UNYP unveils new psych program

Psychology graduates at the University of New York in Prague (UNYP) soon won't have to look for a new campus to continue their studies, a necessity in this career field. Starting in October, the school will unveil a new master's in clinical-counseling psychology - one of the few such programs offered in the country.

"With psychology, you can't really call yourself a psychologist without a master's," says Mike Johnson, UNYP's psychology department chair and coordinator of the new MA program. "Many Czech programs are integrated master's. They don't even have an official bachelor's, they go right through to the master's level. So we wanted our students to finish off on the same level, the same level in the playing field."

UNYP's is a two-year program that has students spend half the time in the classroom and the other half out in the field, completing 600 hours of internship work.

"The majority of the course work connected directly to the counseling is the first year, so that they'll be ready then to actually put it into practice," Johnson says. "The second year is basically hands-on."

This hands-on approach is one of the program's major advantages.

Hands-on learning

In comparison with other Czech universities offering similar programs - including Palacký University in Olomouc, Masaryk University in Brno and Prague's Charles University - UNYP will put a bigger emphasis on the practical side.

"Czech universities do internships, but they are not such an intensive part of the Czech model," Johnson says.

During their second year, students will spend about 15 hours a week in the field, working with clients. They will also be responsible for doing their own research and paperwork and must meet weekly with their supervisor to discuss their cases.

The practical nature of the program, as well as its Westernized teaching style, holds a strong appeal.

"In comparison to Czech universities, UNYP operates according to the American educational system, which is based more on individualism, as opposed to the Czech educational system," says Lenka Pokorná Gočová, who holds a BA in psychology from UNYP and is interested in enrolling in the master's program.

The UNYP program, Pokorná Gočová adds, "gives student more freedom to express their opinions, to think creatively and independently and is based on cooperation rather than passive receiving of information."

UNYP found the birth of a Prague-based MA psychology program to be quite easy. Johnson explains that the university wanted to provide its undergrad psychology students with several options that didn't exist before: the chance to stay in Prague and also a place to complete their studies in the subject.

UNYP is partnering with Philadelphia-based La Salle University. La Salle will provide 70 percent of the program's faculty. Classes will be held every other weekend, and the professors will fly in to teach.

This is not the first time the two universities have collaborated. La Salle has worked with UNYP on its professional communications and public relations master's program.

"I know it's going to be a quality program, because I went to La Salle and I know the type of philosophy they have," Johnson says. "It's devoted only to teaching. They are not a big research- or grant-driven institution. So the people who work there really care about the students; they care about teaching. They really want [students] to be successful, and they want to do whatever they can to help."

After completing the first year, students have to pass an exam before starting their internship.

"The master's program appears to be highly valued due to the fact that it is the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic, with what I hear is the most hands-on experience schooling that prepares one for the field of psychological counseling and behavior management," says Ross Charles Huck, an American who recently received his BA in psychology from UNYP.

Classes to stay small

The program will be capped at 20 students, offering students smaller classes in comparison to state universities, Johnson points out. And the diplomas students earn will be U.S. accredited, which will allow graduates to work in other countries.

"The people [who] are going to come into this MA program will be very similar to those who are in the BA program," Johnson notes. "They would like to go to the West. They want to live in a nice city. They speak English, and this is a good option for them."

Excitement appears to be building. As of the end of last month, 15 students have already expressed an interest in signing up, university officials reveal.

"One can widen his possibilities. The diploma would be recognized even overseas, in the countries where a Czech diploma would not be recognized and accepted as adequate qualification," notes Pokorná Gočová, who is from Slovakia.

The cost is another major advantage. At 350,000 Kč ($17,200), the UNYP program is just a fraction of the cost that students would pay in many universities in the United States.

"It is a program that is half the price, and students get the same degree, so they [American students] will go home with a diploma that would cost them twice as much as in Philadelphia," Johnson says.

Joann Plocková can be reached at
features@praguepost.com