOEFL test.
  • IELTS – The British Council/University of Cambridge Local Syndicate’s test of Academic English, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a composite score in the range of 6-6.5.
  • GCE O Level English Language at Grade C or above.
  • GCSE English language at Grade C or above.

Fees and funding

Application Fees
  • Registration Fee (for new students only): 50.00€
  • Tuition Fees for obtaining the Master's Degree "Applications of Psychology and Counseling in the Community (2 years / 120 ECTS)," depending on the number of ECTS (The ratio is €60.00 per ECTS credit, determining the cost of each course in case the student needs to retake the course): 3600.00€

Additional Fee information

  • Fees for the issuance of an additional "Transcript" (Degree Certificate): 50.00€
  • Fees for the assessment of transferred credit units: 30.00€

Provider information

Main Contact

Theological School of the Church of Cyprus
Isokratous 1-7, 1016, Nicosia, Cyprus

Contact Person: Elena Loizou

Phone: +35722443055

Email: e.loizou@theo.ac.cy